Did you miss me? We completed the “30 day Drawing Challenge” that was held during the entire month of March. There were 393 students signed up for the Challenge. You may be asking yourself what this painting has to do with the Drawing Challenge.
Those who drew during the Challenge, came to be familiar with their own Mr. Evil (aka the Itty Bitty SH&##y Committee), but they also learned how to control him…most of the time. One can never rid oneself entirely of that little monster.
Anyway, I thought you might get a kick out of seeing the Balinese Mr. Evil (official name is Rangda).
Do you recall that very first little drawing I shyly showed you – the first one I did when I went to Bali?
Here it is again. Tiny (about 3 inches) and uncertain, it was all I could squeeze out with Mr. Evil telling me how very bad I was at drawing. “You’ll never learn how to draw. Might as well give it up.”
Well (insert big kung fu Chuck Norris roundabouts here) take that Mr. Evil! This is the improvement I saw after three weeks of drawing. (It was much more than 10 min a day. I drew every day for most of the day of the three weeks). Determination, and try, try, try again is what gets your there. You CAN do it in 10 minutes a day. It just takes a bit longer. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all.
Just Sayin…There’s hope.
For this week, I’d like to include some Quotes from the Drawing Challenge. I hope you enjoy:
We are our own worst enemy. Luckily, that’s something we can change.
The most important part of drawing is SEEING.
If you draw decisively, like you meant to do it that way, everyone will think you did.
To draw decisively, you do not need heavy drugs…just have to know how to bore the Left side of your brain, aka Mr. Evil.
When you are seeing, you are in the moment. That’s a very fine place to be.
Contour drawing is worth your time.
Attitude not aptitude.
Pretend like heck that you can draw like daVinci and ACT AS IF your skills are amazing…I know it sounds totally bogus, but if you have that mindset your drawings will improve.
There are things that only drawing can do for you. It changes your life in very small but significant ways.
There are no bad drawings. You learn much more from the bad ones than the good ones. The good ones build your confidence. The bad ones teach you.
No matter how bad a drawing is, it’s not actually going to end the world.
I’ll bet you didn’t expect to see a turkey here this morning?
ANYTHING that you draw will be more than what you were doing. Don’t berate yourself for what you haven’t done. Pat yourself on the back for each one you do, and you’ll find yourself drawing more.
Be positive about the negative (spaces).
I cannot tell you how happy I am to have taken up drawing again. I’ve been thinking of it, but I always considered the thing impossible and beyond my reach.
~Vincent Van GoghWhen your energy fades and you don’t want to draw, most of the time its because you don’t like your drawings. Don’t let a few bad drawings get you down. Get over it and keep on keepin’ on. You WILL get better.
No one is like you. Enjoy what is different about you. Don’t feel like you have to be like someone else. Your drawings are full of ‘you’, only the way that you can do it.
Sometimes Nothing (the negative spaces) are more communicative than Something.
Perfection is paralysis.
You are you. Now isn’t that pleasant ?
~Dr. SeussGet the Itty Bitty Sh$&:y Committee off your shoulder!
Drawing is copying what you SEE onto a flat surface.
I discovered that even if I wasn’t correct with every little thing, as long as I was DECISIVE the drawing worked.
As for the rules of perspective…ignore the names of things and just draw. DRAW WHAT YOU SEE and it will work.
Keep the attitude that each line is fine…just like that, and that. Let your lines be! Don’t try to improve your lines by going over them. This will make your lines muddled or indistinct. Your lines are good just the way you made them the first time.
~Robert Dvorak
If you would still like to try the 30-day Challenge, it will be available on www.KathieGeorge.com for at least 30 more days. On the home page, click on the Workshop tab at the top of the page….a list will drop down. Click on 30-day Challenge and you’re in! You will be able to see, not only the lessons, but photos that some students downloaded to be shared. Thanks to all who worked so hard during March and for all who shared their drawings. xoxo
Thanks so much for reading. See you next week.
Kathie
I do miss you, Kathie. I loved getting up each morning to see what was next! Now, I have to wait for Tuesday’s to see what’s up. For those who didn’t have the chance to do the 30-Day Challenge, you should do it. You not only learn something, you have fun! Thanks again, Kathie! It was great.
Thank you Judy. Can’t wait to see you in……France! Can you believe we’ll be in France in a few months?
Kathie, I can’t begin to tell you how much you have helped me. Every year I make a New Year’s resolution to draw every day for 20 minutes. I have been doing this at least the last ten years and my resolution would last for less than a week. I would even buy a new sketch pad to inspire me. It did not work. I would get bored, discouraged, Mr. Evil would visit me. This time I have stuck with it and to my amazement have discovered I can draw and you could have knocked me over with a feather when you told us we would be using a pen. My drawing has improved so much, I have a new confidence about my drawings. I can draw. I like most of the drawings I completed. I surprised myself. I know how important the decisive line is. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. Nancy
It means so much to me to hear this, so thank you for taking the time to write your comment! Made my day.
