Learning, learning...

[Sharon Knettell]

Katherine,

Katherine Clarks book shows you how to work with a simple egg as a beginning. One source you should consider is a place where they make concrete garden casts. Get a little putti (baby sculpture) or anything that has good round contours.

Katherine Clark's book, has simple diagrams, and shows you how to set up painting from life.

Harold Speed's book shows you invaluable measuring and drawing techniques. His painting and drawing books describes first painting in monochrome and then in a limited palette.

Get those and then after a bit you can wallow in Chris's beautiful colors.

[Michele Rushworth]

Sharon and Chris offer excellent advice, as always.

I would re-iterate and clarify their points as follows:

1. Turn off your flash whenever you photograph something or someone you want to draw.

2. When drawing from a live person or real object in front of you, use a single strong source of light, (but not from the front, the way the flash is on your camera). For example, put an egg or two on the table, as Sharon suggested. Then set a desk lamp at a 45 degree angle to the subject so you have a single strong source of light, giving some form to whatever it is you're looking at.

Once you have something to work from that is actually lighted to show form and volume (and not just line) you'll find it a hundred times easier to represent that form on paper.

[Katherine Annon]

Believe it or not, I actually tried the single source of light technique in this picture. That glaring light on my subject was a bright lamp I set up. I've been taking photos every day of everything (or everything that won't weird the people around me out - I ask permission re: any human subjects!). I carry my camera around with me and I work daily in shooting with the flash off, too. While it may not be the best kind of practice, it has given me a feel for working without a flash. But I have to study carefully how to set up - or seek out appropriate lighting. This photo makes my subject look like she is either being interrogated or facing down an oncoming train in a tunnel.

[Michele Rushworth]

Try using just natural window light instead. The lamp was too bright and too close in the above photo, as you've already discovered.

[Jan Keeling]

Katherine, everyone has given great advice. I have been reading Roberta Carter Clark's book on Sharon's recommendation, and it is packed with helpful information.

But I just want to say... I think your drawing is beautiful, with a kind of Oriental feel, and if that were the look you were going for... well, I would simply say it is beautiful and successful!