Goal: was to complete all the 131 drawings in this book, and I finally finished all the drawings in the 'How to Draw Manage in Simple Steps by Yishan Li. It got complicated towards the end, and I got a bit bored but I pushed through. Below are my copies of the final illustrations.
Start Date: 9th March 2019 Completion Date: 27 April 2019
Background: I love picking up instructional books, there is something empowering about them and I feel my life would change but more often than not it's just a 'pick me up' to be tossed in the corner and never used again (if I bought a copy), or returned to the library - unused.
But having discovered an article called a guilt-free plan, I decided to start small and use this book to see. https://dabwrites.blogspot.com/2019/03/daily-writing-journal-guilt-free.html I put in all this post, including a plan.
I pushed myself through the boring drawings or ones I didn't particular like. Normally, I'd have skipped or procrastinated when it got to difficult or tedious parts but I kept going.
By When: 24th November.This is the very latest time because I've already reached drawing 49, I only have 211 drawing left. So if I did one drawing a day it would take me 211 days. However I expect it will be much quicker maybe half that time so end of August maybe even earlier, depending on how simple and interesting the drawings are.
Not included: There are assignments in the book, which I'm skipping as they will add on about 100 more drawings. However if I'm making good time, I may include them.
My starting point: drawing 49
A minimum of one drawing a day, seven a week, and making up when I miss the target. Perhaps I should have monthly reviews to see where I am. Or maybe when I'm done.
That's it...well I have a few more drawing books waiting for me to complete them, but one at a time...
Start Date: 9th March 2019 Completion Date: 27 April 2019
Background: I love picking up instructional books, there is something empowering about them and I feel my life would change but more often than not it's just a 'pick me up' to be tossed in the corner and never used again (if I bought a copy), or returned to the library - unused.
But having discovered an article called a guilt-free plan, I decided to start small and use this book to see. https://dabwrites.blogspot.com/2019/03/daily-writing-journal-guilt-free.html I put in all this post, including a plan.
Reflect and review of goal
What went well.
Once I'd outline a plan I felt committed to doing it, even though there was no reward other than completing the book, I had a nagging feeling when I did nothing. So during my free time, I drew. I also become less precious about whether the drawings looked like the book's examples because after a while it dawned on me the instructor was a professional with years and year of practice. Basically, I threw precision and perfection out of the window, and just drew.I pushed myself through the boring drawings or ones I didn't particular like. Normally, I'd have skipped or procrastinated when it got to difficult or tedious parts but I kept going.
What didn't go well.
Embracing my imperfect often rubbish drawings was hard. I was very self-critical during the beginning, in fact it was only mid-way after sixty odd drawings, I became comfortable.
I realised my weak areas such as proportion, and perspective. Also drawing swirls, curves and loops. Then at some point, I just focused on the goal of completion, so there was a phase when I ceased to do any inking (colouring in), it was purely sketching with pencil and black ink, or whatever I had around.
At some point, I just raced to the end, surpassing my inner critic on the presentation of the pictures I drew.
At some point, I just raced to the end, surpassing my inner critic on the presentation of the pictures I drew.
Learnings & Takeaways
- Making the plan was the easiest and most enjoyable part of the journey. I guess that's why most of us have lots and lots of unfilled plans. Plans also make things conceptually a lot easier and simpler than they are. Following and keeping to the plan is a different ball game - I got so bored at time.
- Reviewing and reflecting is important so I could adjust the plan. I found this was very good, especially when I got bored or missed days, I would go and review my plan, tick off the drawings I'd done, then look at the dates. Sometimes, I'd have to adjust the dates or make a mental note to keep up.
- Focusing on the main goal was important. At times, I got distracted or a little down that my drawings looked very poor but I had to remember the main goal was completing the book.
- One goal of a kind is good enough. I started off thinking I do go about three drawing books at a time but soon realised that was a planner's dream. Now I realise because I loved planning stage (without executing them), I would plan my time because it seemed so simple on paper but in reality it was too much. So one drawing book.
Next Drawing Goal
Task: Complete all 260 drawings in How to Draw Anything by Mark LinleyBy When: 24th November.This is the very latest time because I've already reached drawing 49, I only have 211 drawing left. So if I did one drawing a day it would take me 211 days. However I expect it will be much quicker maybe half that time so end of August maybe even earlier, depending on how simple and interesting the drawings are.
Not included: There are assignments in the book, which I'm skipping as they will add on about 100 more drawings. However if I'm making good time, I may include them.
My starting point: drawing 49
Steps Backwards
- Show my final piece and the book on this blog
- return my book the library
- draw my final piece
- Review and reflect regularly.
- Draw at least one day,
A minimum of one drawing a day, seven a week, and making up when I miss the target. Perhaps I should have monthly reviews to see where I am. Or maybe when I'm done.
That's it...well I have a few more drawing books waiting for me to complete them, but one at a time...
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