Dear Sonia, don’t feel being under pressure, will you? I haven’t finished any serious artwork in months, since I started “the realistic pencil drawing course” earlier this year. As I am very exhausted, I can do one square at a time only - working on the last module.
You are doing great,
Buddy
Geeze, dear Sonia, these pears are fabulous!!! How do you get your colored pencils that smooth?
Buddy
Great Dan, I really like your artwork. You are following Matt’s advice: practice, practice, practice.
Relax, have fun, learn and share as much as you like,
You are on a great journey,
Buddy
Dan,
Thank you 
I’m quite enjoying the learning process on this one!
Sonia
Hello Buddy @Buddy,
It’s building layers of color pencils then using the solvent. Really makes a difference and makes the drawing look really smooth. I’ve been using the solvent two times in each pear and each leaf. I think I’m getting the hang of it. 
Sonia no R’s
Hello Terri w 2R’s,
I really don’t put pressure on myself, but hate I can only work slowly since my foot swells from sitting too long. These dog bite wounds are no joke. However I am healing as slowly but surely as I’m working on my drawings.
Sonia
Thank you Sonia @Meme5 - I needed a reminder of the solvent. So much looking forward to taste your yummie pears. Oh, forget, they are drawn and not to be eaten. 
Buddy
Dear Sonia @Meme5
OMG - these dog bites are very scary!!! Did you get the owner and is the dog safely “stored away”? I am convinced, it will bite again! Dogs usually won’t stop once they have learned this.
I am so very sorry that you were put into this experience.
Wish you a fast and fully recovery,
No need to answer, if you are overloaded,
Buddy
Relax, Sonia, your pears are terrific! So sorry to hear about the dog bite… 
take care!!! 
Evocative (and 20 more characters to trigger the post)
Hi Dan @Dannomiss89
Your drawings really step up to another level when you add the hatching. Nice to see the before and after.
Terri Robichon
I just finished the texture study from the graphite course n thought I’d share. I do not normally do flowers but I’m pleased with the result mostly. I might have gone too dark in some areas I believe.
Hi @Jennilein -
Nice job with the flower. By the way, you did not go too dark. In fact, I would have probably gone still darker in some of the areas. Keeping the lights light and making the darks darker is my rule for obtaining a nice range of values. But I understand those darks can be scary.
Keep up the good work.
Terri Robichon
Thank you
Yes I saw in the lesson Matt got way darker. I tend to underestimate the darks but wanted this one to look white.
Dan, you are doing fantastic. Very londonish - loved to work there.
Buddy
Hi Jennilein, following these courses of Matt step by step really gives a perfect start. I had to dŕaw the rose several times until I no longer got wrapped up and lost in the petals.
You did great. I can see what you might have considered as a little too dark (or other parts still too light). As it’s graphite, you might be able to lift it up with a needed eraser. Or you could just call this one finished and take the learning experience to your next project (wich I would most likely do).
Enjoy your art work,
Buddy
Hi @Jennilein
I understand your thinking, however it is having the “contrast” of the very darks that makes the very lights look white.
Terri Robichon
You really don’t need to worry about going too dark. You have and are doing great 
it’s looking really good. If you want to see dark… here’s one I did 2 years ago
That looks really cool like an illustration or tatoo. Did you use pencil bc I would have guessed technical pen or ballpoint pen?
