Facebook Live: Danny Gregory's first sketchbook

[@thetruthgodcountry5052]

Thanks! Totally new to sketching and just bought a couple of books and pens. I've been putting off starting, as I am a beginner and am worried it won't look good. After this video, I now can't wait to start!!! You've completely motivated me.

[@oscar6443]

Thank you for sharing your journal. I found it fascinating and you have some very good drawings. Again as you have said, you can only get better by practice, practice and again practice. I'm 71 years old, and I have only just started to sketch and watercolour for the last 6 months. Not as good as you, but I live in hope. But I will definitely keep going as I do enjoy it. Thank you for sharing

[@Chunda8]

Thank you for putting this up- I am 55 and started sketching seriously in my late 30s....Now I can watercolor, paint, collage, and am starting to take on the brush pen. We just keep going...by the time I am 71, I will be even much better than I am now. Watch out, old renaissance masters....here we come.

[@describer99]

WOW!!! - For a first book, your work is amazing!!!

[@Parianparlay]

I been following you for years now Danny, I just want to say…”Thank you! 💕”. You really feel like a friend now.

[@terriwerning3477]

Wow-that’s a darn good first sketchbook!!!

[@Chunda8]

Danny I think you have mentioned it before, but in the beginning, we have to allow ourselves to make a LOT of bad drawings. Most of the ones you show here are really good. Piaget's work talks about, (and shows) kids moving through stages of being able to see and render things with more accuracy. We have to move through those stages if we haven't. There is no magic bullet to make us suddenly able to do it. But, the technical exercises from the books do help. There are quite a few pages I have of cubes and spheres and cylinders and isolated body parts. What happens is that I started to get more drawings that I was happy with and gradually, fewer of the crappy ones I was not happy with. Something that did help me a lot was the "grid" strategy- you put a grid over your reference and a grid on your blank paper, then just copy square by square. After a few dozen of those exercises, the grid moved to my brain. That is probably the closest we have to a magic bullet. Also I moved from simple stuff to more complex subjects- when I pick a photo reference, I may have to go through 15-20 or 30 photos to find one that I both like and can do. Chickens, other birds, frogs, pigs, bees, are easier to draw than horses and elephants. Regardless, I think a lot of artists find that Sketchbook #10 or #11 is WAY better than Sketchbook #1, which is very encouraging. I find that I enjoyed getting there, I hope this helps.

[@luisalegaspi4360]

You are giving me hope. I actually have a book of yours on the collection of urban sketches from other artists. Thank you very much for your humility and generosity. More blessings to you.

[@craigbriscoe9237]

Thanks Danny. Your videos are so inspiring. This is now the beginning of my third forray into the space of drawing. It's about 20 years since I last drew. I'm hoping that I can keep the momentum up. My life has moved on and my intentions and goals have changed dramatically. I've started a sketchbook, I'm hoping that it works to help keep me going with this. Well done on what you do, not just your beautuful art but also how you inspire others, like me, to express our creativity. Strength and courage to you and your creative self!

[@SketchBookSkool]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@trinitywright7122]

Dear Danny. I've been an artist since I was a little kid and then I kind of dropped away thought I would go back to it. And today I saw this your first sketchbook. Well it convinced me that I should forget about ever becoming an artist again. I just love you and you're wonderful and I love your insight and I really thought I could do it if those were your first drawings - I mustI give up.

[@rashaesmith9183]

I have a son named Jack that just turned three. I love that you drew your son! I draw my children, too. Those drawings are always a joy to look at. ❤

[@ina_lina]

Thanks for sharing this, Danny. I hope you are well.

[@TheDodoshwedo]

"don't make a big deal out of it": I think that's the best advice for those of us starting out! Awesome motivational video, thank you!!

[@VeVeEm]

Wow, Danny... What a beautiful style you have started with... I would be proud of my first sketchbook like yours, but... mine is different...lol... Thank you so much for sharing xxx

[@victor1963]

An incredible first sketchbook!! Thanks for sharing. This is very inspiring 😊

[@drawingfast2570]

thanks. I like your way of presenting the the subject, its like narrating a story

[@beads2yarn]

Great sketches. But I loved the motivating words. One of my favorite videos. Thank you for sharing 😊

[@betsy773]

That made me laugh out loud.... sitting on the ground and you may pick up some extra change. Hysterical. Love your work. Love your videos. Thank you❤❤❤ "im resistant to being uncomfortable" great statement. Me too.

[@MSKCCooke]

Thank you! I was just lamenting that all my faces look alike, or at least like they're related. And none look like what I intended! But interestingly, they resemble yours! Maybe it's the beginner's face?!! Anyway, I appreciated you sharing this. I am on the right track!

