Amanda in the newspaper

[meriad]

they are amazing Jo; wow.

Same as you Ally and Kaz; I would love to be able to draw. My dad was very artistic and my sister is as well; but that's where the gene pool ended I think. Although saying that, Amelia my niece is very arty as well but she's more into the animated art vs 'realistic'.

[Osc]

Wow they are brilliant! I haven’t an artistic bone in my body

[miasmum]

You have Osc, look how you can just make things with knitting, that's an art form

[JoM]

Honestly, I’m so envious of her talent. I bought some pencils, a sketch pad and a couple of learn to draw books when we were in lockdown last year and I’m still to have a crack at it

[Workingman]

Jo, when I was Amanda's age I would sit for ages with a pad a 3b, HB and 4h and just sketch away - it's where Becky gets her 'skills' from. We use to spend days scribbling. Amanda might just be a natural, and a pretty good one too.

Try not to be 'photographic' in what you draw - imperfections can make a drawing - less really can be more. Look up basic perspective, the horizon (eye-line) and lighting / shadows. If you want to draw people look up facial and body proportions, but here's a big tip, please look at 'carrot' people - if you can draw the shape of a carrot you can tweak it (them) to look like a person (people).

Please, don't give up.

[Workingman]

She captured him perfectly.

And there's the trick. It's not a photo of Bill, it is a representation of his personality. His coat isn't life perfect fur, it is a jumble of thicker and thinner lines going this way and that with a few fine highlights and spots, but it looks like fur. There is a smudge effect on his bib to soften that fur, and look at Bill's collar! It is not brand new from the pet shop, it is old as the hills and has been with Bill in the puddles and the mud, and running through the wet grass in the rain.

Amanda has tricked you - perfectly.

[TheOstrich]

Exceptional talent!