LEARNING TO DRAW, THE SAGA CONTINUES...

My childhood best friend said in passing last summer that anyone could learn anything if they have the right teacher.  I would have written this off if it wasn't true for me.  I nearly failed Algebra the first two times I took it.  I just didn't get it.  I took it with Mr. Heglund and got an 'A' because I 'got it' and I  LOVED it!  I really needed to do well in math since I was at a special science school and well science and math are married. I am grateful to Mr. Heglund for giving me the gift and love of algebra (yes you read that right). I am now in my 4th decade on earth, oh that sounds so horrible, but really it's not that bad. My desire to learn new things is at an all time high.  My brain just feels receptive, I don't have boys on the brain (just one boy) and I can finally take classes because I have an interest and it's pleasurable not because I need to get an advanced degree. The pressure is off, (besides the pressure I put on myself but that's just me). I have mentioned multiple times that I want to learn to draw and have found some good books but really the results were still just so-so.  My drawings were more recognizable than before the books but you would have to squint hard, that is until I was introduced to Lee J. Ames last weekend.  Look above that's a horse by gosh and a polar bear, no squinting necessary!  The word on the street is that it's a great idea to learn how to draw realistically and then develop your own style once you have mastered the basics (hey it worked for Picasso!)  Did you know that Van Gogh didn't become an artist until the last 10 years of his life?  It's true! Ames breaks his drawings down to their basics, circles, ovals, squares, etc. and then builds from there, step-by-step.  I couldn't believe when I got to the last step that my drawing looked similar to the one I was working off of (and no this was not traced!).  My heart did a flip flop.  It so impressed Ace that he exclaimed, "I want to learn how to draw too!'.  Translated that means, 'If you could draw anyone can. True, true.  I do have to mention here that I did get some pencils which were suggested from the "So you think you couldn't draw' book.  That book I liked as well, but the author was doing A LOT of selling and I was feeling like I was buying into it.  I felt like if I didn't buy her pencils, sketch pad, etc. I wouldn't get any better.  I tried to not listen to that consumerism voice and just went to the art store and bought the basic, least expensive pencils in her suggestions.  The pencils even though not top of the line do work better than the standard #2 pencil.  Making the fur on the coats I used a 2B, it's a soft, dark pencil and you don't need a lot of pressure to get results. For the sketch I used an 'F'' or "H". I hope if you are wanting to learn something and feeling frustrated this post gives you some modicum of hope and you won't give up any time soon...