The Guide to Graphite: Texture Study 2
This course features:
4 Hours of Instruction
19 Videos
18 eBooks
30 Day Money Back Guarantee
Lesson Description
How to create the illusion of texture in a graphite drawing and the factors that most contribute to success. The second of three subjects is explored in this module. In this lesson, we draw a shoe with graphite pencils.
Lesson Materials
White Stonehenge paper, H, HB, and 4B graphite pencils, kneaded and vinyl erasers.
Lesson Resources
Download eBook
Reference Image
Course Curriculum
Lesson 1: Introduction and Materials (6:15)Lesson 2: Graphite Grades and Sharpening (8:31)Lesson 3: Erasers (10:49)Lesson 4: Mark Making and Blending (12:57)Lesson 5: Light and Shadow - Part 1 (8:32)Lesson 6: Light and Shadow - Part 2 (7:45)Lesson 7: Sketching (12:16)Lesson 8: Texture Study 1 (14:50)Lesson 9: Texture Study 2 (15:16)Lesson 10: Texture Study 3 - Part 1 (12:30)Lesson 11: Texture Study 3 - Part 2 (12:12)Lesson 12: Landscape Drawing - Part 1 (13:26)Lesson 13: Landscape Drawing - Part 2 (9:45)Lesson 14: Portrait Drawing - Part 1 (12:49)Lesson 15: Portrait Drawing - Part 2 (13:05)Lesson 16: Powdered Graphite (13:09)Lesson 17: Water Soluble Graphite (8:33)Lesson 18: Colored Graphite (16:35)Lesson 19: Framing / Matting / Conclusion (9:30)
I think it’s too hard even impossible to make it 🙁 how after following your courses like drawing a ball shade etc .. can I all of sudden be able to draw this shoe it’s very frustrating it’s like in your courses you have 2 levels beginners or already drawers.
it’s the same for the blank rose or gorilla it would be better to have more courses for the beginners.
The courses for the beginners are very good I really enjoyed and learned something (that’s why I decided to pay 97 dollars or so) but it’s not enough to be able to follow the others courses afterward because the gap between the courses for beginners and intermediate is very important 🙁
Hi Kevin,
It’s sounds like you’re frustrated. We can’t just draw simple objects and expect to improve. Sometimes, we have to challenge ourselves to grow. This means that we must take on subjects that are a little more difficult than a sphere. This shoe, while it has some complexities, is still rather simple. The same can be said for the gorilla from The Secrets to Drawing course. Have you tried drawing the shoe yet? You have to be willing to put in some effort to improve. While gaining the knowledge is essential, nothing will happen unless you push yourself – at least a little.
Hi Kevin
I understand your frustration. I have problems moving on from beginner sphere drawings to actually making drawings of objects. I am so much a perfectionist I have a hard time telling myself it is ok to make mistakes, it is ok that my shoe doesn’t look like a shoe right away. You have to really push yourself. Tell yourself it is ok that it doesn’t look good right away. Here is what I have learned to do. I watch the video a couple times without attempting to draw anything. I pick up any and all tips as I watch and I also pay attention to how matt is drawing the shapes. Then I pick up my paper and I don’t expect anything from myself. I draw the basic shapes and keep doing that until I get the shoe right. Then I go back and do it again and add a detail or two. Then I watch the video a couple times again. I repeat the process until I finally get the lesson down and I am able to draw the shoe completely. Start small. Do just shapes, Do just a detail or two at a time. Do some shading. etc.. Take what you learned from the sphere and apply it too the shoe. I hope this helps you and you can get better on your drawing journey
You’ve probably improved by now and don’t need advice, but I grid the difficult organic subjects and then work grid by grid. I’m always amazed at how well they turn out and slowly my freehand sketching is improving.
I agree. I was so excited about this course and now I’m very frustrated Somewhat simple to very complicated. Maybe I started at the wrong lesson. Suggestion as to where to start?
Hi Wynona,
At some point, things have to become more challenging. Frustration is part of learning and is definitely part of the growth process for learning art. This drawing may seem complicated, but perhaps your standards for success are too high. We can compare this to lifting weights. If you keep lifting light weights, you’ll never get stronger. You have to move on to heavier weights to get stronger. When you do so, it will be more difficult, you may be sore – it may be a little painful – but if you keep at it, you will gradually start to see results. Don’t be afraid to try “challenging” subjects. While your results may not be up to your standards at this point, you have to attempt them and do your best (whatever that may be at this point) to get better and improve.
