My experience last year

If you guys don’t know, LoveLifeDrawing and Croquis Cafe partners every year to create this wonderful drawing practice sessions about Figure drawing, called Figuary. I participated last year, but I did it a bit late. I put off practicing until August. Nevertheless, I finished the challenge and learned amazing tips for figure drawing, making lines, and rudimentary shading.

I also learned how to properly hold my pencils, learned using perspective and light in my drawings because of the month-long challenge. During my free time in the morning or evening, I’ll just take out my sketchbook and pencils, open the LoveLifeDrawing website, and start practicing. There was a link for the Youtube tutorial and Croquis Drawing Lesson in a single webpage.

What’s new this year

This year, Vimeo started charging Croquis for their drawing videos, which made the habit and the schedule a bit trickier.

Instead of finding everything in one webpage, I have to visit Youtube, Croquis cafe, IG accounts, and other “additional learning resources” for my practice. After a day’s work as a Scientist, I find that it more difficult to keep my drawing habit because of those added resistance.

Still, I applaud their dedication to deliver quality tutorials to their viewers. Except for the Vimeo videos, they manage to provide free lessons every week. And I’m truly grateful for that. But as I said, sticking to the habit is a bit more difficult this year.

Challenges I’ve faced

• Confusing schedule — I constantly have to check the Youtube video descriptions to make sure that I have the correct schedule for the live sessions, until eventually, I created a Google Drive reminder for myself for the whole month.

• Different time zone during the live sessions — Keeping up with the live sessions is also a bit trickier. Living on the equator, I have to wake up at 5am on Thursdays, and stay up late until 11 pm on Sundays to attend the live sessions. It would have been easier if I can access the lessons outside of those time.

Moving Forward

I really want to improve my skills, and the only way to do that is to be more consistent. Having said that, I blocked out the time of the day in my calendar to practice. I think I need to forgo the live sessions as I still want to stick to normal circadian rhythm.

Learning is harder this year, but I’d like to think I’m still up for the challenge.