Drawing

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Muffit
Posts: 40
Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2025 10:57 am
Location: Redding CA

Drawing

Post by Muffit »

IMG_0178 Small.jpeg
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LindasPencils
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Joined: Wed Jul 03, 2019 8:59 am

Re: Drawing

Post by LindasPencils »

Is this your kitty? Sweet. You have good proportions and she is very furry! I like how you have used the pencil strokes in the fur direction, and it seems like you are starting to understand the theory of fur drawing: draw the shadows not the hairs. It is difficult to see the nose on these images though, it appears as a black spot with not much detail. The eyes are a bit 'stare-ing' which make her look a tad angry, perhaps a bit of shading on the upper eye orb would help this? Or make the pupils a bit wider and more open?
I like how you are going with this drawing and nice to see a new face here!

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Mike Sibley
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Re: Drawing

Post by Mike Sibley »

Well, this is in the Graphite Pencil forum, so I have to assume that's what was used. BUT... the strange thing is that I keep seeing BLUE EYES! :o

However, once I began to drop off the yellows and reds, that disappeared. Then I let Affinity Photo do its Auto thing... and this - right or wrong - is what I'm looking at:
LAURA-cat2.jpg
And those blue eyes are back! Maybe it's my imagination? Is it just me? :roll:

Now, to answer the question you emailed me:
Do you think this picture can be improved upon or should I put it away and start fresh
Yes, I think it can be improved. And Yes I think you should call it "done" and start afresh.

Often, trying to alter a drawing simply causes it to became muddy and overworked. So it's usually best to take what you're learned from this one to the next. And keep going that way.

First, you've got a good grasp on using tapered lines. There ARE blunt ends in there but only where they serve a purpose - such as suggesting the shade cast by one layer onto another.

I'm quite convinced you're at the stage of thinking about method and technique while you're drawing. That's as it should be, but it will interfere with any sense of reality you’re trying to achieve.

For example, the hair on the top of the head travels right up the ears. In reality, the hair on the head stops at the base of the ear. Then the hair inside the ear is some distance further back, and subject to the inner shape of the ear and its shadows and highlights. The nose needs details (you can easily search online for that). And the eyes, which are very curved in a cat, aren't showing any highlights or reflections, which they will undoubtedly do.

And, the main omission to my eye, is that kitty has no three-dimensional shading. Her muzzle, for example, has the same values and lighting at the top, bottom and to either side.

But all that's because you were having to concentrate on HOW, rather than WHAT it actually looks like. And that's quite normal. Just keep drawing, and you'll progress until you'll find yourself drawing WHAT without once thinking about HOW.

So treat this as your next step forward. Try again - maybe something similar - and perhaps include one point from above. Don't force it. These things take time. Oh... And don't throw anything away. You'll need these older drawings to see how you've progressed in future times.
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Mike Sibley
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Muffit
Posts: 40
Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2025 10:57 am
Location: Redding CA

Re: Drawing

Post by Muffit »

Oh thank you all for the feedback…I just didn’t know how to put into words what didn’t look right about this drawing. I’m so relieved to know that I’m on the right path but I need more practice and skills. And thank goodness I can put this cat (not one of my cats it’s from my imagination) to rest and begin anew. I’m so happy for the feed back.

Muffit
Posts: 40
Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2025 10:57 am
Location: Redding CA

Re: Drawing

Post by Muffit »

Oh and PS, Mike you’re so funny…you’re right no it’s not graffiti it’s colored pencil but I used just the dark colors except for some white. And the blue 😁

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