Learning by doing.
It can work, but at some point a guy needs to look to some other sources for guidance and advice. Like, say… a book (or ten.)
What was the best anything that you read in 2021?
As much as I’ve taken to the internets this past year in an attempt to hone my sketching technique, watching videos and reading forums, what has been most useful is the small but growing collection of art instruction books that I have in my personal library.
Books on figure drawing. Books on perspective art. Books on comics. Books on general drawing skills and books with very specific topics for very specific art-ish subjects. Even some new books I’ve picked up the past few months about urban sketching have found a place on my nightstand where I peruse them before bed many nights.
Are they deep literature and mind-expanding novels? No.
Are they reading material to take on a vacation or to relax with? Not exactly.
Are they something I would recommend? If you are interested in sketching, of course.
As with many things worth learning there is usually a book about it.
Not every subject can be taught from a loaf of paper, but I’ve found that sketching is one those subjects that can be enhanced by reading about it.
I think it has helped me.
Thirty one topics. Thirty one posts. Not exactly a list… but close. In December I like to look back on the year that was. My daily posts in December-ish are themed-ish and may contain spoilers set against the backdrop of some year-end-ish personal exposition.