casual sketching?

Question

I got a brand new sketchbook that I'm supposed to use for casual sketching as GCSE practice.
Now I'm not terrible, my sister is a qualified artist and she is amazing but I'm really stuck for ideas.
I drew one picture that blew everyone away but now I'm out of ideas. I draw a lot of eyes but maybe I should start drawing leaves or backgrounds?
What does everyone think?
some tips and ideas please!

Answer 1

I, too, would encourage you to go out and sketch from real life. Go out and capture images of EVERYTHING you see, from flowers, people, pets, cars, trees, houses, spiderwebs, clouds, etc. In other words, everything. The more you learn about how things work, and fit together, the better and more amazing your drawings from memory become.

Everything in the world works, together, with everything else. Objects occupy space. Space displaces other things. Clothes do not, simply, cover the body like paper dolls. Fabric wraps, drapes, hangs and flows over muscle and bone. The human arm comes out of the torso just so and moves in certain ways, while a cat's front leg comes out different and move in another way.

The wheels on a bus are placed where they are for a reason, a reason entirely different than why a sports car's wheels are located. This tree grows this way while THAT tree does something else. One bird hops while another walks. Why? A catterpillar walks one way, while a spider, another. Why?

By drawing from real life, you learn why a body sits on a couch in a much different way than one does sitting on a chair, or a stool. People in a group do not arrange themselves as one would arrange a bunch of dolls. How they feel about each other determines how their bodies relate to each other. An artist learns these subtle arrangements by observing them as he/she draws them.

No real substitute for sketching from life.

Remember, not every sketch has to be a masterpiece. For MOST artists, sketches are PRACTICE.

Answer 2

If you draw things from life rather than from imagination it takes away that consideration. Set up some different size boxes at random angles and represent their perspective; or as you suggest get a leaf, stick it in your book, and draw it on the opposite page – nb don't trace.

Answer 3

didnt know it was an aide but i agree. he is an etch a sketch. but wiping away the effect of the words doesnt happen. he has had to many changes of position to be able to wipe it away. he shows no character. i think you could also call him the flag candidate. he goes where the wind blows i think he will still get hte nomination because the gop no he can get more money than obama and outspend him. he hasnt begun to get the money he will get when its him alone

Answer 4

Do what Vince said :D