Hello everybody, Please post ALL questions related to Lesson 4: "5 Ways to Add Interest to Your Art" here in this discussion, so I don’t miss anything. Thank you for your patience as I am working on responding to all the posts. I'm loving hearing from you, and seeing your artwork! Thank you for drawing along with me. My best, -Kelly Foss

Thank you Kelly for all this information! How do you vary the line thickness? Is it planned ahead? Is it serrendipity (my wobbly hand pressure does create different line)? How do you plan the lost and found edges? Thank you!

Genevieve, Great questions! I'm using this drawing I did of my 101 yr old grandma's hand as an example. Think of outlines as simply a curtailed value transition. You'll see a very broken line on the contour/outline on the back of the hand. I chose to "break" that line where the skin's wrinkles seems to catch the light. I gave a thin outline on areas I saw as turning away from the light. You'll even see between knuckles, there's not really an outline; only subtle value transitions. On the right, shadow-side of the hand, I observed in reality, the cast shadow (from hand to table) wasn't a consistent thickness. It wavered. I took my cues from that. It's not a perfect science, but it IS fun to play around with. Reality doesn't contain outlines. I find opportunity to erase a bit of outline, and see how parts of us blend into the background- all the better for our art. I hope that answers your questions! -Kelly Foss

Hi Kelly, I took your recommendation in the lesson video and re-drew an old drawing, a portrait of my fiancee's nephew I did last year. It was a great experience drawing him again on toned paper and implementing some of what I learned in your workshop--I tried to vary the strength and texture of my lines, and in terms of focus I completely eliminated one of his hands and did not draw the other in much detail, hoping to focus the viewer on the softness and roundness of his face. I began by drawing just with pencil and white pastel, but then went back and added some warmth with a red colored pencil. I would welcome your critique. This workshop has been hugely helpful and I have learned a lot. Thanks again! -James

@kelly: it does! It does answer my question, thank you! Thank you sooOOOooo much too for all these great tips and insights!

Love to have some critique on this drawing. Although it was a challenge, I loved working on this piece. Worked from a photo I took during a street festival some time ago. On white paper, used pencil, charcoal and pastel. Thank you

Hi Kelly, Thanks for your invaluable lessons this year! Your art is captivatingly excellent! This a sketch I did as a challenge. Although I was terrified to start, I thoroughly enjoyed sketching it, and hopefully I have incorporated at least a couple of your suggestions for an interesting piece. Done with HB mechanical pencil, and white charcoal pencil. Adding the original photograph I was given by my granddaughter ( the one with the tilted head)

Oops! Forgot to ask for your opinion/crit. Thanks in advance ;)

Hi Kelly, well here is my artwork for this week. The kookaburras were laughing as I was finishing my drawing...hahaha. I hope you can find the 5 points you mentioned in lesson 4, that I tried to incorporate in my piece. I was going to do some sort of scribble effect for the background, but the loose leaves just evolved. I would appreciate a critique please. I thoroughly enjoyed your workshop, and as always learned a lot. It was particularly fun to see everyone's imaginative artwork. Thank you for taking the time to do the workshop and such detailed critiques, it is very much appreciated. All the best from Lotus, Australia:)

Hi Kelly. I drew my daughter awhile back but wasn’t happy with it. But I loved the first snowflakes on her lash and decided to try again. I think it needs more darks, although the hair is darker than the photo shows. I almost made her shirt or the sky dark to contrast the snow but decided it would be easier to add later instead or trying to erase. Would you critique, please? Thank you so much for this wonderful workshop. I have followed your instagram and love your work. Please keep us informed of other lessons you give. I wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity to learn more from you. Thank you again. Sue

Sorry. I don’t know why it always turns it when I post no matter what I do. I think you were able to turn it correctly on your program, but let me know if you want me to try again. Thanks

And here she is! She has such a lovely face to work from. If you have time for a critique, I would love that. Thank you for another great workshop, hope you return to Strathmore in the future. Learned a lot from last time, and this time as well!

I will miss your guidance! Will have to refer to my notes till it all sinks in and becomes 2nd nature. Thanks again!

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A visual critique requested by/for James. Children are so challenging to draw, because they have different structure/anatomy than adults. Thank you for sharing your artwork! Here's the text from the image: He’s so sweet! What a great moment you chose to make art. I’m sorry the site cropped. But it’s still a good view. To emphasize his cherub cheeks, and the turn of his head by switching his weighty cheek to his side more facing us, and I thinned out his other side. I broadened his nose (septum mostly) a bit. I simplified the turn of his cheek into neck, and plumped up his toddler fingers. Thank you for sharing your reference, Your first attempt, and your latest drawing with us! It’s great to see your development. Keep at it!

Kelly, Here's my drawing for Lesson 4. As a beginner I've learned much from you and appreciate the joy you take in your art and in conducting the classes. Thank you for the classes. Tom