Joseph's shiny new sketchbook

[JosephCow]

I want to thank you for writing this because a lot of people get hung-up on techniques like constructing in a box, as if it is the answer to all problems of correct drawing. (Not talking about you Ben, don't worry.) People made great art hundreds of years ago when they had 1/10th or less the knowledge and techniques that everyone freely has access to today, and yet people still get hung up on these things (which I understand somewhat, since the free access and sharing of information leads to a lot of white noise that makes it hard to focus).

Your drawings show a great level of care and quality and I look forward to seeing where you go.

Thanks!
Yeah I kind of agree. with the perspective thing it's still all good, but it's a suggestive technique, like you can help yourself imagine how something should look at a certain angle. Can't really say 'this is definitely right!'.

But yeah I feel like sometimes people end up searching for the right technique, or tutorial, or brush set or whatever that will finally make them be able to do the thing they want to do, and then they get frustrated when it still doesn't come. To go with a construction example, Loomis' books have always been pretty popular, but people misunderstand that just reading a book won't give you a skill. and drawing a circle with some lines on it doesn't necessarily = construction. Like the construction has to be happening in your head. It's a concept. I bring that up specifically because I have a bunch of old sketchbooks full of those, I just thought that's how you draw heads idk. Ya fake it till you make it though, i guess.

We have probably 100 times more art instruction floating around now, but 90% of it is not very good, and like you said, how do you even know what is good at this point