starting slowly.

Instead of just jumping right into a project like I would typically do, I decided to do some research before I just started drawing {and became really frustrated with myself.} So, for the first passion project class, I did some reading. My Gramma had given me a book that goes through the basics of drawing portraits, and one of my friends was lovely enough to let me borrow hers that teaches a lot of different strokes to achieve texture. And that's when i realized that there is a bit more of a technique to art than I thought... There are complex and labeled diagrams of the bone structure and muscles of the face, which can help you decide where to shade and so on. Not to mention direction of light source, and all the profiles to choose from. Oh joy. And I barely am able to do front view :P

So, after last week Friday, I decided to practice some of those preliminary shading techniques or different strokes on the sides of my paper when I found myself bored {mostly during two driver's education classes...} Not only were they a wonderful way to pass time, it also prepared me to start. 

This week, I'm going to unpack the pencils and real artist paper and just work more on technique and such. As well as doing a bit more research as to the construction and elements of an effective portrait... all of which i am still wondering how i am going to pull off :)

It'll be nice to absentmindedly draw during class {listening, of course...} and not be too shamed by my lack of artistic ability. 

All in due time :)

beginnings.

Hey y'all.
I guess I should start by explaining what in the world I'm doing and why :)
For our Bible class, we have to choose something that we want to do and then work towards a product or a goal for the semester. The whole decision making process was not easy for me at all, due to the fact that this could be absolutely anything. I wanted to choose something that I would enjoy, yet it was difficult to think of how that would be workable in class time.
When I was younger, I really enjoyed art. My grandma would come to our house and teach us about art styles, give us projects, and other stuff like that. My favorite part of this "class" was drawing. I'd try landscapes, architecture, and {my favorite,} people. It was fun to see how different strokes and shading could create something that actually resembled something. {Which, unfortunately, was rare and difficult for me to do.} So, I tried to get better, but eventually I stopped practicing.
Being the type of person that is a perfectionist, I hated the eternity that it took to achieve something that looked real. {Like my sister, or even a building.}
I still really want to be able to have a {sort of!} artistic ability, and am hoping to explore the art of how to be a better freehand artist, as well as drawing something that is a copy of another thing. {For lack of a better way to explain things.} I'll be using those typical art pencils and a few erasers. And a lot of my patience.

But by the end, I want to be a more confident artist, {a better artists,} and have some items that I'm proud of in my portfolio. I'll working on different "projects" each month, and have specific goals. I'll also be sure to post lots of pictures, even though I cannot promise greatness {or even semi-goodness!}