Sketching from Imagination | Pencil Timelapse + Chat

Today I’m doing three random sketches from imagination in my moleskine, while chatting about getting inspired to draw things on the spot, and answering a viewer’s question about how to handle harsh criticism.
Gear:
-Moleskine sketchbook
-Palomino Blackwing pencils
Website: www.sheppard-arts.com
Instagram: @sheppardarts
Music by me
Love + Thanks again to all my viewers and subscribers!

[@jardrodrigues]

Ever when she says "im gonna go grab a cup of coffee" i dont know why, but i feel a profound comfort in my heart

[@SofiaPereira]

The second sketch creeped the hell out of me!! It's beautiful, regardless of how much having those bugs around my mouth would freak me out. I really admire your art and your input in this videos, and I love listening to your thoughts. Good job Cynthia!

[@TartantazCreates]

To answer your questions. I can happily draw faces out of my imagination. I struggle drawing anything out of my imagination that isn't a face without reference of some kind.

[@quickso0385]

SAME

[@manniesreactionchannel3808]

Tartantaz Creates same

[@sozialeskorrektiv7702]

just do it... look at it 2 meter away... let it happen

[@jourdanosaer7207]

just draw using references until you're comfortable with the subject

[@tomfagrell7357]

Thanks cynthia for an amazing sketchbook video. Really inspiring. I have a few thoughts on feedback and critique. When I first started out painting seriously I posted everywhere. Told myself that I was looking for feedback and critique. But I have come to realize that what I was seeking was praise - dopamine enhancing pats on the back and kind words. The images were rushed and bad - often accompanied by me saying that the piece is not done, that I did it in five minutes or some other lame excuse. Oftentimes the reactions weren’t what I had hoped for - people didn’t like the image, or not enough people reacted to it. That left me feeling empty and ashamed. In the end I stopped posting altogether for several years. It allowed me to find my own style and appreciate paining for my own sake and no one else’s. It was nice and calm. Now I have made the move into professional illustration and in order to land jobs I have had to put myself out there. I’m still not really comfortable with it. Because, like you said Cynthia, it is hard not to take criticism personal. I have had to make a few rules for myself. 1. Know why you are posting an image. I post promotionally on Instagram, and link my portfolio to potential clients. In closed artist groups I post for critique, when I find myself lost or if I’m starting something big. Try to decide beforehand the reason why you are posting, and be prepare to be disappointed by the feedback. If kind words are all you want - show it to your mom. 2. Post your best work - only. Even if people can say mean things sometimes it helps if you are as proud as you can be of your work. Then you can choose to listen to what they say, learn from it, or you can ignore it, knowing that you have made the image as good as you possibly can. Also, they say that you are only as good as your worst painting. I don’t know if it’s true, but I don’t want subpar stuff that I have done to circulate. 3. Don’t post wips (too often). Sometimes when I’m working on a larger illustration I am tempted to share the progress. This can be a nice service to your followers, and offer an insight to your technique. But chances are that they won’t really see what you see in the image. Also, I find that posting an unfinished image actually makes it less urgent for you to finish it. I have certainly done this, and immediately afterwards I have started a new project. 4. Never be defensive. Don’t put up with people being mean, but also don’t dismiss people just because you don’t agree. These people took the time to look at and examine your image and made a comment especially to you. There is value in that. Say ”thank you for the feedback, that is a good point”. No one is interested in excuses or rants about why they are wrong. Plus, there may actually be some truth in what they are saying. 5. It is all a matter of taste. Some artists are more technically skilled than other artists. This can sometimes be apparent. But the actual appreciation for an image is ultimately subjective. No one’s taste is more valid than anybody else’s. Some people actually love the paintings of Thomas Kinkade. They are not necessarily wrong. Depending on which field you are aspring to work within the opinions of others may be more or less relevant, but if I post something on Instagram, and only get 10 likes, that is a pretty good indication to me that there is something wrong with the image. Use social media carefully. They are amazing tools. They pull the art world closer together, making it intimate and accessible. But they also have the potential to make you addicted to likes and feedback. Try to remember why you love making art in the first place and stay true to yourself.

[@damancandance1]

This amount and quality of content from an expert like you is insane! Can't thank you enough Cynthia.

[@kahn9563]

I'm most comfortable sketching landscapes, mountains with fantasy aspects

[@gordanastojanovic9635]

I love watching your videos while painting, you are like a virtual art buddy/sensei to me! Love everything you draw xo

[@martinpaint]

I once spent almost 6 months devoted to only skulls XD. Now I pretty much start everything with a head and then try to add stuff to that. Awesome videos! Thanks for the insight!

