As mentioned previously, Sketchbook Skool mostly fell by the wayside after the first week's lesson. Fellow participants joined the SBS Facebook group during class and continued on together after the lessons were complete. I sometimes hung out in the periphery - enjoying the camaraderie and briefly joining in during moments of improvement.
Last week I stepped back into Skool and homework assignments. Six inspiring artists instructed us and the last week was presented by Tommy Kane. Afterwards, he wrote a moving letter about what teaching us had meant to him and how we should love our own artwork. He noticed when posting work, we were overly critical of our own abilities. I've noticed it too and am guilty. We must stop. He instructed us to practice every day, keep going no matter what and, of course, love our work! My interpretation is mistakes are learning experiences, but also what you did well, even if it's one line, causes growth and helps with the next page. Always start the next page.
Part of healing is returning to my sketchbook. After reading that letter and noticing many classmates sketching Tommy Kane, I decided to do so as well. One pose in this comical video grabbed me. I draw my feet often, so there's that. It also makes me want to actually try sketching something with my long toes just for giggles.
Roz Stendahl (5th SBS teacher) recommends warming up with gesture sketches, so I did. On the third page I used more of her advice to line up landmarks - eye to elbow, chin to knee, etc. I tend to do this without really thinking. Focusing more closely was a good thing.
Next, moving from the little Moleskine to a bigger multimedia Strathmore book for the "real" page. Jane LaFazio (4th SBS teacher) begins her pages with pencil, then pen. I followed her lead and was pleasantly surprised how the initial sketches helped - less erasing. Last was watercolor and journaling. The quote (author unknown) fits both the comical page and my tumultuous life. I'm kinda' happy with it.
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