A Fun Way to Get Drawing Practice

[Julie Deane]

Hi Everyone -

I thought I would share a fun way I came up with to get lots of drawing practice.

I am a speech therapist who works in a public school in a low-income neighborhood. For our Fall Festival, I donated a few hours to doing profile portraits in charcoal for a small sum. I got such a good response that I offered them after school hours, with the proceeds to go towards therapy supplies.

Well, since Halloween, I would estimate that I've done around 60 protraits, mainly of children but some adults too, of all races. It's been a blast! The families are happy because they have a unique Christmas present to give, I'm happy because I'm getting drawing practice, and my clients will be happy with the new toys and therapy materials that I was able to buy with the proceeds.

The only day I've had difficulty getting a likeness was today, and I had been sick and had not been able to draw in over a week. I made arrangements to redo those two (out of six done) and have learned something important - I need to practice every day or I will get rusty. Anyway, this has been a great win-win situation that I thought I would share.

[Richard Budig]

Julie:

That's a nice thing to do. I, too, have found a way to get portrait drawing practice. I live in a really small town (Skiatook, OK). It has only one grocery store. They let me come down two or three afternoons a week and do quick (10-15 minute) pencil sketches, which I do for free.

Lots of people ask about the free part, thinking there must be a catch. I explain that I'm a portrait painter, that I need constant practice drawing, and that if they don't sit for me for free, I'll have to pay someone several dollars per hour to do it. I do this with a smile in my voice, and their eyes usually light up and they say something like, "Ah haaaaa."

I do a lot of children, which I didn't like, at first. Kids are fairly "round," and without the kind of definition you get from a seasoned rancher, or whatever. However, children present other problems that must eventually be faced, too. And, I get my share of adults. Of course, I hand out my card and, sometimes, a brochure that, in effect, says I'm available for more complete portrait work.

I'm retired and don't care whether I get "cash customers" or not. My goal is to continue my art education, and doing a few free sketches beats spending my retirement income on models.

Many times, I've been offered money for the sketch, but, since my little sign says "free," I kindly refuse. But, summer is coming, and so are the local pow-wows, and rodeos.

Dick Budig
Skiatook