Kevin and Matt:
I empathize with Kevin’s frustration. I have been a “beginner” at drawing for years. There are multiple reasons why I never got through the beginner wall but one of them is that frustration Kevin talks about. I latched on to something while taking Matt’s beginner course and that is to give my self permission to make bad drawings. My sneaker drawing is sad compared to Matt’s but I learned from it, set it aside and did another one. I have the kind of personality that does not like to do a thing badly…but I have to allow myself to start badly and practice practice practice in order to get better. ….Just a note to share the pain and encourage Kevin to break through that wall.
Regards dBW
Matt has been drawing for a long time. You can’t compare yourself to him. You take what you like from each drawing and bring it to the next. Were you the best at bike riding or driving a care or cooking or handwriting or even speaking as a toddler when you first started? No, developing skills in drawing is no different. Be kind to yourself, negative talk is not helpful. Sasha
I appreciate Kevin’s frustration but you have to push yourself in order to improve as well as practice, practice and practice again.
Yes i can understand but as a artest and learning to tattoo i been learning that u actualy learn better being out of ur comfort zone i actually got frustrated with the last lession with the rose because i was having trouble with sketching the outline but i took a deep breath and a break and went back to it and boom i did it and kinda impressed how it came out we cant compare our stuff to mikes hes been doing alot longer
I also use a grid. There are ways to print the Grid in Photoshop and I also have a program called Grid Draw (image editor) that prints a grid on top of a photo for you and you can print it out. I usually make the subject black and white in Photoshop and then print the photo with the grid on it in Grid Draw. Grid Draw is also inexpensive and you own it. My drawings turn out so much better but I have to practice.
Hi, there is no option of downloading videos to members. Any suggestion?
Hi Sameeha,
Download links for videos were removed in July 2020 due to abuse and piracy. You can read more about this here…https://thevirtualinstructor.com/members/removal-of-download-links/
I absolutely loved this lesson! When I first looked at the photo, I didn’t think it would be possible for me to draw it. I wasn’t able to use Stonehenge paper but nonetheless, I was so amazed at the results. I took my time and when I started feeling frustrated, walked away and came back later. When I look at the drawing, I say to myself, “I didn’t really draw that, did I?” Am really chuffed. I learned so much. I made some mistakes, especially with proportion and placement of laces. But you wouldn’t know it if you didn’t compare it to the photo. Thanks Matt. I’m so thrilled!
Awesome to hear, Pandora!
I love the courses …so far it has past all my expectations. I’m a bit of a perfectionist too but Matt explains it so well and its a matter of wanting too! Practice, Practice, Practice can’t say that enough…we will just keep trusting in the process. Sometimes our shoes look like boots, other times our elephants look like they have been starved and mostly our sphere’s look like ovals!! Ha! Ha ! Ha! But it is all so great to be able to express ourselves in this manner!
Thanks for explain the download problem…wished people were more honest…but I get it! Some ruin it for the majority. But computers work much better now than 2011 and I even figured it out how to cast it to the TV so screen is so much bigger!!
God bless you Matt and Phil!
Hi there, while I tried to scribble the rose yesterday, I thought out of a sudden I haven’t learned anything throughout the year with Matt so far. Then I read all your comments and found myself everywhere. Just practice, keep on going and allow “bad” drawing days.
And I know, I have learned so much the last year!!! But sometimes, there are these days … Guess, everyone experience this and if you don’t allow yourself to stop, you will improve.
I loved this lesson and thought it was well taught. Thank you for teaching us about the shading. I have to def keep practicing that.
Awesome to hear Cherise! You’re welcome!
Hi, my free hand drawing leaves much to be desired. Proportions are usefully not correct. I have been using grids to assist with getting the basic subject down. Are grid lines recommended or frowned upon/cheating? Matt does mention it is very important that it is important to spend time to get the initial drawing correct, before starting the shading process. Thoughts?
I’m 87 years old and have just begun graphite sketching and watercolor painting. My daughter gave me a membership to VI for my birthday. I’m loving it and feel rather pleased with what I’ve accomplished in the graphite course, which is all I have tackled so far. I am on Lesson 9 and wonder if there is a reference photo or drawing for the shoe?
Hi Stella,
Awesome to have you with us in the program! The reference photo is found under the “Resources” tab underneath the video. You’ll also find the eBook there as well.
Matt, at what point do you decide to switch to a different grade of pencil? I’ve watched the last two videos and then attempted to render the subjects. But I’m wondering if there is a ‘tipping point’ in the course of the rendering that suggests a softer lead is the next step. Thanks in advance for advice.