[@kayrabey1344]

Your sketchbook is very good. I started my first sketch today. I’m going to try to do it everyday. I don’t go out very often as other than groceries, gas etc. we do have a park downtown so maybe I’ll try to get out more. Right now it will be at home drawing mundane things around me. And yes plenty of mistakes on the drawing. I’ve had classes a couple of them but I’m just going to try and draw what I see.

[@katsmith8263]

I'm SO glad I found this video and saw your 1st sketchbook!!! I want to see all others in order!!!

[@faithhammett7128]

That looks amazing!

[@missieburford5596]

Thanks, Danny! I’ve seen some of the sketchbooks you’ve shared, but not your first one . Thank you!

[@SketchBookSkool]

My pleasure!

[@KittyGinaMeow]

Your drawings are amazing Danny ❤❤❤

[@xxjones]

Hi Danny, I have been watching many of your videos, but I am not sure if I ever commented on any of them. I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy and appreciate your videos. You are so natural and authentic, it is like sitting with a friend across a table and having a chat. Oh, well sitting across the table and listening to you chat. :-) I used to live in New York, waaay back in the early eighties, so maybe that adds to the flavour, we may have some experiences in common. Anyway, It's always interesting, inspiring and entertaining listening to you. But this time I feel I have to interject, haha! I have been sketching a little bit off and on for some years. I found the digital tools, doodling on the phone and and drawing on the iPad very helpful. Actually I think the first time I did something like urban sketching was with the iPad. I would have felt way too self conscious drawing somewhere in public, with pen and paper. But on the iPad, nobody knows what you are up to. It also helped me that I could retrace my steps or delete a layer if I did not like it. I could try and make it work until I had a somewhat satisfying result. Now I don't mind if I do a terrible drawing or sketch, but in the beginning I very much had to fight the feeling that I was wasting paper and ink - and if it turned out too wrong or ugly, that I was wasting my time too. Therefore I liked the digital format. And mostly, I just did it with my finger. So its not all bad, I think it can help someone to make first steps. There are some neat drawing apps available, with limited choices, not too complicated, that are fun.

[@Zoomfreaky]

Ha, my boyfriend and I enjoyed your video very much. We just went urban sketching in Rotterdam today. Loved the end of your video, made me smile. Wish I could join the course, but I draw when I can and my little sketchbook is always in reach...:) Thanks so much for the tons and tons of information and inspiration.

[@Purplesunflower99]

Gosh! Amazing work for your first book 👌

[@kellydierick1590]

you already drew quite complex things as a beginner. And people's faces... 😲 There's definitely talent there

[@piotrstaszkiewicz]

Amazing sketchbook!! Thank you for sharing. Love to see more of your sketchbooks.

[@gents6379]

Hi Danny. Thanks for sharing your sketchbook. I have signed up for the Urban Sketching Kourse on your high recommendation. And I pledge to do a drawing a day of whatever quality during August. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@liart6219]

Great Danny! "Unluckily" I have spent all my art budget for the next three months on the Creative Lettering klass ( and I love it) , this one has to wait ! Wish you all a great fun!

[@darmarferi]

I think it's a great sketch sketchbook!!

[@deadinteresting8905]

My gosh! I'm glad you talked about using an Ipad.. I have literally been so frustrated and depressed that I can NOT draw anything like I do by hand on an Ipad.. I'm not sure if it's just me but after using one for a month and giving up and returning to paper and pen, I find I'm almost having to relearn analogue :(

[@cybrough]

thanks for sharing. seems like an alone activity.

[@chelsee6453]

The horse and cart looks a bit complicated for a beginner sketcher. Do you still like any of your old sketches? I agree with you about sketching alone I don't like drawing in a classroom. Thanks for sharing.

[@thom5517]

Great video Danny !!

[@letiziafarisato8780]

Thank you for sharing and for all your great advice! So inspiring... How long did it take you to draw the tangled details of the boats? Thanks!

[@4355dcox]

LOL ... Pick up a little loose change in your watercolor water cup! Thanks for the video Danny! Nice first sketchbook!

[@Thuhong-h8v]

❤❤❤

[@JoyWandrey]

this is exactly what they say when you are in art school. just draw. draw every day. show it only if you want. even 10 minutes a day is enough.

[@chewsyslee55]

My first sketch book consisted of drawing 'Dirty pictures' . I had a lot of erotic fantasies floating around in my head. My elicit hobby developed proficiently. My current prowess is anatomical drawings.