[@youva7906]

portraits are sketches that come out of my mind easily

[@owenchiang7877]

My personal defaults are either knights and mech suits, or abstract floral patterns.

[@rosaliemason2516]

I deeply missed listening to your videos, so coming back to them after some time away is really nostalgic for me. You're really inspirational for me, and I hope that at some point you return, but even if you don't, I just want to express that your work and your opinions have helped me grow a lot as an artist! So thank you.

[@MarySanche]

Your voice is so lovely and your artistic wisdom is very comforting to listen to! I love doing my own sketching along with videos like these - got a few good scribbles out of it today. I find that I feel most comfortable sketching generic tetrapod critters from my imagination. I put in a lot of time studying animal anatomy during my degree and now I use that power to doodle dragons... ;)

[@_george84]

I love your sketches! The last one in particular was lovely, especially the eyes

[@queencristina8728]

ugh your awesome I hope that one day my sketches will be improved and better...i love you and your art .

[@davidshowers7508]

I thank you soooo, much for this vid.. I hadn't been drawing in a while due to my tiring work schedule. And my pencil/hand control suffered . Now working my way back to the ways of accord.I was looking at so many different vids from different artists approaches. Yours perspective and style gave me the answer i was looking for. esp with blank page paralysis. My mind could not get back to the train of thought as i once had and now. from looking at your work and sketch start outs. My mind set is starting to find its way back.. Thank you.. AND.. Most of all I love your voice.

[@lennymoule458]

I have now watched and listened to you talk while doing brilliant work and I am now hooked. Started to paint and draw as a hobby ready for retirement. Love your work,inspiration to carry on👍

[@nickelisms]

Thank you for the warning!! Excellent video even though I didn't actually watch it, lol. I would totally listen to a podcast from you.

[@johncollado1151]

Good video, Cynthia.... I really enjoy these. Keep them coming.

[@Yzjoshuwave]

Really enjoyed watching you draw. Your open-minded reflections and candor are also engaging, so thank you!

[@billkirbymusic]

Thank you for the advice. What perfect timing for this video. I’ve been stuck all day trying to balance studies with drawing from imagination. I find myself telling myself I can’t be creative, that whatever I draw won’t be good enough. I guess I have to remember that I’m the only one that can be me. Thanks again, hope you have a great week! Bill

[@TheZombiejohn75]

I can listen to you read a cookbook. You're such an inspiration and among my absolute favorite artists

[@juanmanuelruizmolina9507]

I love the way you combine your wasp's fear with human body and creative costumes!

[@REDMARKART]

Love this. Something I definitely need to do more of. Liked &subbed

[@KatrineHeart]

You're the best, as always!

[@narent6989]

love your style and the way you describe your process - seems like you are smiling while you do it.

[@theartproject]

I loved the first and seconds sketch the most! The wasps freak me out in real life so to see the drawing was fantastically thrilling. Now I want to go and draw some wasps.

[@darkostojanovic6014]

I'm most comfortable with sketching faces, as I had lots of practice with them. In fact, most of my doodles start with an inconveniently placed head sketch, and then I run out of paper to add the body to it. And awesome video, Cynthia. Thanks for sharing your sketches and your musings on them! :)

[@olimueller]

The second one creeps the hell out of me! 😱

[@philippruizlozano]

All this video is so pleasing to the sight, I love your content in secret 😀

[@aviaja2008]

Wisdom and art, or the art of wisdom, or wise art lol Thank you. You are truly an inspiration.

[@TheKevphil]

I just found your videos and think that I will enjoy exploring your channel! I was watching you draw and was thinking all the time about how I would digitally *ink* your work! _lol_ I'm a digital comics artist and rarely venture outside the safe little B&W world of Manga Studio's tools, so I expect to be wowed by by your channel, just from the little I've seen of your work. A great artist!

[@priscilladoesx]

I don’t know how your channel and videos have eluded me for months but I’m so happy you landed in my recommended! I’d say I’m struggling with character sheets and expressions. Staying on model with my own characters and trying to create expressions that aren’t too far off their recognizable proportions is what I’m currently trying to conquer for my portfolio. I love sketching faces and it’s what my hand gravitates to first. My characters usually start with an expression and then I work outwards. I’ve heard it can be a constricting way to draw and I’m trying to start with overall shape more often, then move inwards, but drawing headshots is definitely my guilty pleasure. :) I’m eager to catch up on your past videos and see future content!

