How to start a portrait sketchbook.

[@iman0b0dy]

sketchbook skool is like no other

[@SketchBookSkool]

Thanks!

[@alyssaw.9139]

Imagine my surprise as I was watching this and saw my own face in her sketchbook! Fellow Sktchy (now Museum) app user here :)

[@helenwildingart7150]

It’s so special to have known Helen since she started drawing those portraits, when we were all Sketchbook Skool students back in the early days. Her portraits always bring joy to me and it feels like we are waving hello. Congratulations Helen - you’ll be a fabulous teacher!

[@WorldWideWebObserver]

Helen’s portraits are interesting and beautiful! Kudos to her for her dedication toward learning this skill. I enjoyed this video very much.

[@lstandish9]

Oh I love Helen! I was lucky to watch her growing in earlier days at Sketchbook Skool! Thank you for this.

[@leonoralopez10]

I love her portrait sketches. I have drew several portraits, but these we're done after a portrait course I took two years ago. Hers look so loose and natural, I love them.

[@thissunchild]

I love love love Helen's work❤️

[@lorrainesaliba5469]

Thank you Danny for sharing this video and introducing Helen ! She is an exceptionally fantastic Artist ! It is a joy to get to know about such beautiful people through your Channel ! I truly appreciate your time and commitment. Lorraine 🤗🎨😁

[@angelbouclin]

Very inspiring. Tenacity. consistency. Bravo

[@nordicpink]

Excellent video. Worth watching again and again just to see the photos

[@janejohnson3395]

This is interesting, because I am also hooked on drawing expressions. I am using an old Harry Potter book with about 300 pages in it and filling it with people's facial expressions. I too have made a lot of progress from when I first started. Matter of fact, that's the name of my sketchbook, "Expressions." One artist tutorialist said that every picture goes through an ugly stage and to work through it. That is SO true. Some of my favorite paintings were on the verge of being thrown away.

[@ujjainimukherjee2267]

Best line on likeness.... If i want likeness i'd take a photo.... Ahhh comforting.... So soothing to my ears

[@Louvre2012]

Inspiring! Enjoyed viewing your sketchbook pages.

[@arsontattoos5702]

Thank you for this!! Very inspiring. I love looking at others beginning work

[@denisceballos9745]

Yeah, thoroughly enjoyed this video, and watching her beautiful portraits. The eyes are what I found most interesting, how she does the eyes. So big and expressive. Far out, man. 👏

[@edhubble]

These are fabulous pictures. Most of the conversation is about perspective and angles and achieving a likeness (or not worrying about these issues) but the the thing that clearly stands out for me about Helen’s artwork is the use of colour and tonal values. That’s where her real skill shines through- but very little was said about it.

[@TriniRoyQuiReyes]

ThanK you so much for sharing your wealth of knowledge with your sketchbook. They are wonderful sketches. I appreciate you so much, your foreshortening is amazing ✨💯

[@PatriciaWaldo]

Thanks!

[@mschingacor]

Helen, oh your work is so inspiring !!! gorgeous and fun ! I will try your style as i love them. Thanks for this video :)

[@alisonburgess345]

Wow - they're stunning. what a talent! Well done - a LOT of work there.

[@SketchBookSkool]

They are!

[@KittyGinaMeow]

I adore all the portraits .. have alwaYS wanted to draw myself I guess I'm afraid to not be good :( .. I need to I need to I need to .. your so inspiring DANNY & HELEN

[@lulabelle33]

Love the personality and emotion/ expression in the portraits. Also love your style

[@junemaguire5053]

Love all of them well done Helen.

[@michellemeuser7435]

This was great. This is probably the best thing I’ve seen on your channel no offense, but I could learn from it. I was excited about it was very cool thank you.

[@SketchBookSkool]

Glad you enjoyed it! No offense.

[@cartoonmark75]

Excellent interview

[@katherineelizabethco]

As much as a would love to paint photo realism I simply cannot. The dilemma is I want to paint people, so how do I satisfy that desire ? Your video is so inspiring ! I enjoy the process. It doesn’t matter anymore if photo realism is beyond my reach. I can paint characters that are interesting and original. I found Sketchy and love it ! Your work is delightful !

[@giddysauce]

I think Helen means Museum by Sktchy rather than Sketchy app. Her work is really inspiring to me, and I so appreciate the recommendation !

[@marielouiseweeksb33attitud33]

These are fantastic drawings.

[@anthonycooper8063]

Thank you lots……you really make it sound possible.

