I thought some of you may like to know that I decided to do this live lesson a little larger than Matt’s 9 wide x 13-1/2 high version so that it would be easier to capture more of the details. Mine is 11 wide x 17 high (an industry standard size for matting and frames). To do this I cropped a little off the bottom of the original reference photo.
I’ve attached my resized photo, and another version with a 1 inch red grid in case anyone else was interested in using this larger size.
Terri
Terri @robichon
For a moment I thought it was your finished piece! I barely started the sketch stage which I divided in 9 to better understand what I was doing. I have never drew or sketched a very intricate subject directly with pen, so I am nervous about keeping up with the class following the process used. I am committed to complete the lessons as they are being completed by Matt ignoring the temptation of going straight to full blown grid and graphite.
Sonia
Hi Sonia @Meme5
You are being such a good student, doing as the teacher says. I’m working on the project too but taking my own approach which includes tracing the initial pencil drawing. The advantage that I have in doing this is that I have a wide format printer that will allow me to print the reference photo at full size.
I typically trace because I’m trying to get so many pieces of art done for the fair that I have to find the most time efficient way possible. It also helps me to be as photo realistic as possible.
Terri
While @Meme5 is being a good student, I’m being a bad one. Since I’m tracing my drawing, I decided to do just a small section at a time, and then do the drawing of that area with the ink pen, before proceeding to another section.
I’m doing it this way because I’m afraid that by having the entire pencil drawing done first, before starting with the ink, that my hand will smear a lot of the drawing and cause me to lose the lines necessary to obtain the desired level of detail. I also find that with a lot of pencil lines on the paper, I tend to “get lost”. This way it’s easier for me.
Anyway, that is my thought process, and this is what I have gotten done after 5 hours.
Terri
Impressive! I am struggling with the grid- but I’m determined. I may make my work smaller to match the size of my iPad reference. I have started 2x so far… I’m planning on working on this today to be prepared for Wednesday.
Lisa…
Hang in there Lisa @HarleysMom
This is a tough one. If you go smaller, it will be hard to get all the details.
Terri
Hi friends. I have to say, this one is incredibly tough. I’d be happy doing buildings all day, but the thought of those trees is freaking me out.
Worked on it 6 more hours today, so that is 11 hrs total. Here is how far I got and I’m feeling stuck because of those trees. I may have to attempt sketching them next. Not looking forward to that part.
Terri
Thanks so much for cheering me on. I appreciate the support @Meme5
Terri
Thanks for the tips, Teri. I have been going cross-eyed with this exercise and think if I were starting again I would be tracing. I struggle with gridding the dense architecture. I finally burst out and inked in the rose window to remind myself of possibility and to anchor the one little corner. If I don’t manage to produce the pencil outline I will work one area at a time with graphite and ink to find some gratification. It will work.
That looks fabulous! I am only about 1/6 done with my drawing but I will keep plugging alone! It is a slow process - that’s for sure. I expect I won’t have my completed pencil sketch before live but should have enough to be able to follow along with Matt with the ink. Seems like he likes to always start top left and work from there! See ya all soon
June
Hi @4Margaret
I have found there are various ways to approach a piece of artwork. Trial and error will help each of us figure out the process that works best for us. But even if I deviate from the path taken by Matt, I always watch because there is much to learn from him.
Glad you’re sticking with this project. Keep letting us know how it is going.
Terri
Hi @junenez
So glad to have you working on this live lesson too. Keep at it and let us know from time to time how you’re doing so we can cheer you on.
Terri
Hello everyone,
Terri you are such an inspiration. I am far behind but have started the grid drawing barley. Like Sonia I am trying to go along with Matt but am starting like the turtle when racing the hare. the good thing is that the turtle finished.
I think with encouragement we can all get through this lesson and will be content with our final results with our own style.
I’ll post my progress when I get a little done. Everyone is inspiring. thank you,
Teri (with 1r)
Here is where I’m at with my 11x17 version. Lesson 3 on the tree was most helpful. I’ve now spent 22 hours on this project (with 11 hours just for the tree). I would NEVER have picked this reference myself because of the complexity, but I’m so grateful that Matt does select these things to challenge us. He teaches what we really are capable of doing and it is why I so value my membership here.
Terri
Terri (W 2r’s)
Will you submit this for the fare? It should get the highest reward!
Teri (W 1r)
Hi @TLP Teri
Thanks for the kind words. Yes I plan to use it for the fair and am hoping this one will get Best of Show. I’ve worked on it again today (32hours so far) and figure I’m about half way done. The trees are much more difficult than the building.
Terri
Amazing Terri! 
Maybe the trees are the most difficult but oh my - I am looking at the tree here and it’s, well unbelievably believable! 
Great work, looks better than the original picture! Keep going! 
