Sketch It Out - image 1 - student project

Day 1: Enjoy - 6, Confidence - 2, Progress - 6

I was actually kind of nervous about starting this project because I don’t feel very confident about my sketching ability, and because I am generally very slow when I work. My favorite area is the long straight line along the length of the remote control. I think I could have been much better at developing the initial shape and at shading. Key take away: make a solid plan and just get started, and the rest will eventually fall into place.

Sketch It Out - image 2 - student project

Day 2: Enjoy - 6, Confidence - 2, Progress - 6

I had chosen a very intricate and detailed photo frame to sketch, and considering that I am already slow at sketching, there was absolutely no way I would have been able to render it accurately in 6 minutes. My favorite areas are the curves and curlicues at the corners and on either side of the frame. I probably could have gotten the proportions more accurate (the frame is square and all 4 sides are equal) if I had sketched the inside edges first, instead of doing them last. Key takeaway: even if I don’t use shading to indicate form, a sketch can still be interesting.

Sketch It Out - image 3 - student project

Day 3: Enjoy - 1, Confidence - 0, Progress - 1

This one drove me insane!! I thought that sketching a larger, less detailed item would be easier, but it was exactly the opposite! Even more daunting was the fact that I had chosen to use pen as my medium for this item. To be completely honest, I actually started this sketch several times with pen and kept starting over, getting frustrated and fed up until I finally decided to use pencil first and then go over it in pen. My favorite part is the handle on the left. I definitely could have been much better at getting the proportions correct, but this was seriously a struggle for me. Key takeaway: I need a lot more practice at this. I think I should continue to sketch in my journal every day. This particular sketch was not really fun for me, but it did teach me to be willing to improve at something I enjoy (drawing & painting) by working on a skill that is difficult for me (sketching).

Sketch It Out - image 4 - student project

Day 4: Enjoy - 5, Confidence - 3, Progress - 5

I felt a little more comfortable doing this sketch because I had already decided that I was going to use pencil first and then go over it in pen; that took some of the pressure off. My favorite area is the folds in the tube along the upper edge of the drawing. I could have done a much better job of sharing to more accurately show the files in the tube. Key takeaway: I am starting to get excited about using different styles and mediums, and I am reminded that the potential for art can exist in almost any subject.
Sketch It Out - image 5 - student project

Day 5: Enjoy - 5, Confidence - 3, Progress - 6

I was interested in returning to pencil again, and I was curious to see if my finished sketch would resemble a stapler at all. As I was working on it, I realized that I actually missed the bold, unmistakable lines of using pen and ink! But I am glad that I am experimenting with both pencil and pen because I have been wanting to use my pencils and colored pencils more often, and I am also thinking of new ways to use pen. My favorite area is the smooth, dark front section of the top of the stapler. I could have been better at shading (this a recurring observation, and I think getting shading and proportions correct are two of my biggest challenges). Key takeaway: I realize that I tend to overthink things, but I am learning to embrace this, and I am curious to see how this sketching practice will help me develop my own drawing/painting style.

Sketch It Out - image 6 - student project

Day 6: Enjoy - 6, Confidence - 3, Progress - 6

I was excited to use colored pencil! Dinner today was my family’s favorite Ghanaian dishes: spinach stew, corned beef stew, and fried plantains. My favorite area is the outline and shadows of the overlapping fried plantains. I could improve at working quickly; this took well over 15 minutes ... perhaps next time I will try doing outlines with not as much color filled in. Key takeaway: experimenting with different styles is fun!

Sketch It Out - image 7 - student project

Day 7: Enjoy - 5, Confidence - 5, Progress - 5

This took a long time, and I ran out of time to try sketching it again from another angle. The simpler the subject, the more pressure I put on myself to get it right. My favorite part: the shading of the top book and the shadow beneath it. I could have been much better at shading the bottom books ... I think I got a little heavy-handed with the pen marks. Key takeaway: stick with the practice, and feel free to experiment.

