We're about to start drawing portraits for tips at some local bars, it's the first time we'll ever do something like that and we're very excited as well as nervous. Seeing this video pop up in our feed felt serendipidous. Thank you for your great tips, for helping us to think more deeply about our portraits and drawings in general, and for showing us what is possible and how we can raise the bar! The portraits in the video look amazing!
Thank you for creating an easy to understand and follow tutorials on how to draw . Most informative I have found. Even your books have easy to follow and understand direction and tips
Loved this video! I’m not a frequent watcher, but when I do look up pen and ink drawing videos Alphonso is the first I go to. I have your first book too! I have recently been working on a project that requires me to do a lot of portrait art. I do mine on an iPad mostly, but I still found all the tips and info to be helpful and informative. I also love watching a master artist draw a portrait just starting from one feature of a character and working his way to the others until the whole is complete. Something enchanting about that kind of highly developed talent. Thanks for the video! I think it will be a go to for me when I need tips.
Got your books in 2018, went through them all, amazing, fun, engaging. Now I picked them up again and going through them again, so much I missed during the first time
I just recently started drawing in ballpoint pen. Previously, I saw it as an inferior tool compared to other pens because it's a bit unpredictable with line quality, but after using it for a bit, I appreciate the ability to adjust line weight and darkness so easily. It's also really good for sketching since it keeps you moving and thinking due to the inability to erase.
Hi Alphonso, I just purchased both of your books from Indigo/Chapters. So excited to begin learning. Even though, I'm just starting, I am hoping that your next book will be how to draw portraits in pen and ink. I'm almost 70 years old , what the heck, I have enough time to learn if I live to a 100.😁
Gave me a different way to look at my drawing confidence to draw with ink. It's always been that fear of permanent and corrections. But you have helped
Very impressing to see, how you build up the portaits. 3 questions: 1. You mentioned the importance of mastering lines. What could you recommend to improve with lines ? 2. Are the videos in real time or (partly) time compressed ? Just to get a feeling, which drawing "speed" you use. 3. You started drawing e.g. with an eye. Apparently no use of Loomis method, right ? Thanks a lot for sharing this video.
Thanks so much for the comment and really interesting questions: 1. Pen control is key and practicing simple lines and variations. Like learning how to be aware of, and control, the spacing, direction, weight, and so on. My workbook has tons of exercises. 2. This video is time-lapsed to about 2x 3. No loomis method used here, but nothing against it. It is quite useful. I am still thinking in terms proportions as I develop the drawing though. I'll address that in another video let me know if I answered your questions
@@alphonsodunn Thanks a lot for your prompt and clear answers. I appreciate that very much. And „yes“, you fully answered my questions. By the way: Just ordered your two books, so hopefully soon I’ll start with your exercises. Best regards from Nuremberg, Germany.
You're work is amazing. I'm ordering your book and workbook. Im sure you've covered this before, but what paper do you recommend for ballpoint pen? Very smooth or more of a mixed media paper?
Hii! Thank you for posting a new video! I wanted to ask: how do you keep yourself connected and passionate about doing art? for X and Y reasons I've been staying away from drawing personal/fun? art and I honestly really want to enjoy it again. I hope this question is not a downer! Feel free not to answer (:
A big part of maintaining my passion and love for drawing is unplugging from the influences or pressure of the "art world." Its important to find and move to the beat of your own drum, regardless of what level you are. I hope to address this in an upcoming video. Dont lose your joy, keep creating, no matter how small
Cool portraits! How do you keep from smearing the ink with your hand? This is more of an issue for ballpoint pens than technical pens, but still... My next art project is going to be painting the minis from the game Cthulhu: Death May Die, so it'll be awhile before I dip back into pen & ink, but I don't want to forget those skills altogether. 😊
@@alphonsodunn Thank you! I painted a bunch of D&D minis as well as a bunch of Aeon Trespass Odyssey minis before. The D&D minis came out OK, but the Aeon Trespass minis are so awesome that it's hard to make them look bad. I learned a lot while painting them. I'm certainly not a pro, but I have fun, and then we can use them while playing games. 😊
@@AdamWEST-yu2os Yes, yes, and yes. Although, writing a book, an instruction at that, is no walk in the park. The writing process is a whole feat in itself apart from the illustration of ideas and instruction. Then its the putting them together, then its the editing. Then its the translating all of that to digital form, which has to meet very strict metrics. Its a whole process, slow and steady, but joyful
Biro is fantastic to draw with but the ink is not archival 😢...I've tried sprays and coats of stuff on protect but nothing works so do you have a source for Biro with archival ink?
