Cowboy Hat

by Heidi
(Southern Oregon)

I've been watching some old western shows and got inspired to draw a hat. This is based off a picture I found online which I edited (grayscale and white balance) until I liked it. There was no lighting in the original.
I wanted to go for a rustic/old hat look but I think it came out looking rather smooth. Any tips on how to put a more rustic touch on sketches?



Note from Kerry:
Hello Heidi
There's lots of ways you can create different effects. Instead of strokes for shading, you could try blending in small circles to give a look of texture. Even the paper you use can lend its character to a sketch. Maybe making the rim look well worn at the edges might do the job?
Those are only suggestions in an effort to help you, please don't feel obligated to take them on board. Some of the artists here might have the right advice for you.
I think your drawing is very good, it shows the care and attention you gave to it and I like it, well done!

Walnut

by Heidi
(Southern Oregon)

I am a student and am just getting back into drawing, I haven't drawn anything in over two months. This is the first time I have attempted to draw still life, I normally draw animals or landscapes. This sketch is drawn according to directions in a pencil art project book. I feel that a few of the proportions aren't quite right, please let me know what you think. I would really love any advice you all have to give.



Note from Kerry:

Hello Heidi
I enjoyed viewing your drawing. Walnuts can be any size or shape so no one will know if the proportions are right or not. I think you've done a good job!

Boots

by Cynthia
(Taylors, SC, USA)

I was web surfing one evening and saw these boots for sale on a website. I thought they were beautiful and took a stab at drawing them.


***Note from Kerry:
Hi Cynthia,
Gee, I wish my "stab" at drawing turned out as good as this! This would look great hanging in your bedroom, you've done a grand job.

Sadness

by abdaldjalil_dlimi
(500 G19 tililan adrar_algeria)

Actually i draw what i feel especially about love. I know drawing is just my hobby, moreover i get some ideas from some artists.

I don't have enough experience anyway because i always look at my self am still far.

In this drawing i used pencils B4 and B3. In this picture, my feeling is sadness, the tree it means me it's without leaves, also the village is of grief it's empty nobody can save you from darkness.

***Note from Kerry:
Your drawing is beautiful, you have no reason to feel sad when you can produce such lovely artwork. Try not to be so hard on yourself, you should be proud of your talent.

Pencil Shading

by Dana

Hello! So.. I actually used a photo to draw this, and I'm quite proud of it. :)


***Note from Kerry:
Hi Dana
Well, it's clear to see why you are proud of this piece, it is so neat and quite perfect. I've enjoyed it immensely. Great work!

Hand

by Ronald
(maui hawaii)

I was trying to think of something to do so i did the drawing of a hand doing a drawing.

It took me 2 days to complete this one.

***Note from Kerry:
Wow Ronald, you must have a wonderful collection of drawings now. You are going really well - I am proud of you!

Knot

by Danielle :)
(Australia, NSW)

Recently i have been trying out the art of drapery drawing. I don't know why but i just can't seem to get enough of it.

I find that it's all i ever draw now, this is one of my most recent ones and probably my fav :)


***Note from Kerry:
Hi Danielle,
Your drawing is great to study. Your observation skills have been tested and you've come up trumps! I like it, too.

Eastern Promises

by Janis Dzierkals
(Riga)

This is a drawing from a poster of a great movie called "Eastern Promises".

***Note from Kerry:
Hi Janis, I wonder if you are using pen or charcoal to obtain such a nice dark tone?

Solitude

by Linda Dobens
(Beaufort, SC)

I copied this from a Lee Hammond book because I am trying to learn shading.

I love the sea and have been surrounded by it my whole life so this appealed to me.

***Note from Kerry:
It's absolutely beautiful Linda!

First Drawing

by Chelsey
(UK)

Hi
i have been practicing drawing and i thought the easiest subject would be fruit so i chose my favorite fruit and I have drawn it and have been practicing shading it.

***Note from Kerry:
Hi Chelsey, isn't drawing fun? I think you would be proud of this, your first drawing. Good job, I hope you continue to draw and explore everything that drawing offers.

Back fence view

by jessica
(australia)

I wanted to draw what I saw looking over my back fence. Although it wasn't exactly what was there it still came out alright.



Note from Kerry:
Hi Jessica
It looks like a person is standing behind the drawing - quite eerily like it's your Guardian Angel or something. The hair or hat of the person is actually the tree, take a look and tell me if you see the same thing?

My Hand

by Zuhar
(Syria)

I was interested in drawing a human hand but I was too scared to try but now I am so glad that I did draw one.

