24 Comments
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Paul's avatar

Thanks so much for this video. Your four conditions for making a start are just right. I’m hoping they will give me the necessary nudge to put pen to paper on a regular basis rather than spending most of my time reading about drawing šŸ™‚

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Wait a minute!'s avatar

Great video! I love how you address ā€œlearning to be a beginnerā€ —that stage we all hate! šŸ˜‚ And we think we have to be talented, seems like we learned that in school or something. But most kids draw naturally to express themselves before they know how to write words. It’s a bit of finding that inner child and have fun. I went to Italy last week and completed my very first comic diary. It was so much fun!

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Andrew James's avatar

So good to hear about you comic dairy. Can I see it? :)

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Wait a minute!'s avatar

Really amateur drawings! šŸ˜‚ I created for myself but thank you for asking! I drew little pictures of the buildings, subway, seagulls, cypress trees, coffee cups, pizza, statues, and stuff like that, with little text boxes. I made my own personal creative souvenir to take home from the trip. 😊

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Andrew James's avatar

The best kind of drawings. 🄰

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Andrew James's avatar

Learning to be a beginner is hard. Kids are generally pretty good at it because they’re beginners at everything. Us adults with our careers and training and specialisation can forget what it’s like to start.

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Leigh Yardley's avatar

This is a great, a friend and I have been going out weekly (except in the depth of our winters) since May of 2020. It is always our favorite day of any week.

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Andrew James's avatar

Such a good thing to do. We all need a drawing buddy.

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Steve Brown's avatar

This video was great! Your description of the path to drawing for you, made a lot of sense to me. I tried to learn to play the harmonica last year. I don’t think I accepted being a beginner. I also have a problem with persistence. So after about 3 months…I quit. 😄 I’m also a failed drawer. Can’t seem to stick with it. I’d like to finish a sketchbook for once. I’m going to let your suggestions percolate for a while and try again! So…thanks for this!

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Andrew James's avatar

Many have fallen into the research trap, that hole lined with books and videos and podcasts and advice.

Jump over the trap and put pen to paper :)

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KD's avatar

So good! I'm not commenting a lot, but enjoying your weekly drawing thoughts immensely!

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Andrew James's avatar

Thank you, that makes me really happy to hear it.

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Lauri Niskasaari's avatar

This was a great watch. I try to do some sketching every day. Even though my drawing skills are quite horrible, it's therapeutic.

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ThinkPieceOfPie's avatar

I got a lot out of this video. I parted ways amicably with my art friend recently, and now I realize why this has left me more unsettled than I expected.

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Deryn Hardie Boys's avatar

Sound advice and lovely drawing.šŸ…

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Noreen G's avatar

This was great Andrew. Thank you for sharing. P.S. That tomato is adorable.

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Andrew James's avatar

Thanks Noreen. Tomato is on sandwiches now, but I'll give the drawing away at the next sketchbook club. See you there?

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Noreen G's avatar

I’ll be there. :)

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Lisa Cunningham DeLauney's avatar

Lovely to hear a bit of your drawing origin story. And see your drawings of Angkor. I loved living in Cambodia and visiting the temples. And of course, sketching them.

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Andrew James's avatar

I loved Cambodia. Wonderful people and the temples are incredible.

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cheryl's avatar

tried to find urban sketchers in my area but since i live at the edge of the earth there aren't any. enjoyed your video tho. especially like the 'learning to be a beginner' as i started violin lessons at age 65 so i know that feeling very well and yes, persistance is the key! thanks Andrew

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Andrew James's avatar

If you can't find a group, start one! You just need one other person. Good on you for being a beginner at 65. That's inspiring.

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Alyson Hill's avatar

Very much enjoyed hearing your path but I felt particularly validated by your paint tin :)

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Andrew James's avatar

Thank you. People are often surprised to see my tin. It was a gift before I went on the big trip and is the perfect size. I don't bother cleaning it out; if you use transparent colours and a limited palette you don't need to. Occasionally I soak up the water before packing it away but usually leave it to dry. The dregs make good darks!

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