As someone that struggles with depression, I often find art extremely difficult to do. I want to practice and get better but it's. SO. HARD! I guess I'm not even sure what to practice. I've been using your workbook and guide Alphonso. Any tips?
As someone who can 100% relate to your problem, may I suggest you forget about Art and instead hit the ground running: doodle away all the time and doodle BIG, really filling pages, without purpose, without desire, without ego (a state of mind obviously familiar to us depressive people) and without thinking about what you're doing. Straight from the sub/unconscious. Get a good, thick bristol or mixed media sketchbook, about A4 or letter sized, making sure the ink doesn't feather or bleed through to the other side, and a good black pen (TWSBI Eco size F fountain pen with Platinum Carbon Ink or De Atramentis Document Black Ink, or a Uni-Ball Signo black gel pen 0.7, 1.0, or 0.5mm.) If gel, Uni-Ball sells refills. Make it a ritual. When you feel unable to do it, try anyway. After 5 minutes you should be into it. As soon as you use that pen you interact with the universe, you create. Don't try to represent anything, just make a variety of marks. Above all, forget about realism, it's an American disease. Do it for hours EVERY day -while listening to podcasts, audiobooks or whatever if you feel like it- and don't pore over the result when you stop. Just close the sketchbook. After a week or two, start looking at the previous work from page 1, one page a day at first. After a while, the result may be art. Or not, but in any case, it should soothe your soul, and trying to plan and execute and practice "making art" while in the black hole is impossible.Take your pills, talk to a competent, friendly, qualified PSYCHIATRIST (not a psychologist), avoid charlatans, and doodle. I write this in my 35th year of chronic depression, having lost my drawing skills during a 6-year rough patch, and now feeling better, starting all over again. My best thoughts to you.
Its not easy. I think it helps to try and figure what is it that you find difficult, like is it drawing itself? Believing in yourself? thinking your art isnt good enough? progress? But in the meantime start small and easy. Draw lots of small easy stuff, build your muscle memory
@@alphonsodunn I would say it's seeking progress as well as having ideas that I can't translate onto paper. Because I don't have the necessary skill yet. Though I think the biggest issue lately has been that I'm unsure of what to draw. I try simple shapes but I'm not sure how to go beyond that. Often something I find simple (and begin to draw) turns out to be too complex and I find I can't finish it. I feel like I'm at a threshold and I'm not sure how to cross it. Like I see the shapes in things but translating it never seems to come out right. It's hard when I'm not sure what I did wrong seeing as I have nobody to tell me 😅
We're about to start drawing portraits for tips at some local bars, it's the first time we'll ever do something like that and we're very excited as well as nervous. Seeing this video pop up in our feed felt serendipidous. Thank you for your great tips, for helping us to think more deeply about our portraits and drawings in general, and for showing us what is possible and how we can raise the bar! The portraits in the video look amazing!
Good luck! That is such a wonderful idea! Please let me know how it goes
I always feel energised to draw after watching one of your vids. Thanks so much for the insight and the motivation!
Thanks much. Keep going
Thank you for creating an easy to understand and follow tutorials on how to draw . Most informative I have found. Even your books have easy to follow and understand direction and tips
Always a good day when a new Dunn video drops!
🙏
Amen to that looking forward to the next book.
Beautiful, beautiful work. I am looking at the ball point pen very differently now thanks to this post by you. LOVE your style and work.
Thanks much! Once you can create lines you can do amazing things
So much talent on display. You are my go to when it comes to the inking process.
Thanks much
Loved this video! I’m not a frequent watcher, but when I do look up pen and ink drawing videos Alphonso is the first I go to. I have your first book too! I have recently been working on a project that requires me to do a lot of portrait art. I do mine on an iPad mostly, but I still found all the tips and info to be helpful and informative. I also love watching a master artist draw a portrait just starting from one feature of a character and working his way to the others until the whole is complete. Something enchanting about that kind of highly developed talent. Thanks for the video! I think it will be a go to for me when I need tips.
