Soft drink can by Robbie Cleghorn

Hello, Robbie. Instinct (all I have re. art) tells me that you're pressing a little bit hard with that pencil to get the darks, and experience (oh, okay, that too) tells me that it's jolly difficult to draw fluidly when you are applying so much pressure. The print on the drink can is a dreadful distraction when you're drawing; I often try to ignore such markings until after I have the 3D shape in place. Others will, I am sure, have more illuminating comments.

What a great brave attempt Robbie. Also asking for comments for comments..... Amanda is right a bit too much pressure on the pencil so you have very dark darks. Also Dennis commented re the ellipse at the bottom of the can... its a bit flat and sharp on the left. Practise ellipses ,try placing a can at different eye levels and looking for the differences. And yes I would also ignore the letters and printing until I was happy with the shape. But hats off for a second attempt. ;-)

Good advice - and the thing I thought before I looked at the comments was that yes, you're going for the darks a bit too quickly; building them up in layers using quite light pencil marks is usually better than massing them in with the softest, blackest pencil you've got. Mind you - I do it all the time.... but establish the shapes first, and when you've got those to your satisfaction you can build up the shadows. Having said which, of course, you're starting out and this has a lot going for it. The putty rubber or blue-tack can do much more than just rub lines out, by the way: it can be a drawing implement in itself, letting you cut back into your darks or selectively reduce them. Shading can be achieved with the finger; a cotton bud or two (much safer than shoving them in your ears), or a torchon or tortillon - Google these, and you'll find how to make them from a piece of paper: very useful they are too. I can tell from this that you have a good eye, so all you really need to do is practise - if you have specific questions, ask 'em here or on the Forum, and don't hesitate.

Thank you for your kind comments and advice, it is all very much appreciated. I will take on board all the points. I Googled torchon's and found the page about making my own, so that is my next project. They do look very useful items indeed. But thank you all once again, this has been a very illuminating experience. Robbie.