Thank you Kathie! What a gift you gave all of us! The daily tips and assignments established the habit of drawing~~ anything~~it didn’t have to be a perfectly planned picture or composition. I used to “sneak into” a picture, going over lines and am now making decisive lines and enjoying it so much more! Thanks for today’s key quotes.
Thanks so much, Mary Ann!
I’m still in the middle of the March 2014 – 30 day drawing challenge… even though I got a late start, I’m determined to finish up. Your encouraging words today will help me persevere from day #12 through day #30. I needed to hear what you said about making decisive lines and don’t go back over them trying to perfect them. I’ve got to learn to be happy w/what my mind’s eye saw and tried to put down on paper. Thanks for leaving the 30 dy challenge up for a while longer. I’m really enjoying this…. Sherry
Sherry, if you follow that philosophy you’ll be drawing skills will improve dramatically! Good luck!
Wonderful advice to read everyday! Thank you for putting them all together. I also miss getting a greeting from you every morning. Happy Spring. 🙂
Kathie, thank you so much for helping us “see” and move Mr. Evil out of our views. However, I think we all need to do what you have done for us – open the dialog and encourage others. Yesterday as I went through the PNC Bank drive-thru on Wilmington Pike and Stroop, I had time to look at a graceful tree straight ahead of me. After the young man at the window greeted me, I asked if he had a window facing that tree. I commented on that beautiful tree just asking to be sketched. He said he would look on his way to his car since there was no bank window to see it. He said he really missed drawing and painting – pointillism, no less! I will check in with that young man from time to time, encouraging him to see and do!!! Fran
Hi Kathie,
Just back from my trip to very snowy eastern Canada to celebrate my Dad’s 91st. I travelled so much in March that I could not do the challenge, but I am up for it now. I accessed the Welcome page on your website, but can’t figure out how to register with you. E
Elaine, because the Challenge is over you can no longer ‘register’. But you can still access the lesson by going to the website…..then click on Workshops at the top of the page. A menu will drop down and you can click on “30 day Challenge”. It will take you to all of the lessons. You can choose your lesson by arrows at the very bottom of each page – either forward or backward.
I hope this helps!
Hi Kathie,
It did. I had figured it out and now have completed day 3. Hard not to listen to Mr. Evil, but will keep trying.
I’m forwarding this to artist friends. Since your challenge, I bought your book, Simple Beautiful Watercolor (On Amazon) and did my first Batik. Also, I’ve become serious about all these “How to Draw” books I’ve bought and ignored, and actually doing the exercises. I’ve put my name in the hat for contender in a local drawing opportunity. Before your challenge I would not have considered being considered…stay tuned. I’m sure there are others willing to take it on, too. You are an inspiration, and I so much appreciate Karen Knutson for telling me about your challenge. I mentioned your book on Facebook and my blog, so hope I also help you in your career. Thanks for sharing your gifts.
Thanks so much, Delores. I appreciate all of that…….and I’ve enjoyed your blog, too!
Glad to have you back Kathie. I printed off all the daily challenges during our 30 day journey. It was a wonderful journey by the way and I feel I have learned a few things. I will continue to look back on you tips, techniques and encouragement. I still find at time that my Mr. Evil wants to pay me a visit, but I continue to push him to the side of the road. Thanks again for this challenge, it has been rewarding in many ways.
Great picture. Thank you Kathie for a wonderful and rewarding drawing experience. I enjoyed drawing each day and spent more time each day. It became very relaxing to get lost in the drawing.
Thanks so much for all the hard work you put into the challenge, I didn’t get through them all but I did download them so I think they will stay on my computer to work on this summer. Does anyone know if this will keep them for me? Also anyone going to Kathie’s week long class at the Madeline Island School of Arts in WI, I am looking for someone to share the ride withe me. I live in the Toledo, Ohio area and will drive up and over to the class. Kathie is teaching painting from your photos, watercolor and I think there are still a few spots open. I think it is the 3rd week of August, I know it is after HOOT. Call me if interested Christie 419-343-0771 thanks.
The drawing challenge has worked wonders for me. While doing the 30 day challenge, I began an oil painting but let it sit for part off the month. When I went back to it after the challenge was over, I realized there were a few things that were out of perspective and needed to be revised based on how we learned to measure size and shapes. The elements got revised and the whole thing looks MUCH better.
It’s not easy but am trying to keep up with the drawing.
Again thank you for being a great coach.
Hello Christie. You could call Madeline Island and talk to Jenna. She may give you the student list so that you could email to ask if anyone would like to ride with you.
Hi Kathie, thanks so much for doing the drawing challenge. That was my first time to work on drawing. I even got brave and took my sketch book to our monthly meeting for show and tell! And I did finish drawing the days that I missed!! And I had several pages left in my book and I just kept drawing and completed the book out. So looking forward to our next workshop with you. Can’t wait to see what you have planned for us! I know it will be creative and fun. Happy life and painting and of course…… Drawing!!