[@OkieSketcher1949]

I have always been amazed by what one puts on paper from their imagination. Many times I am taken aback by what I see until I’ve a chance to really look at the work. At first I was having some difficulty seeing what you had in mind as you sketched. As things became clearer I must admit I enjoyed the picture. Very creative. Very interesting. I could almost see these illustrations come to life as I viewed the next horror film on TV. You asked what the viewer turns to when their imagination kicks in and they just start sketching from their imagination. I find sketching trees in different stages of growth, death, time of year, and lighting. I find I am more relaxed when sketching them. It does not matter what type of tree. What matters is how I present it. It’s intertwining limbs and leaves make for a complex scene that I find more real than some of the larger landscapes I sketch and paint. Your video has made me want to see what other scene or item I can sketch from my imagination. Thank you. I really enjoyed what you presented and I think you may have given me another venue to look into. I liked this video and I will subscribe to see what else you will offer.

[@Eltonm28]

Excellent video Cynthia!✨♥️

[@ventovega]

omg you are amazing :'D thx for this video, really inspiring.

[@markusundamelie]

I am always stunned by this creativity ... thanks for sharing.

[@bamajama13]

Beautiful drawings Cynthia!!! You should defiantly do these more. You're very good at them, and if you're anything like me, the more you do them the more freeing they will become.

[@timscottart1224]

I love them!!!

[@DeLevensschilder]

Hi Cinthia, for brushes that I forgot to clean (even the ones with Liquin) I use regular paint-thinner from the hardware store. I soak them as short as possible ( fist dip and test) and than rinse them out with soap ( the one you use for the dishes). As for your question. I go back to my one kind of zentangle figures and cartoonish things or faces. But I would love. To be able to draw the human body in every possible gesture. So I know I have to practice😀 Thanks for your video's. Love Rob.

[@beto3k]

Awesome! happy to have found this channel

[@lucabuga8303]

This is wonderful stuff, I'm watching your vids between my practice sessions. Really inspiring, thank you for sharing your thoughts

[@janshamer6978]

Your artwork is so beautiful. Thankyou so much for sharing with us.

[@sue8935]

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL ADVICE. I AM NOW A HUGE FAN, PLUS YOU ARE AN AMAZING ARTIST.

[@ChiJaHaNi]

Awesome! I was going to ask you to do a drawing/sketching video...my heart is now full - thank you!! Please do more sketch videos every now and again. These really help me.

[@TheUrbanCollectiveWeFilmIt]

Im glad I found your channel you really are a fantastic artist!

[@michaelmcewan432]

Very helpful, thanks, inspirational tutorial, great work to

[@deanerhockings-reptilianhu8701]

Blummin' love this girls art!

[@mattbrennan9421]

Awesome video. Love this kind of content.Would like to see you draw something from imagination and then again from reference.

[@SheppardArts]

I agree, that would make a fun video!

[@nadavy111]

such a great video! thank you :)

[@dcarringtonsr62]

When I was studying commercial art in college, I always took critiques from my fellow students the hardest. They were harder on each other than the instructor would be. I really enjoyed your sketches and see your imagination is very fertile. I also can see some fantastic works coming from these sketches in the future.

[@AsirIset]

Ooh your style is so unique. I love it.

[@ImadAwan]

Whoa! Where did those bugs come from? :O Awesome!!!

[@robertburgheimer2712]

Wise advice, great points!

[@jeromyperez5532]

Such great tips on dealing with critique. Very well reasoned.

[@JayCarts]

awesomely epic❤

[@edogenpaku7050]

fantastic imagination n sketching skills. i love it !!

[@leshirin_1201]

Wow this is the first video I watched from your channel and I just have to say that I love you geeeeee. This actually really helped me and your story's are also so interesting AWESOME

[@xJinXx9]

The way you refer to Liquin in all your videos is poetry xD

[@existjuana.g.e.8566]

Muy buenos trabajos! Excelente.

I just found your channel. For a channel that size the video quality and editing is astoundingly good. I am thoroughly impressed. I also like your story telling and your art is breathtaking!

[@pierceotoole3080]

Really liked your video, you have a beautiful voice to listen along to. I hope you continue your art well into the future for us to follow :)

[@MonstersByMax]

The thing i'm most comfortable with are dragons and dinosaurs. When I was a kid, and just drawing for fun, that was almost my only subject matter.

