Alright you lot welcome back.
Today’s sketchbook spread turned out to be one of my favourites so far.
So let’s take it right back to the preparation stage that I think really made the difference
with how this turned out.
Now that we’re coming to halfway through the series I feel like I’m starting to see
real improvement and real development in my work.
I mean this page of lettering compared to my earlier, more experimental typography page,
the difference is really quite obvious and quite encouraging.
Today’s video is a little bit different, because it’s sponsored by Skillshare.com
and I have to come right out and attribute the shift in my confidence and just the general
refining of hand-lettering, composition and even the illustrating portion of this spread
to what I’ve learned through their classes in the last few days alone.
So we’ll talk more about that in a second but first what you’re seeing now is me trying
out a few lettering styles and later on some composition ideas for my words.
I chose to use this line from a Pablo Neruda poem that goes ‘Nobody keeps any of what
he has, and life is only a borrowing of bones’ but this is great fun to do with quotes, song
lyrics, even just famous sayings and phrases.
You might have seen through my previous videos, I’ve never really been one to plan my work
like this, a lot of the time when people ask me how or why in the comments, I end up having
to admit that I make it up as I go along.
And if it works it works and if it doesn’t it doesn’t.
Which is a strategy I really want to get out of this year.
As I’ve said before, and the reason I’m even doing this sketchbook series, I really
would love to put more time into learning the skills and knowledge that go into creating
pieces of art.
You know, it would be nice to actually KNOW what I’m doing for once.
So having planned and brainstormed the different elements and font styles that I wanted to
use, I felt so much more secure in moving on to inking the actual page.
Going off the key themes of life and bones, I had the idea to go with a gravestone kind
of shape and use some whimsical, poetic font and some of that typical engraved font you’d
get on a gravestone.
I’m taking more of a considered, educated approach and that’s what I feel I’ve been
missing in the development of my art and my attempts to learn and improve.
And this is all stuff that I’ve picked up from Skillshare classes.
So just for a bit of info on the site, Skillshare is an online learning community, they have
over 13,000 classes in drawing, painting, lettering, craft, design, photography, even
things like personal development and productivity, so many things that I’m interested in, even
film and video editing and so much more.
And it has bridged a gap for me between my isolated, regimented way of self-teaching,
to a more extensive, immersive and engaging learning experience.
I really can’t speak highly enough of this site, and how much it’s done for me already
in such a short time.
Umm here I’m just testing a few pens for line weight, I just wanted to thicken up the
lines here to make the lettering stand out more from the flourishes.
Shoutout to this new set of pens by the way, shoutout to my boyfriend for getting me them.
If you’re interested in inking and linework, this is a great varied set to get creative
with.
I was actually having so much fun with this I really just wanted to keep it going.
I’ve also taken a class or two on developing ideas for illustrations and it’s really
helped me spark inspiration from just a couple of words, so I decided to keep this spread
going onto the next page, using the words as inspiration for a drawing.
So again you got to see a bit of my brainstorming process and a little bit of thumbnail sketching
as well.
Just these little tweaks in the preparation process you know that I think make a real
difference for the finished piece.
Now the most exciting thing about my experience with Skillshare is that they’re actually
offering my viewers, you lovely lot, 3 months membership to the site for $0.99.
You can check out some of the classes I’ve mentioned, I’ll have them linked below or
I’ve found a great series of courses called Art School Boot Camp that go into some of
the key concepts of composition, colour, style development, even touching on art history.
With my coupon code in the description you would have unlimited access to these classes
and projects and whichever others take your fancy, for 3 months for just $0.99.
You can even teach your own classes on there if that’s something you think you’d be
interested in.
I think just from looking at how I’ve been able to take on valuable lessons and important
tips and tricks you can see just how rewarding it can be to be able to follow a structured
lesson taught by people who are passionate and experienced in their craft, with class
notes, references and bonus material to refer to.
Then to get to see other peoples work, share yours, give and receive feedback and create
in this collaborative space.
And after three months, if it’s taking your fancy, Premium Membership costs about $10
a month.
Umm so I do hope you check out Skillshare, I’ll have their website linked below.
It’d be great to hear what you guys think of it.
But yeah that’s if for today, I’ll see you all in the next one.
Bye!