[@gersonhareb432]

Such a kind and beautiful soul

[@Nikpik27]

Life-changing! I am so hard on myself and stop creating an artwork because it's not perfect. I need to let go.

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

I saw an answer to prayer through your videos again. I watched the ted talk of Dr. Mary Neal, & her life story gives such a primary life lesson, to remember everyday, (& came up as the solution to understanding unintelligible deaths of several of my youth pastors, years ago, when recently seeing his wife/ part of the ministry team), that I felt I would really like to do a drawing or painting of Dr. Neal as a way to memorialize this image. But I pray about all my art, so I asked if it would be a right thing for my art. Then, today, I prayed that God would please allow me to encounter something to give true guidance to my art, so that I can be sure to be myself in my art. I come on youtube, hoping something will be in my path for my art, in this regard. And at the top of my video list was this video. It took a minute for me to realize all of this, but now I am in Wow. Thank you God. And thanks for this video.

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

I was also wanting to paint the wife of the youth pastor who I recently met, but don't want to do things if they are not the right course for me. & had also prayed about that.

[@melanieklarofficial]

My biggest roadblock is that I can’t seem to focus on one thing-If only I would play my mandolin, practice my French and draw everyday I could be good at them all but of course I’m just doing nothing well. And yet I have such a hard time choosing! Anyone else struggle with that?

[@margaretpetersen9275]

Yep.. I write songs and play guitar , sing . And I feel pulled in so many different directions sometimes. Ive yet to learn how to “ compartmentalize”

[@beverlybeltran4404]

I am pulled in a zillion directions too. So hard to find time for it all and I’m retired!

[@memesNmusic]

Have you tried doing a bit of each every week instead of everything daily?

[@johannambolton]

Yes. But I don't consider it a roadblock. I draw, write, play my violin and mountain dulcimer. And flute. I do whatever I feel like doing at any one time. I don't feel guilty if I don't do something for a long time. I know I will come back to it when the time is right. I'm drawing a lot right now, but I haven't painted in years. I also make fiber sculptures and I did this intensely for a couple of years. Now I've set that aside and I'm concentrating on my sketchbooks. I'm also completing a novel, too, but I when this one is finished, I think I won't write another one for a while. People say you can't do something well unless you eliminate everything else, but I do all of these things for my own enjoyment. I will never play the violin like Joshua Bell, but I did play well enough to play with a local orchestra for a couple of years. Until I retired, I was a certified art teacher (also certified in the sciences) and I did a lot of scientific illustrations. Bottom line, I don't worry about it. I just do what I want at any one time. I like to focus on NOW. As my step-daughter said, there is no tomorrow.

[@melanieklarofficial]

@@memesNmusic that’s an idea.

[@carolinependleton8445]

Thankyou for sharing and for the inspiration.

[@patdicker4387]

Wonderful, inspiring portraits!

[@annebouillon345]

I have always loved Helen's portraits on the Skool yard! I have a question for you Helen : Museum by Sktchy is not available in Canada. Can you suggest other sources of portrait to use? Free of rights if possible? Thx!

[@stefanie7607]

I just always look on pexels.

[@annebouillon345]

@@stefanie7607 Thank you Stephanie!

[@samanthajoncas]

It’s frustrating when Canadians miss out on these things!

[@Gigiridgway]

I will love to learn

[@kirstenravnkildenielsen4328]

I Loveeee it wonderfuld

[@laurelb4193]

Very cool portraits!

[@1965tammie]

What is the app with all the selfies?🤔

[@MoanerLee]

I'd like to know that too, she said Sketchy, but I'm having a hard time finding one like she described

[@Anikanoteven]

You have a full time job. How did you find the time to do a portrait a day? How long a time did you spend on average on each sketch?

[@damienkearns3654]

Practice, practice, practice but there is one book with so many good exercises to practice and learn from scratch - "You will be able to draw faces by the the end of this book" by Jake Spicer. It's a great book. He has many great books.

[@patsyjohnson2064]

This is so Awesome!!!

[@SketchBookSkool]

Oh, good! I'm so glad you liked it, Patsy.

[@emmafreeman7740]

Thank you for being so honest,

[@L12397]

Is there a link for Helen’s course? I would love to have a go at it!

[@SketchBookSkool]

Helen taught int the Spark program, which ended earlier this year., Sorry!

[@blancaartgallery]

I can’t quite catch what the markers used are called. I bought my grandsons some brush markers, delivering them today to them . And then I’ll buy myself a pack too!

