Getting started with acrylics

More short and sweet videos. No bs, just right to the point:

Mixing values

Order of operation in beginning a painting

Paper cutting

How to do clean paper cutting with an exacto-knife:

Demos on how to Begin

Blind Contour exercise:

For a detailed explanation of blind contour drawing check out one of my first entries on this exercise:

https://starting2draw.blogspot.com/2010/09/week-2-more-notes-on-contour.html

I think after a good warm up like BCD (blind contour drawing) the next vital step is to understand how using gesture drawing can make you a stronger artist. 

How to do Gesture Drawing:

Cleaning up and finishing a contour drawing:

As much as I've come to enjoy working digitally, I sill work out my thumbnails on paper. My ideas just flow better for whatever reason!
-Becky Cloonan
http://www.beckycloonan.net/

Mechanical objects

Book Cover Project

Good Book covers don't necessarily require strong drawing skills:

Bold & legible titles and authors names are key factors!

Thumb-nailing your project is always

 the first and most important step!

Next, if appropriate color studies are a good way to help to set the overall tone.

Make sure you plan plenty of space in your design for the Title and Author's name as these are the most important aspects of the book cover!

Watch this excellent video by cover designer Chip Kidd: 

Chip Kidd TED talk

Lolita book cover contest and links: http://invertedblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/evolution-of-illustrator.html

Linear perspective for buildings