Progress of The Fat Artist from March 2021-2024

My Artistic Journey

Art has always been a passion of mine, and over time, I’ve seen my skills improve. But my goal isn’t just to get better—I want to be in the top 1%. That’s why I started this visual diary—to document my progress and showcase the evolution of my craft.

Looking back at my work from 2021, I can see how far I’ve come. But even now, I know there’s still room to grow. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that natural talent alone isn’t enough. Without a solid grasp of the fundamentals, art can feel inconsistent, no matter how much effort you put in.

To truly master my craft, I’ve committed to studying structure, technique, and the core principles that make great art stand the test of time. I’m following a carefully designed curriculum to sharpen my skills and bridge the gaps in my work.

This journey isn’t just about improving—I’m striving for mastery. And through this diary, you’ll see every step of that transformation.

🔹 Weekly Art Study Plan (4-6 Weeks)

💡 Focus on one area per week while keeping up with daily sketching.

🖌 Week 1: Line Confidence & Basic Forms

🎯 Goal: Improve line quality, control, and understanding of 3D forms.
📌 Exercises:

• Draw straight lines, circles, and ellipses (use DrawABox exercises).
• Simplify everyday objects into basic shapes (cylinders, spheres, cubes).
• Practice cross-contour lines on objects to reinforce 3D thinking.

📚 Study Resources:

• DrawABox: Lesson 1 (Lines & Forms)
• Successful Drawing – Andrew Loomis (PDF)
• The Big Guide to Drawing (Website)

✏️ Practice Routine:
✅ 15-30 min warm-up (lines, ellipses, basic forms)
✅ 1-2 studies per day (household objects in 3D)
✅ Draw one fun sketch using the day’s practice

📌 Website Idea: Post before/after progress on your line work.

🖌 Week 2: Gesture & Dynamic Figures

🎯 Goal: Capture motion and life in quick sketches.
📌 Exercises:

• 30-60 sec gesture drawings (use QuickPoses or Line of Action).
• Sketch figures from reference using simple shapes.
• Try scribble gestures for fluidity before refining.

📚 Study Resources:

• Proko Gesture Drawing
• Michael Hampton’s Figure Drawing (PDF)
• Bridgman’s Constructive Anatomy (PDF)

✏️ Practice Routine:
✅ 15-30 min warm-up (gestures from photos)
✅ 1-2 figure sketches per day
✅ Study a master artist’s gesture drawing style

📌 Website Idea: Document your gesture drawing progress with side-by-side comparisons.

🖌 Week 3: Perspective & Space

🎯 Goal: Build a strong foundation in perspective drawing.
📌 Exercises:

• Draw horizon lines & vanishing points in simple landscapes.
• Practice 1-point, 2-point, and 3-point perspective.
• Sketch objects in different angles using boxes as a base.

📚 Study Resources:

• Perspective Made Easy – Ernest Norling (PDF)
• The Elements of Drawing – John Ruskin (PDF)
• DrawABox Lesson 2 (Perspective Basics)

✏️ Practice Routine:
✅ 15-30 min perspective drills
✅ 1-2 sketches per day (buildings, objects in space)
✅ Try drawing the same scene in different perspectives

📌 Website Idea: Show a “bad” old perspective drawing vs. a “new” improved one.

🖌 Week 4: Light, Shadow & Rendering

🎯 Goal: Improve shading and depth.
📌 Exercises:

• Study light on simple objects (sphere, cube, cylinder).
• Sketch from black-and-white photos for value accuracy.
• Try hatching, cross-hatching, and blending for different textures.

📚 Study Resources:

• How to Render – Scott Robertson (Sample Chapters)
• Color and Light – James Gurney (Sample Pages)
• Rendering in Pen & Ink – Arthur Guptill (PDF)

✏️ Practice Routine:
✅ 15-30 min light/shadow drills
✅ 1-2 fully rendered studies per day
✅ Try stylizing light/shadow for a personal drawing

📌 Website Idea: Show a shading experiment with different techniques.

🔹 Beyond Week 4: Advanced Studies & Experimentation

After mastering the basics, focus on:
🎨 Stylization – Study different art styles and experiment with your own.
👥 Character Design – Apply anatomy & perspective to original characters.
🌆 Environments – Build on perspective skills to create backgrounds.
💡 Digital Art – Learn painting techniques with Ctrl+Paint or Proko.

📌 Website Idea: Post a “before and after” journey after a few months of practice.

🔹 Daily Drawing Habit (30-60 Min Routine)

⏳ If you’re short on time, stick to this:
✅ 10 min – Warm-up (lines, shapes, perspective drills)
✅ 15 min – Gesture drawing (poses from QuickPoses/Line of Action)
✅ 20-30 min – Focused study (anatomy, shading, composition)
✅ Bonus: Apply what you learned in a creative piece