[@martearty922]

Love your videos!

[@ChristineTHuynh]

Amazzzzzzzzing....i had to subscribe to ur channel. Keep up the great work!

[@fed329]

this was really entertaining and nice to watch

[@n.a3345]

I used to draw a lot when I was a kid - high school. I mostly drew scenery from my imagination then later some faces from my mom's magazine. I want to challenge myself drawing a fantasy character from my imagination. This video helps a lot. Thank you for sharing with us :)

[@Glacius91]

Whoa that 2nd sketch is absolutely amazing (well, they all are, but I like the 2nd one the most)

[@farnazgbd3484]

Brilliant ❤️+so clean. Whenever sketching my hands, other papers and the sketch itself turn out to be smudged and dirty with graphite. You handle the pencil excellent❤️ Female body is the easiest subject for me to draw to draw without reference🙌🏻

[@robertgwinn1137]

I draw trees... especially bare trees and tree roots. I actually drew them so much I couldn't even draw simple rocks anymore. I highly recommend occasionally sketching things you don't like to draw to keep your skill of drawing sharp. Value and line studies can be so beneficial to the things you enjoy drawing/painting. Sometimes the things I hate drawing make my pictures so much better.

[@gus_the_goose14]

I love ur vids ! Keep up the good work!

[@marioa5632]

Very inspiring!! Thank you! SUBSCRIBED

[@djokotriono7787]

gorgeous sketch!

[@shriramshastrakar9018]

lovely sketches !

[@EricOlorunfemi]

Great video! I just found this channel. I believe my comfort zone is drawing stylized characters doing regular things. And my uncomfortable zone is drawing and painting environments. I really enjoy your art and videos.

[@EdgarAHernandezArt]

Honestly I never noticed how easy it was drawing thumbnails for a bigger project than actually just free doodling. What I struggle with drawing is probably The human figure! :p

[@aymanm5157]

Damn, we artists are always full of patient and knowledge .... LOVE YOU BECAUSE WE ARE THE SAME 😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@BinaryDood]

these sketches r so amazing

[@tysaunders6585]

Very nice drawings, very inspirational. My go to would be eyes, just human eyes then I get lost with the rest. It started when I was doing art class and studying portrait it was always mention about the eyes and they follow you and I was wowed. So I just focused on getting that right. Once again love your work.

[@GPENCIL]

LOVE UR VOUCE...LOVE UR HAND....AND LOVE UR DRAWINGS!!!❤️❤️❤️

[@Monkey-fv2km]

Re: feedback, I think giving or receiving it are both underrated skills and your ability to do both benefit from improving the other. I find feedback useful even when you can discard it as useless... it can force you to justify the choices you've made to yourself. Taking the feedback though always leaves me annoyed, frustrated or depressed, in the short term. It needs time to ferment into actionable information or irrelevant noise. Another nice video, thanks Cynthia.

[@honnitruffle]

Man, I wish my imagination was as good as this,........ like this is just... amazing.

[@krishanramsammy4349]

Awesome sketches love😏🥰🥰🥰

[@Johnnyboy666ish]

Good job. You go girl.

[@kickbaktube]

Beautiful sketches :)

[@dimplerajputarts178]

I salute your imagination n the creation of it 🙏🙏💖

[@Davy.J.Y]

Excellent artwork :)

[@MOOEMAN]

so happy I found this channel

[@Sunila_DragonladyCH]

If I just want to warm up I usually start with a Dragon (or whatever) eye and go from there. That's how my "beasties" series started years ago. Otherwise I go "stream of consciousness" too, and scribble about until I see some shapes. And I even do that for finished works, it's the style that fits me best.

[@Missannaliesje]

You can soak the dried up brushes in turpentine/mineral spirits. It will help soften the paint, so you can clean them. Hope this helps. Love your work, I’m always looking forward to your videos!

