Archive of all blog posts

News & announcements: Hands/feet/expressions practice tools released

Hurrah! The Hands & Feet and Expressions tools are finally live, along with bug fixing patches across all the tools. Thank you so much for your patience and support along this crazy process. I hope we've made you proud, and will continue to make you prouder. Features of this update include: 429 photos of hands & feet 314 photos of faces Fixed stop button moving up when pause button is... Continue reading

News & announcements: Sorting photos

I spent a few hours with the photographer again this morning, laying plans for our next shoot and sorting the photos from the last shoot. I thought I'd give you a little preview of a few of the shots that were taken! All of the selected photos are about to undergo some light post-processing to contrast, cropping and whatever else it is that photographers do to make photos really clear and amazing.... Continue reading

News & announcements: Photoshoot #1 complete!

Hi gang! Just wanted to keep you posted; yesterday I spent all day in a photography studio helping get a series of hands and feet shots. We had models moving in and out all day, shooting nearly continuously, with only about a twenty minute break for lunch.   I am still exhausted from the experience, but also incredibly excited. We're sorting the photos now and getting them ready to load into... Continue reading

News & announcements: New year's practice resolutions

It's that time of year where people commit to losing weight and taking their vitamins. Admirable goals, to be sure -- but don't forget to commit to your art as well this year! What practice goals are you setting for yourself? Remember, the best goals are specific, measurable, achievable and realistic. Let's break that down: Specific Practice that has a clearly defined goal helps your brain to notice... Continue reading

News & announcements: Setbacks, new photographer, still going to make hands & feet happen

Hi gang, A quick update about progress on the hands and feet tool. If you're not sure what I'm talking about, check out these posts first: Support us page (explains what we were raising the money for, and still are!) Looking for photographers in portland, OR Progress on hands & feet tool I've been feeling terrible about the long delay in getting this tool out, and hurting for the lack of... Continue reading

News & announcements: Answers to common forum questions

I seem to get the same three questions about the forums again and again, and I imagine that many of you out there are wondering the same things but have never taken the time to write. So today, here are the answers to your top questions about using the forums! How do I post images on the forums? Use this tag: [img]http://yourimageurlhere.com[/img] How do I add an avatar/icon to my... Continue reading

News & announcements: New forum moderator

Good news! Sanne has stepped up to help me moderate the forums. I have had the great pleasure of moderating other sites alongside her in the past, so I know that she is a top-notch mod. She will be around to help answer questions, deal with tech support questions, move threads, provide encouragement, and just generally be awesome while I am distracted getting the new tools out. But Sanne isn't just... Continue reading

News & announcements: Forums repaired and progress on hands & feet tool

Over the last few weeks I'd been running into a lot of problems with the forum software that we use, until it eventually just gave out on us. I apologize for the time that the forums were down. With some updating and further monkeying, it looks like the forums are once again up and running. Hurrah! In the meanwhile, we've been playing with ways to set up the hands & feet shoot -- here are a few... Continue reading

Improving technique: Starting to use colour in your life drawings

At the beginning of the year, I asked you what your artistic challenges were. An enormous number of you confessed to not knowing how to get started with color! Kenzo & Mayko from http://www.lovelifedrawing.com/ stepped up to the plate to provide this wonderful primer on getting started with color in your figure drawings. Thanks so much, Kenzo & Mayko! Be sure to check out http://www.lovelifedrawing.com/... Continue reading

News & announcements: Looking for photographers in Portland, OR

We finally hit our fundraising goal! Now, I'm on the hunt for the perfect photographer to help us get pictures of hands & feet for the new tool. Although I have a starter list of photographers I'm calling, if you know someone who would be a perfect fit for this job, please link them here so they can get in touch with me! I'm hoping to interview as many photographers as possible to make sure we get the... Continue reading