The constant learning I think is paying off. This isn’t perfect and lots I would change, but I’m smiling that I drew this 
so pleased with the outcome!
(The photo doesn’t do it justice)
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Hi Dan - This is incredible work. I love the headstones, the roof, well I guess it’s all good!!!
Terri Robichon
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Thank you so much. Appreciate that. I scanned in my pen drawing and printed it 4 times to practice and this was the first first. Super happy with the hatching and shading
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Hi everyone,
I just wanted to let you all know that the weekly Members Minute is now up. Take a look because the artwork is by our dear friend @Maki
Terri (with 2 R’s)
Dear Terri, sorry I didn’t see your reply faster. I got very busy with my family and didn’t had time to look. First: thank you again for being such an understanding and kind person. You make me feel; much better now. In the end I took the decision to leave that group and moved to a more open and acceptable class. I would have liked to be able at least to join Matt’s live lessons. Unfortunately I am on the other side of the earth, and the hour is VERY bad for me.
Back to the point: I realized that fighting to do what I am asked to do , it is not fun. About the style: you are probably among the best in this group. No intention to compliment you, just stating the obvious. I am a beginner, but as you, I have a tendency to be VERY CONTROLLED too…Being told that my style is not compatible to the “lose watercolor style”, I just give it up. I am so happy that, no matter the level, the message you gave me is, as I hoped, …very encouraging!
thank you for taking your time to answer,
Diana
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Hi Diane @diana2014 -
Two things. First, the live lessons are recorded so you can watch them whenever you want. You can pause, repeat sections, etc. The only thing that can ONLY be done in the LIVE lesson as it is being recorded, is to participate in the chat.
Second thing - Did you look at the Members Minute from a week ago. I believe that was your own drawing that Matt critiqued.
Terri Robichon
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Hi Dan @Dannomiss89 -
Getting back to the ink drawing of a ROSE from one of Matt’s lessons, I have now given it a try. Mine is 5x7 on 140# hot press watercolor paper.
As I mentioned before, my style is “realism” so basically, I just used the lesson for the “reference photo”. Also, for the sake of full disclosure for those that don’t know me, I ALWAYS trace my drawings. That’s because I want to focus more time on the technique and finished drawing, rather than the preliminary sketch part of the process. Finally, I needed an ink drawing of a flower for my county fair entry next year - and while doing that wanted another opportunity to get more practice with the Zebra Rubber 80 ballpoint pen.
Terri Robichon
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Looks like a rose festival is going on here.
Rose is also included in the lineup of my easy-ballpoint pen- drawing kits 
Terri, thank you for letting me know about the MM.
I’ll add my comment there later, but I was so glad that he sort of emphasized the artwork title “Terri’s Groove”.
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My word… That is incredible 
wow! That is talent right there 
I absolutely love it. Fantastic job. And I think I’ll have to get one of those pens and try it out
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Hi Dan @Dannomiss89 thanks for those supper nice words of support. I think you can only get the pens in a box of ten, but it’s only about $15 at Amazon. You will really like hatching with them because you can get a broad range of values.
Terri
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Think I may get some and try those pens out your shading with them is just incredible. Can I ask how long you have been drawing terri?
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Hi Dan @Dannomiss89 -
Few people just “start” one day. I dabbled around (doing pretty awful stuff) a long time before getting serious.
I took one required drawing class in college in 1975, along with a color class and mechanical drafting class. I also had may be a week of perspective drawing and watercolor lessons, because that was required for the final renderings of our senior level interior design classes in 1976-77.
Then around 1990 I started doing some small watercolor paintings on my own. I had no instruction, so they were marginal at best.
In 2009 I started taking at least one photo a day (which I have done ever since then). Again, I had no training of any kind, I was just documenting my life for my scrapbooking hobby.
I retired in the fall of 2012 and now had some free time. In 2013 I had my first county fair entries for Scrapbooking and Photography. I kept doing that and then in 2017 also had a few “fine arts” entries too. In 2018 I increased that to 8 fine arts entries.
2019 was a significant year because I signed up for a month on on-line watercolor lessons from Anna Mason. This was my first formal art education. I have continued to sign up for a month membership with her every year since then. I got really proficient with doing realistic watercolor paintings - mainly floral. I loved it and was hooked.
After that I bought a few individual on-line art lessons from ArtTutor, Craftsy, etc. That’s when I discovered colored pencils and pastel pencils.
October 2021 was the next significant year in my artistic journey because I signed up at The Virtual Instructor and started exploring all types of media.
Participating in the local county fair has been huge because I have continued bringing entries since I started in 2013. I still compete in scrapbooking, photography and fine arts. That has given me concrete goals and is why I have tried so many different media and subject matter.
Last year at the local fair in August 2024, I had 78 total entries. 40 of them were fine arts and all the fine arts got first place ribbons. But to be honest, there was not a lot of competition. I also received the Award of Merit for the best in Fine Arts. I got the Best of Show with that same drawing, and the Sweepstakes ribbon for the most first place ribbons.
There is your very long answer to a short question. And in case you missed it, I did not start graphite, charcoal and ink drawings until 2021 when I joined the Virtual Instructor. That was also when I started acrylic and oil painting (which is still a struggle for me).
Terri Robichon
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Terri thank you so much for explaining all that and your history with art. Fascinating what a journey. I love it. Thank you for sharing
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Hey everyone, its been awhile since I posted here last. Here are 3 colored pencil drawings and one water color painting. Let me know what you think.
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You’re doing good. The fish is my favorite.
Terri Robichon
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Your rose is very goooood! You got such great control of the zebra pen. Thank you so much for posting all these wonderful artworks. I feel as if the values of leaves on the rose drawing need dark values pushed a little more?
All the details are perfect, except my eye keeps looking at the leaves.
@Maki,
Although I didn’t quite get to finish watching the critique at the members minute by Matt, I am feeling giggly for the wonderful work and comparison to painter F. Church, Matt mentioned that Church was probably his favorite painter during a Getting Sketchy. At the time, I googled it an saved his Andes of Ecuador picture to have and look at as I find it fantastically mesmerizing. You can imagine the smile on my face as I heard Matt say that about your piece. Superbly done.
@Maki @robichon I am so very happy and proud to be part of a group where you ladies share your wonderful creations. I love the collaboration you share and the results from both your talents!
Sincerely Sonia
I
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These are beautiful I particularly like the fish and the scales. Nice work
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A quickest drawing I did last night. Going to do this again as I got the light and shadows wrong, but each sketch is a learning curve so its all fun
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Dan @Dannomiss89,
Incredible detail and perspective. This is beautiful!
What number pen do you use? Also what size is it and have you considered a large scale drawing?
Sonia
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Hi Dan @Dannomiss89 -
I really do enjoy seeing your artwork. One of the things I like about this one is how the peaks of the building extend above the framed outline that you created. I also like how you handled the clouds, similar to how you handle trees in many of you pieces. Keep drawing and sharing.
Terri Robichon
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