Beginners Guide Recap
🎨 My Art Learning Journey So Far: What's Working, What Isn't & Fun Exercises to Try!
Three posts in, and I'm starting to see some patterns in my art learning journey! Let me share what I've discovered, give you some interactive exercises to try, and hear about YOUR experiences too. Plus – I've got some challenges that might just make practice more fun!
Okay, so I've been documenting my beginner art journey for a few weeks now, sharing my struggles with basic drawing techniques, the Loomis method, and the Reilly rhythms. Time for some honest reflection – what's actually working, what's been a total disaster, and most importantly, what can we learn together?
📊 The Real Progress Report
🎯 Where I Started vs. Where I Am Now
Week 1: Couldn't draw a decent circle to save my life
Week 6: Can draw heads that look... well, like heads! (Most of the time)
Biggest breakthrough: Understanding that every professional artist started exactly where I am now. That wonky first sketch I was embarrassed about? It's actually progress, not failure. Mind shift = game changer.
Biggest ongoing struggle: Proportions still make me want to throw my pencil across the room. I drew someone last week who looked like their eyes were trying to escape their face. Still working on it!
🎯 Method Showdown: What I've Learned
📝 Basic Drawing
Best for: Building confidence
My result: Finally comfortable holding a pencil!
Time invested: 15 min/day
⭕ Loomis Method
Best for: Getting proportions right
My result: 70% success rate on front-facing heads
Time invested: 3 weeks, daily practice
🌊 Reilly Rhythms
Best for: Adding life and flow
My result: Still learning, but seeing improvement!
Time invested: 2 weeks, every other day
🏋️ Interactive Practice Challenges (Let's Do This Together!)
🎮 Ready to Level Up Your Skills?
I've created some exercises based on my last few weeks of learning. Try them out and let me know how you do!
The "Circle Challenge" (Week 1 Throwback)
Goal: Draw 50 circles in 10 minutes
Rules: No rulers, no tracing, just freehand
Success metric: At least 20 circles that look reasonably round
Why it helps: This was my breakthrough exercise for hand control
Share your results: Post a photo and tag me – let's see those circles!
The "Loomis Speed Run"
Goal: Basic Loomis head construction in under 5 minutes
What to include: Circle, center line, eye line, jaw construction
Success metric: Proportions look believable (perfection not required!)
Plot twist: Try it from memory without looking at tutorials
My best time: 4 minutes, 32 seconds (and it looked wonky but recognizable!)
The "Rhythm Detective"
Goal: Find rhythm lines in everyday photos
What to do: Take a selfie, print it out (or use your phone), trace the major flowing lines you can see
Look for: Lines that connect forehead → cheek → jaw in flowing curves
Success metric: Find at least 3 connected rhythm lines
Beginner tip: Squint your eyes to see the big shapes better!
💡 Top 5 Things That Actually Made a Difference
1. The 15-minute rule is REAL: Consistency beats marathon sessions every single time. I've learned more in short daily sessions than in my 3-hour weekend attempts.
2. Embrace the ugly phase: My first month of drawings were honestly terrible, but they were necessary stepping stones. Don't skip this phase!
3. Document everything: Taking photos of my practice has been incredibly motivating. You can't see progress day-to-day, but week-to-week? Wow.
4. Mix methods, don't marry them: Using Loomis for structure and Reilly for flow has been way more effective than sticking to just one approach.
5. Community matters: Sharing struggles and wins makes this journey so much more fun and sustainable!
🎪 Let's Make This More Fun: Community Challenges!
🏆 Monthly Art Challenge Ideas
"Wonky Portrait Week": Everyone draws portraits that are deliberately imperfect – let's celebrate the learning process!
"Method Mix Monday": Try combining different techniques in one drawing
"15-Minute Friday": Share what you can create in exactly 15 minutes
"Progression Photo Friday": Show your week 1 vs. current work side by side
📈 What's Coming Next in My Journey
Based on what I've learned so far, here's where I'm headed next:
Short-term goals (next 2 weeks):
- Master basic Loomis construction from 3 different angles
- Get more confident with Reilly rhythm strokes
- Start adding simple shading to my constructions
- Share more of my actual practice work (the good and the questionable!)
I'm also planning some posts about specific struggles – like why my noses always end up crooked, or how I finally figured out where ears are supposed to go (spoiler: not where I was putting them!).
🤝 Let's Learn Together: Your Turn!
📝 I Want to Hear From You!
Try one (or all!) of the exercises above and let me know:
- Which exercise was hardest for you?
- What breakthrough moments have you had?
- What method are you most curious about?
- What specific struggles are you facing?
- What would you like to see me try next?
💌 Share Your Art Journey & Support This Blog
Want to share your practice work, ask questions, or suggest topics for future posts?
Send me your drawings, struggles, and wins at:
Ko-fi lets you support this blog with a small tip while sharing your feedback – it really helps keep these posts coming and motivates me to document more of this messy learning process!
💝 Every coffee/tip helps me dedicate more time to creating helpful content for fellow beginners!
🎯 The Real Talk Section
What's still driving me crazy: I can follow tutorials perfectly, but the moment I try to draw from a reference photo without guidance? Disaster. It's like my brain forgets everything I've learned.
What's keeping me motivated: Comparing my week 6 drawings to week 1 is honestly amazing. The progress is real, even when daily improvements feel invisible.
This journey is messy, frustrating, exciting, and surprisingly addictive. Some days I feel like I'm making huge leaps, other days I wonder if I've forgotten how to hold a pencil. But that seems to be part of the process!
🚀 Join the Journey!
Whether you're just starting out or already on your own art learning adventure, let's support each other!
This blog works best when it's a conversation, not a monologue. Your questions, struggles, and victories help shape what I write about next.
Next post preview: "Why My Ears Look Like Alien Attachments (And How I'm Fixing It)" – because apparently ear placement is harder than it looks!
🎨 Ready to Practice Together?
Pick one of the exercises above, give it a try, and share your experience!
Send your feedback, questions, or practice photos to:
Your support and interaction make this whole journey more fun and meaningful!
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