The Key to Getting Better
You hear it all the time – PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE – and as someone learning to draw or sketch it can be frustrating when the returns of your efforts aren’t forthcoming. It took me some time to realize this, along with the help of one of my university professors. I came to him somewhat frustrated that i hadn’t been getting better in the short time I had started to sketch in my sketchbook. He then turned to the board, and drew this diagram. I’ve since expanded on it and share it whenever the occasion arises…
Believe it or not, I was full speed ahead on my way to becoming a math major when I discovered Industrial Design. I sometimes use graphs to explain things to this day. Take this one for example…
As you sketch and practice, you see initial improvement, then hit a plateau where you find very little or no apparent improvement. Then, as you continue to push through and practice, you may find yourself hitting a boost in improvement which is encouraging, only to be met with another plateau. This continues on and on, however the returns are diminishing as time goes on. This could be due to a myriad of factors, but essentially, we have our limits and as we get closer to our limits, the returns diminish.
For the casual sketcher, the curve would look something like this.
While personal improvement can be seen over time, the returns are substantially less because sketching may be intermittent, irregular, and occasional. The longer the gap between practice sessions or instances, the more chance for a deterioration in your personal skill level.
So what’s the point of all this? SKETCH SKETCH SKETCH SKETCH!!! It’s really the way to get significantly better, even if it’s a pain sometimes and you can’t immediately see the results.
Most of what you see in my sketchbook section on the site, was done while waiting on the bus or train, or even while on the train. Take every opportunity you have to practice. It will pay in dividends later in your career.
Other than only sketch sketch sketch, I also think that you have to look at what can I do better in every single sketch? Should I use more time on each sketch or do quick sketches? I think I get the most out of overdoing sketches, and what I have found out, is details are the major thing of going to the next step!
I agree. Mindless sketching will get you know where! You have to think as you sketch and learn with each stroke. Really observe and compare what’s in your mind or what you’re seeing to what you are putting down on paper. Thanks!
Sketch,sketch,sketch… When I was young my sketching was getting better, but for a long time I stopped to sketch…My skill went down.
Now I am in a personal project – One sketch a day(at least). Every day I sketch something and post it on my blog. The coolest is the possibilite to take a look on my old sketches and see how much I am getting better.
Sorry my bad english guys…
I’ve been told this time and time again…I guess I just need to suck it up and get on with some practicing!! Thanks for the kick up the ass
I forgot…
When are we sketch,sketch..and sketch. We are always learning something with our mistakes. But do only a lot of sketchs will not help us. In my case, as biggner, getting some material helps a lot. At a forum a I got a PDF file called “Basic Sketing Techniques for the Industrial Designer” by Thomas Valcke and Everyday a take a look at the videos here in IDSketching.
Guys, if you know about any sketch or rendering file, please me know.
This is very true, I always seem to find a way to put off sketching. I have seen my skill drop so much since I last sketched and this happens every time I come around to sketching. Then I go to sketch and am disheartened by the poor quality. Like Louise said its time to give myself a kick up the ass and sketch. It can be fun and the ability to produce a great sketch can win over clients and others.
The videos on this site are proving great and the sketchbook is very inspirational.
First of all, I am just a student but I realize what had been going on in my study as well.
That is very true. I think it is useful to go as long as it takes to do a sketch in your free time too (Do underlay with no shame). Once you reach a certain level of fineness in sketching then you can start omitting details for quick ideation. I saw many bad sketch in my school that somewhat driven most by laziness but some are misguided by professor that require a page finish in 30 minutes. I agree quantity will win at the end but quality is very important in communication.
What I’m trying to say is defining the level of stuff you gonna present. Keep your ugly ideas in your sketchbook (Don’t waste your time on perspective if you have a hard time, it is your ugly idea which will not present), and get couple good ideas to further develop. Ideas are great until you visualize it correctly. Don’t waste your time keep sketching! Once you get a hand on it you will be sure finish something in a short time because you know what is needed in the page.
This is a very interesting way of explaining practice/learning curves.. I can totally relate to it.
i definitely agree. Thanks so much for the encouragement. I also find ways to put off sketching, lol… but once i got sketching more i could definitely see improvement and I’ve really enjoyed the videos on the site too. What I’ve found is that i’ve learned more from drawing larger sketches than from the tiny thumbnails. good luck sketching everyone! ^_^
Quantity equals quality if you fail alot and learn from it. This site as become even more awesome than the last time I last checked. Love it!
Well said. There’s alot to be said of accumulating mileage and how that relates to your skill level in a given task.
Although i agree with the comments made, i think it helps to have a direction, i feel sketching is a learning process two fold, firstly and foremost i think sketching is a tool in which to understand form, to evaluate and collate answers from, whether the sketch is good or bad, you must learn something from it that is progression, even if you freestlye sketching a car, a robot, a toothbrush you have to have an objective, a purpose to the sketch something that you can build on in terms of both the sketch and your ability, becoming satisfied with what you have sketched and in turn giving you the drive to push the exploration further providing inspiration to keep sketching.
ps. i wish i had this site when i was at uni, its still an excellence source to have
Your Killin’ em Spence!!! ha
There is an old saying…”You’re not a (car) designer ’til you’ve done 10,000 sketches.” Think about it. That’s probably how many sketches you probably did in school. It’s true, the more you do it, the better you get. How else can one explore form and communicate your ideas quickly. Burn through those Prismas people! In the long-run, paper and pencils are a cheap investment for the return you’ll get at the other end.
Right Gordon…….especially for product designers like me who need to burn pencils even faster ….to get into the car mold…..yet have unique style qoutient. Im trying thick ink tipped pens and the results sketches have a different language….however message is the same…..
@Claudio Luiz
http://www.vanhooreweder.net/basic_sketching.pdf
I found it very useful too, thanks!
I have been coming to this site for about 6 months now, give or take, and i have been inspired and re-energized, by what i see and what i have read, keep up the great work everyone, and thanks!
-Halo77
Thanks! Glad to hear it.
That PDF file is brilliant for beginners, thank you so much. I love how it insists you learn to draw a straight line! That is very important
Thanks for that PDF it has some useful stuff in. The straight line exercise seems different to what I’ve been told to practice previously. It doesn’t suggest to try and sketch over the same line several times. Now i’m confused to which works best :S