I used an H pencil at first then I shaded with an #2 HB .

***Note from Kerry:
Gee Zuhar, you've done a very good job. Well done!

Kayla's Eye

by Kayla Mikesell
(Las Vegas)

This picture was drawn by a friend of my daughter Jayme's in her class.
Kayla is 10 years old, and she asked me to post this for her.
She said she drew this in a half hour, she says she usually draws other ones faster.
Jayme and I both think this is very good for her age.



Note from Kerry:

Yeah, wow Kayla, you are very good to be able to produce a realistic eye in such a short time! Great job!
Michael, thanks for being available to send in Kayla's drawing for her. It's wonderful to see an artist in the making!

Praying Hands

by Linda Dobens
(Beaufort, SC)

I am trying my hand at drawing the human hand.

I thought what better way?

***Note from Kerry:
Good job Linda. It's great to see you practicing all sorts of subjects. Each drawing you do takes you to the next level and they become so much easier.

Home Town

by Brooklyn Lynch
(Yakima, WA)

So in my little town of Yakima the only thing we have agriculture-wise is wine.

In honor of my hometown's vineyards, I sketched this wine bottle!

I used a #2 pencil, an eraser and a napkin for shading and blending in colors.

-Love Ninja =]


***Note from Kerry:
Hi Brooklyn, er, Ninja!
It's great to see you are using shading and blending - good on you! I like your drawing -- it's good to see the ol' scanner kicked on for you.

(Your preference is obviously to be called Ninja so I'll do my best to get out of the habit of calling you Brooklyn.)

Innocence

by Rhonda
(Jacksonville, NC)

I would like to start by saying I couldn't get a good picture of this drawing I guess it was the flash or something I will try other ways to see if I can improve on him.

Innocence is what I see in him what are your opinions?


***Note from Kerry:
Hi Rhonda,

By the direct gaze, I see that he is inquisitive.

You've done a wonderful job of this drawing, it's hard to believe you are a beginner!

I have found if I'm taking a photo that it helps to stand side-on rather than straight on. I don't know if it works for everyone and I'm not the best photographer around but maybe it might be something to experiment with.

God Vinayagar

by devi sathya s
(rajapalayam,virudhunagar district,tamilnadu,india)

i am a student of sri ramana vidhyalaya, rajapalayam.

i am studying seventh standard. i am interested in drawing any picture.

***Note from Kerry:
It's lovely and colorful Devi. Good job!

Love Kills

by Marissa Merlin
(London)

~ Love Kills ~

I searched on google images for something to draw and I've found this...
http://www.layoutsparks.com/1/32388/Bleeding-heart-rose-sketch.html

I've drawn the outline though it came out really bad so I decided not to continue..
A day after, I really wanted to draw. I flipped my sketch book and i saw my disabled heart shape and thinking if i should finish it or just rip it out the page and start a new one.
But i continued sketching my disabled heart and i kinda changed it from the original and I actually like my finish drawing better xP

*Love kills coz i was in-love when ive drawn this..
and thinking 'what if ...'
:P



Note from Kerry:
Hi Marissa
Your drawing is very well done, great artwork, keep it up. I hope you are feeling better now, we all suffer heartache, it's part of life and it makes us stronger. It also helps us to decide what it is we want and to make better choices.

Rest All Ye Faithful

by Christine Green
(Liverpool, NY USA)

I received sample Christmas cards in the mail and I really liked this specific card. I wanted to draw it and this is my result.

I really enjoyed doing it.

***Note from Kerry:
Hi Christine, it looks lovely. It's a shame it's not a bit bigger. The main thing is that you enjoyed doing it and thank you for sharing it here.

Love

by Sarah Gene Snell
(Ypsi,mi,washanaw)

This picture represents me in alot of ways.

I'm a devil most of the time and i'm an angel the rest of the time.

***Note from Kerry:
Ha ha Sarah, at least you know yourself well and that's a plus for most people.

Forbidden

by Mariella Kostick
(Staten Island, New York)

This is an apple I drew in my art class.

I love it because I feel like I have achieved good values in the apple and I have created a three dimensional illusion.


***Note from Kerry:
Hi Mariella,
It's lovely to see that you are proud of your work and rightly so, too. Good job.

Half Man Half Woman

by digvijay
(kanpuru.p.india)

It came to my mind just because i thought that man and woman both together compose this beautiful world. So, how to represent them in a way to show their
interdependence on each other.


***Note from Kerry:
Hi Digvijay,
You have portrayed an interesting concept.