Recently, I decided to focus more on drawing animals, particularly in ink. In that process, I ran across the YouTube channel of an amazing artist named Alphonso Dunn. He has a huge catalog of videos there, which he’s graciously produced and made available for free. One that particularly caught my eye is titled “The Less is More Principle”. Which led to this drawing.
Pen can be tricky, and as Alphonso teaches, it can be very useful to learn to be brief with your strokes, and capture the immediacy of the subject in that moment. I wanted to capture the essence of this dog quickly, and I was happy with this effort.
Incidentally, Alphonso came out with his first book a few weeks ago. He wanted to produce the kind of book he wanted when he was trying to teach himself how to draw in pen. “Pen and Ink Drawing: A Simple Guide” doesn’t disappoint. He is passionate about teaching and about drawing, and he is one of the few artists I’ve come across who is really good at both. He can boil difficult principles down to a paragraph or two. (He has some wonderful videos on perspective, for example, that brought me closer to understanding this than anything I’ve come across.)
He is wonderful, and has such a gentle and gracious way about him, too. By the way, he also works in pen and watercolor, graphite; he doesn’t limit himself to just ink. I encourage you to check out his YouTube channel, and consider taking a look at his book (free preview on Amazon, here) to see if you might find it useful. It’s already the #1 bestseller on Amazon in its category. Congratulations, Alphonso, and well-deserved!
Happy Wednesday; we’re almost home free now! I want to thank all of you for taking this journey with me. Peace and creative wonderment to all.
Hey Laura – Fantastic line drawing. Love its simplicity. Will check out Dunn’s youtube channel, thanks. You are a great example of a lifetime learner. Trying new materials, methods, and techniques – taking risks outside your comfort zone – mighty impressive! – Tom
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Aw, thanks Tom, I really appreciate that! I hope you enjoy that channel. He started out wanting to be in medicine and he always works lots of anatomy info into his figure work. I think you’d really enjoy him.
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I really love the simple lines here. You really captured it.
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Thanks! It was fun and worth trying!
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It’s so rewarding – and a challenge – to capture something with a minimal line. You certainly did it here.
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Thanks, Michael! It was fun.
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Very Thurberesque. https://www.google.com/search?q=james+thurber+dog+drawings&biw=1466&bih=727&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjTkaiZmpXKAhVJVh4KHSRyDN0QsAQIGw&dpr=1 (K)
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Wow, thanks Kerfe and thanks for that link!
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Thurber is great. Although he seems to be off the radar a bit at the moment.
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Laura, this is superb! Show us more… 🙂
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Thanks, Rebecca! I’m so glad you like this! It surprised me too, honestly. 💛
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Gotta love a surprise like that… 🙂
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No doubt!
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Wow – incredible with just a few simple lines – it looks like Charlie!! 🙂
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Jodi – it IS Charlie! I was hoping you would recognize him! Woot! 💜💜💜
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Yippee! I knew it in my heart, but didn’t want to presume Charlie and I were so lucky to get him drawn so distinctly! You totally capture his lines! I ADORE it sweet Laura! You ARE becoming such a strong artist to be able to do this with just a few very distinct, very strong lines. BRAVO Artista!
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Lol you’re hilarious, thank you, Jodi! I had drawn Charlie many times prior to doing this one. I knew I wanted to do something of him for your birthday and you have so many great photos of him posted that I just kept printing out different ones and trying them. Then after seeing Alphonso’s video, I decided to try and get his essence down. This was my first try with that technique, and the best of the lot, as it turned out. I’m really glad you saw him! That makes me feel great. Thanks! 💜
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Well – I’m glad it made you feel great – because you make me feel great too! And Charlie says he does too! 🙂 ❤
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Hehe! He and I are partners in crime now. He of the mysteries non-postmark! His paw print must have scared the PO machines off. 🙀
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Lol!!
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Beautiful! And thanks for sharing the book! 😄
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Thanks, Veronica! Don’t miss his YouTube material too. He has a way about him that is so motivational and easygoing. I just love him. Such a wonderful teacher too!
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Will do! Thanks!
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Less is more Laura. I LOVE this drawing. This fellow has such confidence and attitude. Thank you for the kinks to Alphonse, I will check out his lessons.
Keep practicing you are on an amazing journey!
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Thank you so much, Sharon! I’m so glad you enjoyed this; I was wondering what you’d think! 💛
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Basics! Great way to see and do for a fast moving subject. I like it. And thanks for the YouTube source.
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Thanks, Teri! Glad you got something useful there. I just love Alphonso’s videos. I hope you will too.
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I just watched Alphonso on YouTube. I can see how he inspired you because he did me too. I’ll be watching more. Thanks.
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I’m so happy to hear this, Teri! Thank you!
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Just incredible! Less is more! yeah creating a sketch within few lines, making it simplified is the most difficult job! You have done it very esily 🙂
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Thanks, Snehal! I was in the zone that day. Glad you like it!
