Drawing Class Final

The drawing class is over now. The last assignment was an extra one that Iain would do individual critics of. The assignment was to do another self portrait but now with the knowledge of the last 10 weeks. I definitely applied things I learned about proportion and drawing the volume of shapes. I'm not sure that it looks any more like me by I like the second drawing more. The following is Iain's comments;

Rhalvorsten: Quite a transformation from your first sketch, Robbie, which I just hunted down among the Challenge One submissions! Your first portrait was actually full of charm, but structurally distorted. This one is much more structurally sound and proportionally correct, but it has lost some of the warmth of the first portrait. This often happens whenever we’re learning something new. You can’t use your old tricks because you’re learning a new way of doing things, but you haven’t learned the new stuff yet so that won’t help you either. If you persevere, though, the new skills will inevitably kick in, and the moment they do that, you can draw on all your old tricks too. The net result is that, seemingly overnight, your drawing ability takes a huge leap forward. That’s where I think you are right now: poised for the leap into Stage Two. Where do you go from here? Keep working on your new skills—proportion, balance, anatomy and lighting in particular. As those become stronger within you, your natural ability at expression will find a solid support from which to leap. By the way, your desire to sketch and keep a sketch book is the best news of all! Beyond learning to draw, there is a challenge a thousand times more terrifying, and that is WHAT to draw. Your sketchbook—a collection of things drawn for the pure love of drawing them—will show you the way. Keep it with you and sketch in it always, and know that one day, when you need it most, it will remind you who you are, and what you need to say with your drawings.

Iain's word to me, and the other 5-6 people who did the extra work, are very motivating. Not only is he an amazing artist who is inspiring just to look at, but he is also a gifted educator.