Got your books in 2018, went through them all, amazing, fun, engaging. Now I picked them up again and going through them again, so much I missed during the first time
So cool! Thank you
Me too! I love listening to him, his voice is easy to listen to 😊
I just recently started drawing in ballpoint pen. Previously, I saw it as an inferior tool compared to other pens because it's a bit unpredictable with line quality, but after using it for a bit, I appreciate the ability to adjust line weight and darkness so easily. It's also really good for sketching since it keeps you moving and thinking due to the inability to erase.
It’s a wonderful tool for practice
Dude you are one of my biggest inspirations. Much respect from South Africa!
Thanks so much
Hi Alphonso, I just purchased both of your books from Indigo/Chapters. So excited to begin learning. Even though, I'm just starting, I am hoping that your next book will be how to draw portraits in pen and ink. I'm almost 70 years old , what the heck, I have enough time to learn if I live to a 100.😁
Yes, you will live a looong life and theres so much more to learn : )
@@alphonsodunn….Love your books, Alphonso 🤩🤩
Me too….am 71 and recently bought Alphonso’s books….they are brilliant and I am sure you will love them 🤩
Gave me a different way to look at my drawing confidence to draw with ink. It's always been that fear of permanent and corrections. But you have helped
Keep the content coming Alphonso!
Will do, will do
welcome back.
more tips plz.
Theyre coming, theyre coming 🙂
Great tips! Incredible work as always! ❤❤❤
Thanks so much
I love your drawing style man! thanks for sharing 😍
Thanks much! 🙏
Great tips. Your videos are insightful and relaxing. What sketchbook are you using?
Thanks much! Moleskin
it's in the description 👍
Thank you.
🙂🙏
Very impressing to see, how you build up the portaits.
3 questions:
1. You mentioned the importance of mastering lines. What could you recommend to improve with lines ?
2. Are the videos in real time or (partly) time compressed ? Just to get a feeling, which drawing "speed" you use.
3. You started drawing e.g. with an eye. Apparently no use of Loomis method, right ?
Thanks a lot for sharing this video.
Thanks so much for the comment and really interesting questions:
1. Pen control is key and practicing simple lines and variations. Like learning how to be aware of, and control, the spacing, direction, weight, and so on. My workbook has tons of exercises.
2. This video is time-lapsed to about 2x
3. No loomis method used here, but nothing against it. It is quite useful. I am still thinking in terms proportions as I develop the drawing though. I'll address that in another video
let me know if I answered your questions
@@alphonsodunn Thanks a lot for your prompt and clear answers.
I appreciate that very much.
And „yes“, you fully answered my questions.
By the way: Just ordered your two books, so hopefully soon I’ll start with your exercises.
Best regards from Nuremberg, Germany.
@@fibonacci4888 Thanks much. And any questions concerning the content or anything let me know. Like if you want something clarified
You're work is amazing. I'm ordering your book and workbook. Im sure you've covered this before, but what paper do you recommend for ballpoint pen? Very smooth or more of a mixed media paper?
I am watching your videos from 2015….loved that nothing changes. A genuine teacher indeed.
Thanks so much for still tuning in : )
Can you do a video on pen flowers!!
Cool tips, Bro.
Thank you : )
Hii! Thank you for posting a new video! I wanted to ask: how do you keep yourself connected and passionate about doing art? for X and Y reasons I've been staying away from drawing personal/fun? art and I honestly really want to enjoy it again. I hope this question is not a downer! Feel free not to answer (:
A big part of maintaining my passion and love for drawing is unplugging from the influences or pressure of the "art world." Its important to find and move to the beat of your own drum, regardless of what level you are. I hope to address this in an upcoming video. Dont lose your joy, keep creating, no matter how small
What a great painting! You are amazing!
🙏🙂
Glad to see your video! Thanks for the tips!
Thanks much. More coming
Thank you the simple explanation, please the word caption is blocking the view of the sir. Please remove the black view
Cool portraits! How do you keep from smearing the ink with your hand? This is more of an issue for ballpoint pens than technical pens, but still...
My next art project is going to be painting the minis from the game Cthulhu: Death May Die, so it'll be awhile before I dip back into pen & ink, but I don't want to forget those skills altogether. 😊
Thanks and good luck!