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Wonderful lines Laura!! This turned out so well!! And thanks for the link…I’ll definitely be checking that out. Your example inspires me…it’s so good!!!! ❤️❤️👍🏻🎨
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Thanks, Charlie! Glad to be inspiring you for a change! 😀😊 Alphonso is awesome. You’ll love him.
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Oh, I really like this! It reminds me a bit of Calder and his wire drawings…
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Thanks so much, Iris! Glad you liked it! I’ll have to look up Calder.
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Oh, do! He’s a really lovely sculptor, mostly abstract though. But just google ‘calder wire drawing’ and you’ll see what I mean. ^^
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I do see! Thanks, Iris!
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I love this. So clean. Very nice lines. I have known about Alphonso for a while. He is a good artist and shares so much in his videos. I wish he would share more of his face and less of his hands. He was one of the featured artists in the 2015 Strathmore Online Workshops. They are now posting all his workshops on their Utube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShWrEUQr25Y
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Thanks, Carmel! I’m so glad you like him too! He has tons of stuff on the figure, as I’m sure you know. I did start to see him on the Strathmore side too and Sakura even has him do videos. Every now and then you see his face and he is just so cool. So much joy there. I just love listening to him. I love his way and he is a great teacher! Also I’m really glad you liked this sketch. It surprised me. I tried to do a few more and they didn’t have the same immediacy but I’d like to try more though because when it works, I really like the effect.
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Simplistic and beautiful lines Laura. Thanks for the link, I will check it out.
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Awesome, Mary! I’ll be curious what you think! Glad you enjoyed this.
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Your dog sketch is wonderful, Laura! 💕🐶 That’s exactly the sort of quick line capture I was trying to do with the Jeopardy contestants drawings. I will have to check out Alphonso’s channel in town where I can actually watch videos with the library’s wifi. 🙂
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Awesome, Teresa! I think it would be much harder when you’re trying to get a likeness on a human face, and you are really a master at that with your Jeopardy players. You make it look easy, but particularly when you’re not pausing, and trying to capture in so few strokes…..it’s not easy at all. I’m glad you enjoyed this! I was surprised by how well I liked it. I tried more and didn’t like them as much. The key is not to think. When I thought I would improve on it by thinking it through, nope. Just got too involved and lost the spare beauty. You probably already know this but this is what I learned from this exercise.
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You are so right about not thinking being the key! When I overthink the drawing, it really doesn’t work or it shows. 🙂
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Sweet and simple lines. Beautiful.
Shine On
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Thanks, Julie! Much appreciated. This would be a cool concept to try with a horse.
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Yes it would. Back in the 1970s I had a white silk dress that had horses on the fabric. Each horse was painted with a single black paint stroke. The horses were sporadically placed on the fabric. Each horse had red eyes. I wish I still had this dress to show you what I’m talking about, but it was my favorite dress. It also would have been a beautiful silk scarf as well.
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Ooh that does sound really neat, Julie!
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Laura, I’ve been following this photographer who has some amazing images of birds you might want to take a look at. He’s at http://birdsaspoetry.com/2016/01/07/blogging-101-day-4/#comment-5352
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Thanks so much for the link, Julie!
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Boy, Julie, you weren’t kidding. THANK YOU for letting me know about this one!
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Great drawing – thanks for the link!
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You’re quite welcome! I hope you enjoy it!
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Like how your simple lines captured your subject, Laura! Well done! 🎨👍💖
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Hey, thanks Jill! I was pretty surprised how it turned out. 💜
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Few lines Laura however you have captured the eyes beautifully to hold the viewer. Eyes are definately becoming your strength.
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Thank you so much, Denis! I really appreciate your kindness!
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Lovely confident lines producing an elegant drawing,
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Thank you so much, Graham, for your comment! Your encouragement means a lot; I’ve looked up to you from the start.
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I love this! Reminds me of some of Picasso’s very simple line drawings – so rich!
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Wow, thank you!!! So kind of you!
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Love it! I will check out your link. Thanks for sharing!
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You’re so welcome, hope you enjoy!
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Oh I love this one Laura, it works so well….. I need to do more of this less is more thing. Well done, you put done the ink at the right time. This would look great in a simple black and white frame, with a wide mount.
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Wow, thanks, Rebecca! It may have been beginner’s luck, as subsequent tries weren’t nearly as good. I started thinking too much! But it was so cool and I’d love to perfect this technique.
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Well you definitely nailed it with this one. It is hard to pick the important lines, and still have a recognisable piece, I’ve yet to master that skill.
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Thanks very much! I may have lucked out a bit with this one, but I was happy with it. Sometimes I feel sitting down to draw or sketch is like rolling the dice. I often don’t know what’ll happen but it’s always fun to find out!
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Totally agree, some days it just does not work…..I put those aside, and usually find I can rectify in a week or two, as I look at it differently, and forget my original intent. Some are still sat here from 6 months ago, really lost with them, but not given up for the future, they could have some luck with inspiration. Been painting tonight and found I have painted from one of my photos, which I have done before! Grrr although it is different, in that the horse has changed colour. Quite a bit of work to do before finished.
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I’m sure it’ll be beautiful, as your work always is, Rebecca!
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