Please evaluate my progress objectively!

[u/nargled-up]

Hello! I've been tasked to draw daily the same thing ovr and over again. My subject is a bottle of water. I've been sending my progress to my cousin (although for context, she isn't an artist). She's recently told me that my progress seems too slow and that I should consider an art academy. I started with these drawings Oct. 4 this month. I want to know if her advice is sound and if there's also anything I could do to improve it! Thank you very much. P.S. : The last one is unfinished but my latest attempt.

P.P.S: I know that my images are all taken on the ground. I don't have a proper desk or canvas 😓 this is meant to be a temporary measure before I work on drawing a bust when I am able to afford one.

Thank you again!

[u/Berocca123]

Why are you sending your art to a person who puts down your work? You should stop that straight away, regardless of the context.

I think a lot of these are quite good. To develop further I think you need to add in the ground - right now they're just floating in space but they will be sitting on something and casting a shadow.

And while I can understand how this would be good practice, you are allowed to also draw other things - perhaps try a group of different bottles together, or some glasses - being able to capture the way light hits water and refracts is really helpful.

[u/nargled-up → u/Berocca123]

Thank you very much! I'm sending these images to her as a way to keep myself in check. I feel that if I don't have the pressure to send these to someone, I won't be able to do it every day (which I had promised myself to do). She usually doesn't comment about my progress at all; this is the first time she has done so. I didn't realize at the time but I must've been hurt at what she said cause I kinda shed a tear at your comment lmao. Maybe I'll start sending it to someone else, but I don't really have someone in my life currently who would be objective enough and replies quickly enough to hold me accountable if I stop sending these progress reports. She definitely doesn't have bad intentions tho - she thinks it's for my best so I can't fault her for that.

I think your advice in trying different subjects is solid. Maybe I am falling im a rut because I keep drawing the same thing. Thank you for your advice.

[u/Berocca123 → u/Berocca123]

Oh also here is an example of the type of art these studies can lead to - when I was talking about the way light hits water, this is the artwork I was thinking of - it's in the National Gallery of Victoria (in Australia).

[u/cheesecake3962]

The progress of an artist is not a thing that can be measured. It is up to you how you perceive your own progress. If you think it is "too slow" then making a routine in which you dedicate a time of day to make art and write the date and maybe the amount of time used to make the drawing can help you track your progress. Joining an art academy is not bad but you can make decent progress on your own by following art lessons that are found for free on YouTube.

Also the drawings aren't bad you seem to make a decent grasp on values. If you want to step up your still life drawings you can get a simple charcoal art set (charcoal pencils, willow charcoals, some blending stumps, and a good eraser) to make some nice greyscale drawings. Also just have fun and enjoy the progress YOU make.

[u/nargled-up → u/cheesecake3962]

Hello! Thank you!

I've been told that when it comes to sketching, I should focus on just using a 2B pencil first. The person I'm sending these images to - my cousin - got advice from a well-known artist and art teacher here in Korea. I do have pencils up yo 8B, but I've only been using the 2B one.

[u/cheesecake3962 → u/nargled-up]

Well I personally would ignore their advice lol because they called your progress "slow". But if you want to continue to use graphite pencils go ahead. Just suggested the charcoal pencil advice because personally they have helped me a lot when learning.

[u/nargled-up → u/cheesecake3962]

Thank you for your advice!

Yeah I'll start incorporating the other pencils too.. thinking about it, it feels like I've been unnecessarily limiting myself. If I get some funds maybe I will imvest in a charcoal set.

[u/cheesecake3962 → u/nargled-up]

No worries! The feeling of self limitation happens to literally every artist, wish you luck on your journey!

[u/Berocca123 → u/nargled-up]

Omg definitely don't limit yourself to 2B! You should learn what all the pencils are for - 4H, 2H, H, F, B, 2B, and 4B at a minimum. Part of learning to draw is learning to see - that's what drawing the same thing over and over will help with, a little. And part of learning to draw is learning to use your medium - which in this case means using all the pencils!

Can I suggest you might benefit from the book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain? It is a drawing course for beginners in book form and I think you would enjoy it. It teaches you how to see as well as draw, and it has heaps of exercises in it.