Teaching without a degree

Honeymoon Cabin, pencil, 11×14, unframed, $300 A few years ago I took 1/2 a semester of oil painting at a local junior college. I learned more about painting from only the primary colors, and I learned about layering (called “glazing” in Artspeak). I learned that I need more light to see than a 19 year […]

Drawing Lessons

I teach people how to draw. The lessons are probably considered “semi-private” because each student receives one-on-one instruction, but in a small class. Just the facts: 4 people at one time, one hour each week, each working on her own piece at her own pace. Youngest – 6th grade. Oldest – too polite to ask! […]

Pencil Explanation, Part Four

This is a post on how to layer with drawing pencils. I used to only use a 6B; you can read about it here. Then, I met someone who drew beautifully using the full range. I had no idea how to use them and figured they must layered  lightest to darkest. Or maybe they were […]

Pencil Explanation, Part Three

School pencils are rated #1, #2 and #3.  It is a different rating system, one which I haven’t researched because I am a pencil artist, not a student nor a school teacher. #3 is really hard, and it is horrible if you are writing on a soft surface such as a math workbook. #1 is […]

Pencil Explanation, Part Two

Pencils are made from a blend of graphite and clay. If they have more clay, they are harder and lighter. If they have more graphite, they are blacker and softer. H is for Hard, B is for Black.  I don’t get why those two are considered opposites in Pencil World. (Hey Pencil Manufacturers, tune in […]

Pencil Explanation, Part One

When I began drawing, I only used the Turquoise brand. Or it might have been called Eagle or Berol or Sanford. They keep buying each other out, and sometimes these graphite pencils now say “Prismacolor” despite the fact that they are all shades of gray. The outer paint color remains turquoise, so I’ll just call […]

And more links to learning to draw

Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Morro Rock When I was growing up in Tulare County, I thought the only real beach, the beachest of all beaches, was Newport in Orange County. In fourth grade, we took a field trip to Mission San Miguel and then went to […]

Links to Learning To Draw

In case you are a new reader of this blog and are wondering how to find the earlier chapters of Learning to Draw, here is a convenient clickable list of the first eight. If you want to click on all these but get tired of going back to this page, just right-click on each one […]

Learning to Draw, Chapter 23

Kirby found this photo and it really grabbed her around the heart. I decided they are named Adams and Soldier. Can you tell me why I chose those names?  (besides the fact that I love to name animals) Kirby just smiled when I told her. She’s getting used to me. When you are deciding what […]