I wish I could do that

[John Turner]

Ever thought that? Well, as a picture framer I get to see plenty of amazing original paintings and drawings and often thought "I wish I could do that"

So I decided to see if I actually could and am now half way through a two year course (only one morning a week in normal school term times) - the first year is tone and shade using graphite (powdered; applied with a cotton wool ball - highlights are taken out with several types of erasers - erasers are used as drawing tools - takes a bit of head-getting-around) and varying grades of pencil and culminates in a portrait of your choice. The second year, which starts in September, is colour, but pencil & pastel - no paint and culminates in anything you like, could be a portrait, could be a landscape, whatever.

The course is run by a pretty amazing lady who has teaching methods that are 'different' - more about seeing than actual drawing - it's not a face, or a plant or anything else, it's just a load of shapes, edges, tones etc etc etc. You could draw it upside-down, it wouldn't matter, in fact part of this was.

The course is called "So you think you can't draw" I was pretty sure I couldn't .................................................. ...



There's still some detail to do - wrinkles on the forehead etc, but somehow I've managed to capture an expression and a pair of eyes looking straight at you, which is what the aim was.

[ap1]

Blimey John, thats outstanding. The individual hairs on the right eyebrow, very natural. You have a talent mate.

[Gwyn Nicholas]

Very impressive JT. Well done mate.

[richie264]

Art was my fav subject at school but never followed it up, what a cracking pic mate.

[John Turner]

Meet my teacher http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...44415121649710# She lives a 15 min walk from my place in a converted windmill, well the actual tower is a 5 storey art gallery.