[@SketchBookSkool]

Helen uses Copic markers

[@rebeccawong1]

Well done … u got me thinking of starting 😅

[@johnhunter3011]

How do you get a likeness by sight alone?

[@briankivuti]

God, I'm trying and failing to find that app she mentioned. Sketchy? Does anyone know how to find it?

[@SketchBookSkool]

www.sktchy.com/

[@majesea]

I cannot find a sketchy app that fits her description

[@kattenihatten]

Me neither..... maybe its only on apple store?

[@lshwadchuck5643]

It's called Sktchy, only on Apple.

[@bjgoels]

Wish you would have shown some of your early drawings here. They would have been interesting to see as well.

[@margaretpetersen9275]

Thank you!! I feel like sooo frustrated. 😮

[@deborahtaylor7902]

love helens work! is she on instagram? or have a website?

[@helenlp]

I’m on Instagram Deborah - @helenlp

[@lesliemacdonald7976]

Hi, I don't see Helen's course on the website?

[@SketchBookSkool]

Helen's course is part of the Spark membership program. sketchbookskool.com/spark-2/

[@annmarieford]

Are we able to take Helen's course without joining Spark?

[@SketchBookSkool]

WHy wouldn't you want to join?

[@annmarieford]

@@SketchBookSkool I would love to but I am a beginner and I for me at this point in my artistic journey, I cannot justify the subscription price. I would rather pay one price and then have access to the course. The way Sketchbook skool used to do it.

[@TD-rx2lt]

What is the app she is talking about?

[@SketchBookSkool]

Sketchy

[@PatriciaWaldo]

Ok. So I’ll start drawing faces!!!

[@kina7128]

Please, what are the media used in these portraits?

[@ariannalybaek27]

She said she used lots of stuff but mostly copic markers, water color, and ballpoint pen

[@kina7128]

@@ariannalybaek27 Thanks, I thought I heard her say "copic markers" but don't have a clue what they might be! Are they perhaps similar to felt-tip pens?

[@ariannalybaek27]

@@kina7128 it’s a brand name of brush markers

[@kina7128]

@@ariannalybaek27 Thanks again. I've looked it up and it seems like our local Officeworks here in Western Australia have them in stock. Rather expensive, but there are beginner sets, with less colour options, that are maybe more affordable, if one is really determined to give this skill a good go.

[@CaitlinBongers]

@@kina7128 they are alcohol markers, so they work differently than normal water based markers. The copic brand is quite expensive yes, and when you're just starting out with them you easily buy bright colors that might be very difficult to use. There are some more affordable alcohol markers to try out such as ohuhu or arteza, but I'm not too familiar with them so I can't vouch for the quality. You can recognize that alcohol markers are used when they bleed through to the other side of the paper (because that's usually what happens when you use alcohol markers). Anyways they are quite fun to play around with!

[@MellefontT]

I've tried to find "sketchy". Is it free? An app?

[@eddeleeuw155]

Try to find the "Museum" app.

[@MellefontT]

@@eddeleeuw155 Nope, nothing.

[@MellefontT]

Ugh, it's only for apple. No Android version.

[@DeinaOKC]

@@MellefontT It's for Apple only. I thought they were working on an android version but I haven't seen any updates on it.

[@majesea]

I can’t find it for Apple either

[@denises9455]

❤️

[@majesea]

Can’t find her work :(

[@SketchBookSkool]

Look on Instagram. @helenlp

[@charlotteminichiello6260]

Wow

[@ogungou9]

Sktchy isn't on Android. Such a shame.

[@tyham726]

What’s Helen’s Instagram ID? Couldn’t find her.

[@danielaalbrecht2510]

what is Helen's Instagram handle? Love her work!

[@SketchBookSkool]

@helenlp

[@ricknico2577]

Im faceblind, I cant really tell if they look like the person, I only know that the details are accurate.

[@tusk242]

She sees the words not said.in the people in her paintings, Her style, is not easy for another to Copy.. Sort of like a NORMAN ROCKWELL. UNIQUE, that you do not see another artist work. out there. Remember the BIG EYE CHILDREN. in many paintings and animals in story books. Many tried to copy that style. but it was like copying. My style is REALISM because it's what is Real to me. Some may say, where is my style. I think it is there, In how I try to capture, though realism. I try to get Pairs. I live on a very fixed income, and can never afford to show due to the costly hidden cost.