Sketch It Out - image 8 - student project

Day 8: Enjoy - 6, Confidence - 5, Progress - 6

I tried to work a little faster today. (My kids were patiently waiting on me to finish so that we could have Christmas dinner!) I also tried to leave enough time to sketch an additional angle, and I even sketched the second angle very quickly in ink, without doing it in pencil first. (Kids were hungry!) My favorite part is in the first sketch, the overall razor shape and the shadow side of the razor head as it meets overlaps the handle. My least favorite part is the second sketch that was done very quickly in pen. I can definitely tell the difference, but as I look at it now, I think it just has its own style, one that reminds me of the playful sketches I have seen some illustrators do. Key takeaway: perhaps it is sometimes good to practice one thing at a time; I’ll probably work on speed for the next few drawings.

Sketch It Out - image 9 - student project

Day 9: Enjoy - 5, Confidence - 5, Progress - 8

With this sketch I focused on working faster, and I told myself not to worry about whether or not lines and shadows were accurate, but just to worry about rendering the form on the page. My favorite part is the shadow on the underside of the handle in the larger sketch. I think I could improve on outlining the shape of the base in the smaller sketch. Overall, I am happy that I was able to sketch two angles and work a little faster. Key takeaway: keep practicing!!

Sketch It Out - image 10 - student project

Day 10: Enjoy - 5, Confidence - 3, Progress - 8

I was very nervous about sketching the backpack because I knew that there would be a lot of irregular lines and shapes, and I was worried that what I sketched would not resemble a backpack at all. My favorite part was the zipper handle and key ring on the first sketch. My least favorite part was my attempt at shading in the second sketch. I was worried that from the second angle, the form would not be recognizable as a backpack, so I thought that shading would help, but I was rushing and it just ended up clashing with the overall style of the piece. Key takeaway: trust your natural process and don’t feel like you have to overcompensate for anything; stay committed to progress, and it will all turn out just fine.

Sketch It Out - image 11 - student project

Day 11: Enjoy - 8, Confidence - 6, Progress - 8

I had to substitute a different item for today’s sketch, and it worked out well because I had planned to use colored pencil, and I wanted to try working in monotone ... and these hand-weights happened to be a single bright color. My favorite part is the underside of the horizontal dumbbell in the smaller sketch. I think I could have improved on the form and shading in the larger sketch. Key takeaway: I’m excited to experiment more with colored pencils and a limited color palette. Sketch It Out - image 12 - student project

Day 12: Enjoy - 8, Confidence - 5, Progress - 6

I was excited to draw these headphones because they have such an interesting shape and I love headphones! But it didn’t go as well as planned. My favorite part is the shading in the second sketch. My least favorite part is my botched attempt at “fixing” the first sketch ... first I started trying to get fancy and add a shadow beneath the headphones, and then I tried to fix mistakes in shading by going over it with a brush pen. Key takeaway: know when not to try to “fix” things. Better yet, remember that this is all simply practice and experiments; there is much to be discovered and learned from all of my practice!

Sketch It Out - image 13 - student project

Day 13: Enjoy - 8, Confidence - 6, Progress - 9

I was excited to use color today, and I was also excited about drawing Christmas ornaments because they can be so beautiful and often symbolize joy. My favorite part is the shading in the middle stripe of gold on the pen and ink version. I think I could have been a lot better at balancing color and form in the first sketch. I realize that I am still trying to get used to sketching quickly, and trying to use multiple colors while sketching became very overwhelming. In my second sketch, I decided to try sketching in pen (without using pencil first!) and then using color to bring it to life. Key takeaway: it can be fun to mix and match styles!

Sketch It Out - image 14 - student project

Day 14: Enjoy - 6, Confidence - 4, Progress - 10

I made it! I was excited to be able to finish the challenge; at the same time, I was also nervous because I realized that I had chosen an object that would be very challenging to sketch quickly. As I started sketching, I realized that I would have to adjust, and sketch only a part of the whole pack of highlighters. The good thing is that I was able to sketch three different angles within 6 minutes! My favorite part: the lines on the pen clip in the blue highlighter. The part I liked the least is the outline of the red highlighter. Key takeaway: this workshop has gotten me back into drawing and painting, and I hope that I can continue to make it a part of my daily life!

Sketch It Out - image 15 - student project

Abena Ntoso

English Teacher

16

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