# Beginners first efforts

**URL:** <https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/beginners-first-efforts/4265>\
**Category:** Share Your Art\
**Created:** [February 12, 2025, 9:16pm UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/beginners-first-efforts/4265 "2025-02-12T21:16:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![snookypooky](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.thevirtualinstructor.com/snookypooky/32/6420_2.png) [@snookypooky](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/snookypooky)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 9:16pm UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/beginners-first-efforts/4265/1 "2025-02-12T21:16:55Z")

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Hi Everyone

Hope you are all well.  
Other than the introduction this is my first post. I consider myself a beginner despite dabbling in drawing many moons ago. I have been so excited about starting some of the courses. So far I have completed the 25 days to better drawing and just started the coloured pencil course. Matt Is a fantastic instructor, and I have learnt a lot about art already and about myself, as follows

- I know very little about art, there is so much more to It than I originally thought - sketching a few lines on any old piece of paper and colouring with one layer between the lines. 😁
- I’m overly fussy and don’t know when to stop. Matt directed me to a really useful article on the blog. [How to Know When an Artwork is Finished](https://thevirtualinstructor.com/blog/how-to-know-when-an-artwork-is-finished)
- Most importantly – to all you beginners out there- persevere. Nearly all my efforts below nearly ended up in the bin in the early stages – my thoughts included “it looks a funny shape, the proportions aren’t right, too dark etc. But if you persevere you may be surprised at the end result.
- I want all the professional artist materials but I’m a poor old soul …ahhh… 😟 and can’t afford it….so I’ll have to wait for birthdays, Mother’s Day, Christmas etc and hopefully my kids will help me get better art materials – we will see. However, I have purchased the basics although it probably won’t help me to create a Rembrandt equivalent … it’s a start. 🫤

I’m eager to create something of my own……but more haste less speed…I need to understand what squiggles go where on the paper before I venture solo without Matt’s expert teaching and guidance.

I welcome any comments good bad or indifferent on my efforts below……I want to learn and improve so don’t be shy I’m a tough cookie. By the way I have looked regularly at the “shared art” forum on here….and so many of you are amazing artists.

 ![bolt](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thevirtualinstructor/original/2X/d/d9d96dabcaecec1de77cfbacc34d383fa2f13855.jpeg)

 ![skull](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thevirtualinstructor/original/2X/f/f0cdddf4b8902c29a3e9a32d9e705ec5d9907061.jpeg)

 ![20250205_230715](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thevirtualinstructor/original/2X/3/34f9e32088990b4fb79669cd61b01f01590e7a15.jpeg)

 ![peppers drawn](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thevirtualinstructor/original/2X/f/f2dca3f6ce7ddf3d24b46e6022a82a9ba0dcbd9d.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![1kidneyJD](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.thevirtualinstructor.com/1kidneyjd/32/8382_2.png) [@1kidneyJD](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/1kidneyJD)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 10:05pm UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/beginners-first-efforts/4265/2 "2025-02-12T22:05:01Z")

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Hello Sue, the lessons that you posted, you are not a beginner and I don’t think you ever dabbled in art. Well done, looking forward to seeing more of your work. Thanks for sharing.  
James from Covina Ca

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**Author:** ![sterlingsiam](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.thevirtualinstructor.com/sterlingsiam/32/30_2.png) [@sterlingsiam](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/sterlingsiam)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 12:44am UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/beginners-first-efforts/4265/3 "2025-02-13T00:44:11Z")

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Well, if you are a beginner, then you must continue as it seems from what you posted that you already have a great start. Please continue sharing.

Patricia.

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**Author:** ![Meme5](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.thevirtualinstructor.com/meme5/32/6555_2.png) [@Meme5](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/Meme5)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 12:50am UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/beginners-first-efforts/4265/4 "2025-02-13T00:50:11Z")

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Hello @snookypooky!

It is so good to see your amazing drawings here! Thank you so much for sharing. Those drawings are really good, and they get even better after finding out that you are a beginner! Wow!  
I think you should lose the fear of creating anything without a tutorial because you are already ready, in my humble opinion. Just draw what you love and the rest will come with practice. I have been there, and I have posted what I call the good, the bad and the ugly haha. Everyone here is very supportive and encouraging, we all have our strengths and weaknesses, but Practice makes Progress!  
One thing I have struggled to overcome is my fear to push the darker values.  
Please keep posting!!

Sonia Alonzo

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**Author:** ![robichon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.thevirtualinstructor.com/robichon/32/4993_2.png) [@robichon](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/robichon)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 2:32am UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/beginners-first-efforts/4265/5 "2025-02-13T02:32:13Z")

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Hi Sue - @snookypooky

You are doing really well. The one thing I always tell myself, that might help you improve, is you almost always need to make the darks, DARKER.

On the peppers, they look a little “flat”. You need more layers to fill the texture of the paper and a bigger range of values. Lighter lights, and darker darks. Here is my drawing so you can compare.

Hope this is helpful. I am so glad you are sharing your work with us.  
Terri Robichon

 ![5 x 7 finished 3 peppers](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thevirtualinstructor/original/2X/7/772f3d1192908b0accf2b8889a5b288b13326b7b.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![snookypooky](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.thevirtualinstructor.com/snookypooky/32/6420_2.png) [@snookypooky](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/snookypooky)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 7:27pm UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/beginners-first-efforts/4265/6 "2025-02-13T19:27:19Z")

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Thank you all for your lovely comments. Terri I can certainly see the difference with lights and darks when comparing your peppers to mine. Sonia, I too find it hard to know how dark to go for fear of over darkening. I really appreciate any help and support to help me progress. I had such a job finding the right colours and shades…“a bad workman blames his tools” 🤔 I have a very limited range of colours that are certainly not of the best quality. I hope to be able to purchase some better ones soon. Can anyone recommend good colouring pencils that wont require remortgaging my home 😊 Thank you again and look forward to seeing more of everyone’s art and learning more from you all.

Sue

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**Author:** ![robichon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.thevirtualinstructor.com/robichon/32/4993_2.png) [@robichon](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/robichon)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/beginners-first-efforts/4265/7 "2025-02-13T21:12:46Z")

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Hi Sue @snookypooky

I’d suggest Prismacolor Premier Colored pencils. You’ll find they are the ones that Matt uses the most.

I’m looking at Blick and they sell a set of 12 for $12.80 / a set of 24 for $24.80 / a set of 36 for $36.80 / and a set of 48 for $49.80.

Bigger sets are also available, but any of the above will give you what you need. Keeping budget in mind I think you should consider a set of 24 or 36. If you do decide to go with this brand, I strongly recommend that you also purchase the Colorless Blender. A package of 2 is $3.55.

Let us know if you have other questions.

Terri Robichon

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**Author:** ![snookypooky](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.thevirtualinstructor.com/snookypooky/32/6420_2.png) [@snookypooky](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/snookypooky)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 9:31pm UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/beginners-first-efforts/4265/8 "2025-02-13T21:31:25Z")

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Thank you so much. I live in the UK, Blick does international shipping but cant tell you cost until calculated 3-4 days after the order. shipping could be costly. Thank you very much for looking. I will search places nearer to home for Prismacolour hopefully I can find a good bargain somewhere Thank you.

Sue