Matthew | Drawing Tutorials Online Blog

Hyoin’s Sketchbook

by Matthew | Dec 3, 2016 | Sketchbook Videos | 1 comment

Hyoin is just one of those students who turns everything into gold. Her life drawings are just really beautiful.

Having Hyoin as a student is pretty special. She powers in her life drawings with so much energy and passion. As Hyoin draws she fills most of the 18 x 24 pad which is what I love. There is nothing timid about her work.

The look and feel of her China marker type drawings on newsprint in class is something pretty special.

Her sketchbook takes on a whole different vibe itself with all of the bold color and delicate detailed line.

There is nothing really traditional about Hyoin’s work and that’s what I really like about it. As you can see in her sketchbook she can really turn on the traditional jets when she wants to.

Thanks so much for sharing your sketchbook with us Hyoin. It’s really inspiring!

At this time Hyoin has no social media. She is totally focused on her work.

How To Get More Dimension In Your Portrait Drawings

by Matthew | Nov 25, 2016 | Video Critiques

Every Monday over at members.drawing-tutorials-online.com I film a video critique for members of Drawing Tutorials Online.

In this video you will learn how to utilize surface planes to create more dimension within your portrait drawings. Every artist who wishes to get better at drawing portraits should go through the exercise of drawing surface planes.

No drawing the technique itself won’t make your drawings look pretty. But understanding the concept of surface planes and form most certainly will.

If you are stuck and need another set of eyes to look at your work I’m here to help. Sign up to Drawing Tutorials Online and get a video critique this upcoming Monday.

Drawing Tutorials Online is a safe, non judgmental place to get your artwork critiqued.

Thanks so much for watching. Now get out there and draw something today. It will make you feel better.

Let us know what you think. Leave us a comment below.

Madeleine’s Sketchbook – Total Power

by Matthew | Nov 19, 2016 | Sketchbook Videos, The Blog | 2 comments

Madeleine is a student currently enrolled in my foundation drawing class at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan New York. Madeleine is definitely playing by her own set of rules. She wants to create her own animated series for Cartoon Network. Hey why not.

Madeleine has the drive, the talent and a clear vision for what she wants. The sheer volume of drawings Madeleine has created in her sketchbook is pretty amazing.

I ask my students to fill two sketchbooks in a fifteen week semester, Madeleine completed her two in eight weeks. You definitely have to take note of that.

Finishing two sketchbooks in fifteen weeks is what every student should strive for. There is definitely something magical that happens when you draw that much. That magic is happening with Madeleine.

I really teach drawing in a very traditional way. Madeleine is far from traditional and I totally accept that. I love all of the drawings Madeleine works on in class. They are so very different, they really make you take a step back.

It’s so very important to expose yourself to different kinds of art. For that I thank you Madeleine for sharing your sketchbooks with us.

Check out Madeleine’s website. Thanks again Madeline for sharing your art. looking forward to the next sketchbooks.

Rex’s Sketchbook – Lot’s of Pencil Mileage

by Matthew | Nov 5, 2016 | Sketchbook Videos | 7 comments

Rex is a student currently enrolled in my foundation drawing class at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan New York. Rex is from Shanghai China. Her story is pretty unbelievable.

She was a physics major in hight school, not an art major. Considering how good she is at drawing it’s pretty incredible to witness her raw talent. Rex’s sketchbook shows her very raw talent and I thank her very much for sharing it.

Her talent combined her tireless work ethic is a lethal combination for success. During the first couple of classes I had a hard time convincing Rex to draw in a big 18 x 24 drawing pad. She actually said she didn’t want to waste the paper.

That really made me smile. I immediately said Rex please, I will buy you a pad, you have to draw in a big drawing pad during class. She agreed and for the rest of the semester she has really shined.

I hope you enjoyed looking through Rex’s sketchbook. The video was a little shaky but totally worth it.

Thanks for watching!

https://www.instagram.com/rexchan.dc/

How To Draw A Portrait Likeness

by Matthew | Oct 31, 2016 | Video Critiques | 1 comment

I just finished up filming the weekly critiques over at members.drawing-tutorials-online.com. This one critique really stood out. Cara has been struggling with being able to draw a likeness. We’ve all been there. I know I’ve struggled with being able to capture a likeness on many occasions.

What I’ve discovered over the years is that being able to match values plays such an important role in capturing a likeness. Even if you are able to draw all of the measurements of the models head correctly, if the values are off, the likeness won’t be there.

If you struggle with likeness take a step back. Practice matching values as shown in the video below. Be patient with yourself. It took me years to be able to match subtle values. Especially with color.

Take your time with this, practice with a pencil first. Then move on to color and or paint.

Don’t have a value scale. Head on down to your local paint store. Grab a bunch of paint swatches within the black and white value range and get started today.