Hey everyone! Please post ALL questions related to Lesson 3: "Drawing with Imagination" in this discussion, so I don’t miss anything. If you're posting pics, try to make them square so the site doesn't crop them. Looking forward to hearing from you! -Kelly Foss

Thanks Kelly. What a great workshop so far. So many good questions and contributions too. We made some updates to the site. No need to post square images. Enjoy everyone!

Hi Kelly. Crit please. We're traveling, and the only pencils I have with me, are watercolor pencils, and graphite :D The drawing doesn't look too bad on the paper, but the photograph shows what the eye blends... I need plenty of help and practice to portray what my imagination conjures up!

Hi Kelly, Another fun assignment--I liked building off of the previous two assignments here. I immediately imagined the model floating on a lily pad at sunset, so I went with that. I would welcome a critique again--your comments have been very helpful. Thanks! -James

Another materials question...the 6B appears to be your pencil of choice for the graphite part. Is there something special about 6B? Why not 7B, 4B? Why 6B? Curious minds need to know... Thanks! Lisa

This is a requested visual critique for Fantinepantine. I'm sorry the site cropped the image a little. Here's the text from the image: How much fun- you imagining her as a genie! That’s great! I like you using the white as the smoke. To make that, and the gold lamp, stand out even more, I added a dark background. I initially did it just with graphite, but then thought a cool blue or purple will compliment the warm colors of the genie and lamp. I also layered up some more of the white smoke. Keep on dreaming and drawing!

Hi Kelly. Thank you for this lesson. It was very challenging for me because I am colorblind and I’ve never done anything with colored pencils and layering. But like you say, “Imperfect, but fun.” And it was fun and something new for me. I’d appreciate a critique. Thank you. Sue

I’m so bad at tech stuff so I’m sending a square one so hopefully it won’t be cropped off.

Hi Kelly, Another fun assignment. Thank you. I had to used a white water colour pencil for the sparkles on the bubbles as neither the white coloured pencil nor the white pastel pencil could achieve a strong effect. For the shadows I intuitively used a coloured pencil (only in small areas, before realising) then switched to the 6B graphite, for the majority of shadows, since the lessons in the workshop have been using graphite. So does it matter what pencil type to use for shadows in the coloured pencil drawing? I intentionally left the pants not too shaded so that I could use the toned paper as a value, also because the girl is in the bubble I wanted it brighter. Thanks Lotus

thank you for the lesson, again on white paper. Decided to make the background spring like. Critique is appreciated

Hi Kelly, Another fun assignment. All week I pondered what to do with her. Then I decided she would be on a moving, somewhat vintage-style train. Decided to do her skin with the trois crayons technique and the rest with colored pencil. I admit, there remains some dither that could be worked on further, but we're darned near to the next assignment. Sigh. Any critique you have time for, I would appreciate! Thanks! Lisa

Well, I thought I had her vertical, we'll see what this one does...

A visual critique, requested by James. I cropped your image a little for the critique, to be able to see a bit more of the details that I mention. Here's the text from the image: Great imaginative concept- sitting on a waterlily at sunset! Good composition too. I moved her nose & right eye a little to the left.Extended her right eyebrow, and un-lined her lips (leaving just the rosy red). Instead of having a light glow around her, I put the glow “on her” (see especially her arm, and hair). I emphasized the shadows on her. I erased a bit between the orange & darker color in the sky to let the tan paper peak through. Good work!

Hey Lisa, regarding your post, quoted below: "Another materials question...the 6B appears to be your pencil of choice for the graphite part. Is there something special about 6B? Why not 7B, 4B? Why 6B? Curious minds need to know... Thanks! Lisa" I used to say HB was the perfect, "middle of the road" pencil- meaning, it can be pushed dark, and easily controlled to be light. Buuuuut nowadays I'm more capable of good pencil-pressure control. So I'm comfortable with a darker pencil. Yet, I still encourage HB, or whatever pencil with which YOU feel comfortable. ALSO, when I have my studio lights on and I'm filming, I need to go darker for the pencil to show up on screen. :) Good question, and observation!

