Basic Geometry

This week's assignment is to draw something that incorporates three basic geometric shapes: the square, the circle and the triangle. This is your chance to shine! Don't be afraid to try something different or abstract.

Blur the background

This week we'll try to recreate the photographic effect of a sharp focal point and blurred background. I find it easier to achieve that with color, whether it be paint or pastels, but the choice is up to you.

Stuffed Animal

I love cats and dogs and spend quite a bit of time drawing them (although I find dogs harder than cats). At any rate, I thought we'd try drawing a stuffed animal for a change. The challenge for me will be make sure that it is apparent that my subject was a toy, rather than an actual critter.

DIY Photoshop

We all know (probably) that you can use Photoshop to fix/alter an image or even create something different from a photo. How about trying your (own) hand at it? Forget the software.Use your own ingenuity (and hand and pencil) to find a picture of something that needs fixing. For example: a picture that shows a wardrobe malfunction - but your job is to draw the picture the way it should be - without the malfunction. Of course, the most obvious solution is to show the clothing as it should be. However, you can also take a cue from Hollywood and have something strategically block the view (as was done in the Naked Gun). But it doesn't need to be a person. You could choose to fix a photo bomb or any other image that just doesn't seem quite right to you. How about one of those ridiculous air-brushed photos that show an impossibly thin person who is missing curves? Perhaps you want to make the model appear more realistic. Or if you prefer an inanimate object, check your magazine collection for weird advertisements. Quite often ads contain mistakes because they were put together using something like Photoshop, but the artist missed something. Just don't get frustrated. Try to have fun with this.