[@vidyawitch]

That is so wise and helpful Cynthia. And very very difficult to follow for a beginner. Beginner artists get painfully blocked from harsh comments. Artist abuse is no fun business, when you are just starting out and trying to find a way. It was excruciating for me. I became so confused, directionless, lost and afraid. Felt like I must never even try it again. Probably it was a necessary phase, so that I can learn to handle such things, learn the subject in depth and understand people better. Especially when one is in the budding state and have no proper guidance. A mature tree can survive better than a frail seedling, even if it carries a magnificent tree with in. A bird that could easily swallow a seedling would eventually perch on a tree that survived the frail seedling phase. Now, I understand artists need to develop some strategy to handle criticism and it is a superpower that will actually decide the destiny, perhaps more than artistic skills themselves. I have actually started to practice a little technique myself: not to expect praises and criticisms- being emotionally detached from opinions- because both good opinions and bad opinions bind me in one way or another- now I practice to just make art for the joy of it- unconditionally giving it my best. I truly hope it to make me free as an artist. I read a book 'The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom', a book by Don Miguel Ruiz, and it helped me a lot. Interestingly, it was suggested by another amazing artist Cedar Lee in one of her KZbin videos. Thank u so much. Will do my best to internalize and practice your advises. And these sketches are gorgeous. Looks like they are pouring themselves from a magical pen! [I know it is a lot of practice and excellent taste, :)] Good day.

[@HeyMykee]

I've developed a strategy of not showing my most recent pieces. I find those are the ones I'm most attached to, until I've done a few more and developed some distance from the earlier ones. So I try to only show things that Ive done a few months ago. Also I've read The 4Agreements and the other related books by Ruiz and son - excellent stuff! Very similar to Stoicism.

[@vidyawitch]

Sounds like a smart thing to do. I shall try that too. I would also recommend the book 'The War of Art' by Steven Pressfield. It is really helpful to listen the audio book repeatedly.

[@freffo3407]

Great video and good subject. I'm most comfortable to sketch landscapes and vehicles from imagination. The things that are a challenge to me is to sketch humans & animals. Practise makes perfect and nothing should stop me to get better, but it's easy to start with something that you first had in mind and end up with something completely else.

[@RhettTheDungeonMaster]

I try not to do ladies purely from imagination because my visual library is dominated by my sisters and mother. Freaked myself out, once.

[@billydagenham]

I had a similar effect but it was all Mia khalifa

[@Aquaz960]

@@billydagenham nice

[@stunnareht]

cursed@@billydagenham

[@orpheus6398]

@@billydagenham lmao

[@kethan9652]

You Cinderella?

[@itsjonesh]

I like to draw swords and armor. It's what i'm most confortable drawing. Honestly, i like to draw anything more fantasy like and medieval inspired. Some times an power armor like those in Starcraft. Designing and drawing armor is really fun to me.

[@englishlanguagewithnina5965]

God, these are beautiful.

[@evilynx0]

i personally find it interesting to draw people, more specifically portraits, from imagination. It's what i'm the most comfortable with. I love creating shadows and lights on a face and also fooling around with art styles. I'm currently exploring Egon Schiele's style, so it might get interesting.

[@GiSAvila]

This is a amazing video Cynthia!About the Q&A: In most of time, I like to draw darkest and misterious women, ou everything creepier hahahaha and about the criticism, I always try to take something useful in the bad or good comments. We can't leave this comments affect us in a wrong way

[@mikki4497]

I'm really uncomfortable drawing anything from my imagination, it almost always turns out far worse than when I'm drawing or painting from reference. I don't know if I should stick with just drawing from reference to build my visual library or get stuck in and not worry how good my sketches are because practice will get them better? I'd love to know what you think.

[@peterjacksonanton4814]

Just start by working indirectly from reference. Study an image, then put it away and draw it from memory. You improve where you spend time. And analyze the form when you draw from reference, don't just copy

[@Sketchbookmart]

Nice sketch ......you are awesome

[@davidrobot7818]

There are many languages /grammar and variants of expression around the globe. That which may seem abrupt in one place can be gentle and calm in another. i'd also point out here that kettles are useful, people are helpful. Your art is mesmerising. Keep going o/

[@reaperluvr6984]

I'm a fairly new "serious" artist and still trying to understand the fundamentals of anatomy, proportion, perspective and shading and all that. But I still heavily rely on reference so it's safe to say I can't draw very much from the imagination just yet. The things I am comfortable with drawing from imagination are outfits, particularly a more... ahem, voluptuous female form. Because truthfully whenever I see art of characters drawn more sexy and with complex, intricate outfits it really inspires me, I'm not sure why. Like literally just last night I was on the verge of sleep thinking of outfits for a human form of Rouge the Bat and the perfect one popped into my head and I flew out of bed to draw it out so I wouldn't forget bc my memory is shit lmao. Also hands. I know I'm gonna seem weird for this but hands are fun to draw for me bc they can be very expressive, simple, and complex with just a few adjustments. As far as what challenges me.... literally everything else ._. poses, male forms, feet, animals, weapons, vehicles... I have a lot of work to do.......