Here’s a requested visual critique for Watercolormoon aka Sue. I would not have known you are color blind! Your drawing has good color choices and harmonies. Hope you're not disappointed with my critique not finding something to change. But I believe that good instruction is not JUST saying what can improve, but ALSO saying what's going right. Here's the text from the image: This is so sweet! I feel like it’s a cover of a children’s book, telling of our heroine’s adventures with her bird and baby dragon. Lost-&-found edges of clouds: great! Love the sky transitioning to stars. Great composition, keeping the eye traveling around the piece. I duplicated your drawing, anticipating my adjustments, but I can’t make any! I like it too much as you have it. Charming and heartwarming!

This is a visual critique, requested by/for Lotus: The bubbles "breaking through" the framed outline- so good! Your drawing is smile inducing. :) Here's the text from the image: Such a fun and whimsical drawing! Like classic Cinderella meets Lisa Frank! It’s good you used whatever pencils worked for you. Sometimes layering graphite and colorpencils can be unpredictable. Watercolor being a waxy or oily base vs graphite being a “dry” medium- it can be like oil and water. Experiment, and see what works (as you saw do in the lesson). Nice planning out how she’d be light & bright in a bubble! I moved her features to the left, since her head’s slightly turned, and lessened the contour of the side of her face on the left. To echo the bubbles, I gave her a little more blush on cheeks, nose, ear and eyelids, and then I added “shine” the light most facing areas on her face.

Thank you very much Kelly for your useful critique. What a big difference those changes made to the drawing. I am glad I made you smile:) looking forward to the next lesson. Lotus ( Australia)

A visual critique, requested by Dina. I'm sorry the site's cropped your drawing- but I could still see most of it. Yes, it's a good thing to use the supplies you have handy (like your white paper). It'd be fun to eventually try out a similar drawing on toned paper, so you can feel the comparison in the drawing process on the different papers. :) Thank you for sharing your drawing! Here's the text from the image: A Springtime nature setting feels just right for our model’s peaceful pose. You have a fun style! I plumped her top knee, and added shadow to the whole figure. The shadow on the grass helps to establish her in the scene. I erased the nose outline, and gave her a blush. Darkening her hair helps frame her facial features.

Hi Kelly, Thanks for the crit. WOW! what a difference!

Thank you for the critique, little things make a big difference.

This is a visual critique requested by/for Lisa. Her thoughtful expression makes me think of how I must look on my occasional looong train rides. It feels nostalgic to me too. Thank you for sharing your drawing! The site cropped it, but I could still see it enough. The text from the image: Your drawing is a great example of imaginative art not needing to be fantasy. I love this idea of her on a train! Feels like a Nancy Drew cover. I like your sensitivity to the face. I nudged the features to the left, to show the head turning. Imagining light coming in the window, drew white to lighten her light facing clothes, and shine on glass. I added shadows to her and the ceiling. Lastly, I gave her blush on her eyes, nose, cheeks, and lips.

Wow, amazing! Thank you, Kelly. Yes, her features were not enough to the left, that tends to trip me up with the partially turned face situation. Need to watch out for that on Lesson 4 already. I really appreciate how you do these critiques, seeing the difference is the best learning tool. BTW, I'm blocking her in for Lesson 4, and noticed that in the block-in stage, her hair shape is oddly similar to Madame X's. Even with that little extra bit at the top center. Hmmm...

Hi Kelly. Thank you for your kind, encouraging words. It meant a lot to me. I love that you are offering critiques. I know that it is a lot of extra work for you but they have been so helpful. Thank you.

Kelly, Here's my attempt at using my imagination for Lesson 3. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks again for giving the lessons. Tom

This is a visual critique requested by/for Tom. Thank YOU for taking my workshop! It's been a pleasure to see you draw along with me. Here's the text from the image: I’m sorry the site cropped your artwork, but not too, too much. I love that you made our model into an angel! I adjusted the tilt of her shoulders and exposed more of her neck, allowing her to feel more relaxed and settled on a cloud. I made her hair/head a little more square, and nudged her features to the left, emphasizing the slight turn of her head. I darkened the shadow under her jaw. She has a nice, satisfied smile - perfect for an angel taking a little break. Thank you for sharing, Tom!

I am away on holiday and only have basic supplies with me, but still wanted to try Lesson 3. Because the girl's eyes are shut I imagined she was Dorothy dreaming of over the rainbow. Would you please critique Kelly. Thank you.

I so enjoyed doing lesson 3! I imagine this girl is saying to the crab, "Why do you always get us into these situations?!". I'd love a critique, if you're able to get to it.

I should've mentioned that I posted a higher resolution version in the gallery, which would probably be better suited for critique. Thanks!