Lines
I'll say it again: drawing is a skill. Anyone can learn it. The key is motivation. You have to want to learn 
to draw . . . and you learn to draw by drawing. Have confidence in yourself and you will learn to draw. An important thing to keep in mind when you first start, is to not let mistakes bother you. Just keep going. Usually it is easier to start over than to try to save a drawing that is going badly. Keep at it, and inevitably you will improve. 

Erasers are a crutch. You don't need them. You gain confidence knowing that the lines you make are 
permanent. If you make them right, there is no need to erase them. This is why the Black Prismacolor pencil is well suited for this class. It makes a good, dark, permanent, line in varying weights. 

Line is the foundation of drawing. How your lines are made determines the quality of your drawing. If you've had any experience with drawing, you know that a deliberate and careful (slow) line is what you usually strive for. In this class you want that same deliberation and care, but you also want boldness and speed. You can achieve this with lines that are thrown. 

Make a dot on the page. Make another dot at least 8" away. Look from one dot to the other. Make some practice throws by looking at the first dot, and lettting your eyes move to the second, ahead of your pencil. Let the pencil continue past the second dot. Now throw that line! I'm right-handed, and I usually start left to right. It is a kind of pushing motion.

  
NO! (scratchy) 
 
NO! (wavy) 
 
NO! (curved)
This! (thrown!)
Like this. 
Hand, arm, and 
shoulder 
translate evenly. 
Results in straight lines.                                                                          NO! 
Try to be as 'mechanical'                                                                        Hand rotates around elbow. 
and consistent as possible,                                                                      Results in curved lines. 
while remaining relaxed and 
'loose'.

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