How I progressed from a zero to hero in drawing :)

I was frustrated one day with all the “uncreative” things I was doing in my life like washing vessels, putting the clothes for laundry, cleaning the house so on and I decided I have to learn something creative. Something which I can call my hobby and which I will enjoy doing during my  free time. I was frantically browsing the net for something interesting to do and there lo behold, a blog came up with the suggestion for a book called “Creative on the Right Side of the Brain“. The title seemed very interesting and apt for my situation. I ran to the library and picked up a copy of the book.

And what do I get as a result: Within two months, my drawing has improved like 100 times. And I am love with the book.

Can’t believe it???

I am totally amazed that even a person like me could draw. Believe me, I was not even capable of drawing a straight line properly. I haven’t finished all the exercises in the book. This goes on to show: “ANYBODY CAN DRAW“(May be I am sounding like Chef Gusteau who said “Anybody can cook” in the movie Ratatouille). Trust me, if I could draw then I believe anybody else can draw.

Three cheers to the book and the wonderful author “Betty Edwards“. (I go “Hip Hip Hurray*3″). “Betty Edwards” wherever you are, I thank you for this wonderful gift you have given me. Really, if you want to learn to draw go get this book NOW.

Here are some pictures I have taken of my drawing from Day 1 till today so that you can actually see the improvement in my drawing.The pictures may not be of good quality as I have photographed the pictures instead of scanning them.

Day 1: May 9th, 2008: How I used to draw like a 4 year old child

Day 6: May 15th, 2008. Yes this is a huge leap. I had to rub my eyes a hundred times to believe that I had drawn the below pictures. Just see the difference:

The above picture is my absolute favorite. It is a picture of “Lord Murugan” from the famous “Rani Muthu” calendar. I cannot still believe that I drew one of my favorite gods.

Day 9: May 18th, 2008

In between(May and June) I kept practising the exercises in the book. Couldn’t take a picture of those because it was mostly practise drawings and are full of mess.

I drew my hands, legs, chairs, tables, objects, there were so many useful exercises.

Then I went onto portrait drawing.

Initially, we are asked to do “profile views” of faces. “Profile views” mean just half of the face or side view of the face.

Drawing on July 5th, 2008: My second “profile view” portrait of David. I copied this picture from a sculpture of David which I found on the internet

On the same day i.e., July 5th I did another “profile” portrait of a girl(which is one of my favorites after Lord Murugan). I found the below pic on the internet too:

Today I practised doing “Three quarter view” portrait where only three quarter of the face is seen. I copied a Master portrait by the famous 16th century artist “Raphael“. My drawing is no where compared to the Master. However I did that because in the book, “Betty Edwards” had suggested us to copy some master portraits so that we get confidence and feel like a master artist our selves.

Here is the original picture: Raphaels’ amazing drawing of a woman

Here is my copy of the master drawing:

The above drawing is very special to me because it is the first time I was copying the drawing of a master artist and it is a very humbling and exciting experience to delve deep into the drawing and reproduce it.

I will conclude with a saying from the book: “When you draw, you do not show the features or the personality of the person whom you are drawing but you show the personality of yourself“. Every drawing reflects your inner self.

Hope you all have enjoyed seeing the pictures as much as I have enjoyed drawing them!!!!!!