Just clean the tip of the pen every few minutes
@@alphonsodunn Really, just cleaning the pen tip every few minutes helps that much? That's good to know! Thank you. 😊
@@alphonsodunn Thank you! I painted a bunch of D&D minis as well as a bunch of Aeon Trespass Odyssey minis before. The D&D minis came out OK, but the Aeon Trespass minis are so awesome that it's hard to make them look bad. I learned a lot while painting them. I'm certainly not a pro, but I have fun, and then we can use them while playing games. 😊
@@kerriemckinstry-jett8625 Yup thats all I do. After a few moments the ink builds up and tends to overflow. So, I just wipe it before it does lol
Thought you mentioned about bringing a new book out a couple of years ago..
Yup, that same one. Can you imagine🤣
Book writing isn’t easy, let alone if you’re not a fulltime writer. But it will be worth it 😉
@@alphonsodunn it's the consequence of perfectionism...which I think you warn us against...cheers for your content from a fellow teacher.
@@AdamWEST-yu2os Yes, yes, and yes. Although, writing a book, an instruction at that, is no walk in the park. The writing process is a whole feat in itself apart from the illustration of ideas and instruction. Then its the putting them together, then its the editing. Then its the translating all of that to digital form, which has to meet very strict metrics. Its a whole process, slow and steady, but joyful
Biro is fantastic to draw with but the ink is not archival 😢...I've tried sprays and coats of stuff on protect but nothing works so do you have a source for Biro with archival ink?
When you find one, let me know lol
Îmi place foarte mult ceea ce prezentați. Am o mare rugăminte : se poate să adăugați la traducerea automata și limba română? Va rog frumos 🙏🙏😊❤
Done
@@alphonsodunn 🙏🙏🙏🌹🌹👏👏
Are you using references on your videos man? It looks like it but, you are so skilled I can't tell
As someone that struggles with depression, I often find art extremely difficult to do. I want to practice and get better but it's. SO. HARD!
I guess I'm not even sure what to practice. I've been using your workbook and guide Alphonso. Any tips?
As someone who can 100% relate to your problem, may I suggest you forget about Art and instead hit the ground running: doodle away all the time and doodle BIG, really filling pages, without purpose, without desire, without ego (a state of mind obviously familiar to us depressive people) and without thinking about what you're doing. Straight from the sub/unconscious.
Get a good, thick bristol or mixed media sketchbook, about A4 or letter sized, making sure the ink doesn't feather or bleed through to the other side, and a good black pen (TWSBI Eco size F fountain pen with Platinum Carbon Ink or De Atramentis Document Black Ink, or a Uni-Ball Signo black gel pen 0.7, 1.0, or 0.5mm.) If gel, Uni-Ball sells refills.
Make it a ritual. When you feel unable to do it, try anyway. After 5 minutes you should be into it. As soon as you use that pen you interact with the universe, you create. Don't try to represent anything, just make a variety of marks. Above all, forget about realism, it's an American disease. Do it for hours EVERY day -while listening to podcasts, audiobooks or whatever if you feel like it- and don't pore over the result when you stop. Just close the sketchbook. After a week or two, start looking at the previous work from page 1, one page a day at first.
After a while, the result may be art. Or not, but in any case, it should soothe your soul, and trying to plan and execute and practice "making art" while in the black hole is impossible.Take your pills, talk to a competent, friendly, qualified PSYCHIATRIST (not a psychologist), avoid charlatans, and doodle.
I write this in my 35th year of chronic depression, having lost my drawing skills during a 6-year rough patch, and now feeling better, starting all over again.
My best thoughts to you.
Its not easy. I think it helps to try and figure what is it that you find difficult, like is it drawing itself? Believing in yourself? thinking your art isnt good enough? progress?
But in the meantime start small and easy. Draw lots of small easy stuff, build your muscle memory
@@alphonsodunn I would say it's seeking progress as well as having ideas that I can't translate onto paper. Because I don't have the necessary skill yet.
Though I think the biggest issue lately has been that I'm unsure of what to draw. I try simple shapes but I'm not sure how to go beyond that. Often something I find simple (and begin to draw) turns out to be too complex and I find I can't finish it.
I feel like I'm at a threshold and I'm not sure how to cross it. Like I see the shapes in things but translating it never seems to come out right.
It's hard when I'm not sure what I did wrong seeing as I have nobody to tell me 😅