8. Experimentation

Contemporary artists, illustrators, and designers bend, stretch, and at times reinvent the drawing medium. There are rules and conventions from every era and culture, but people continually challenge them, finding countless ways to communicate expressively by making marks on a surface.

How you use the drawing medium is up to you. One way to go is simply drawing from observation. But there are many other ways. You can create accidental images or utilize symbolism. You can build the illusion of space, warp the picture plane, or combine graphic elements with letterforms. You can experiment.

The rest of this chapter is dedicated to expanding your drawing experience. Try each prompt, even if one seems too challenging or involves ...

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