COURSE VIEWING PROCESS & TIPS
Before you start drawing, it’s important to take a moment to get settled, understand how to follow the course effectively, and avoid common pitfalls.
These few tips can really make a big difference in your learning experience. They’ll help you progress with more ease, enjoy each step fully, and most of all — have fun while practicing.
Take the time to read them before getting started — it’s a small time investment… for a big boost in efficiency! 😊
If needed, pause, replay, or slow down the video!
❌ Mistakes to Avoid While Watching and Practicing
Watching the entire video in one go, thinking you’ll remember everything to apply later.
➤ It’s impossible to memorize everything at once. Prefer progressive viewing with step-by-step practice.
Following every single gesture without trying to understand.
➤ The goal is not to copy mechanically, but to understand the principles so you can adapt them to your own drawing.
Jumping straight into practice without watching the full step first.
➤ Take the time to observe each sequence as a whole before starting — it helps avoid logical mistakes.
Trying to make everything perfect on the first try.
➤ This course is for training, not for grading. Allow yourself to experiment and start over if needed.
Rushing just to finish quickly.
➤ Pastel requires time and patience. Rushing the process may affect your results and your enjoyment.
Working too long without taking breaks.
➤ Visual and mental fatigue can distort your perception of color, proportions, or contrast.
Using a very different paper or material without adjusting your technique.
➤ Results can vary greatly depending on the surface. Adjust your pressure, layering, and tools accordingly.
Getting discouraged too quickly if your work doesn’t look like the example.
➤ Every hand is different. What matters is progress — not reproducing things perfectly.
🕐 Best Practices for Staying Efficient!
Choose a time when you’re relaxed and available
Pastel requires calm, focus, and patience. Avoid practicing in a rush.
Do short sessions regularly
Better to work 30 minutes a day than 3 hours all at once:
– It helps build visual and muscle memory.
– It prevents sloppy results due to fatigue and loss of focus.
Come back to a difficult step the next day
Your brain keeps learning between sessions. What feels hard today might seem easier after a break.
Set a small goal for each session
For example: “Today, I’ll do chapter 2.”
Instructions aren’t absolute — test and explore!
The guidance I give shows you my process, but these are not strict rules. Feel free to try your own ideas, different colors, gestures, or techniques.
This is a practice exercise — the perfect time to experiment freely!
Don’t aim for perfection on the first try
The goal is to understand, explore, and repeat. Every attempt is a step toward mastery.
🖥️📱 Tips for Setting Up the Video and Reference Photo Properly
💡 I highly recommend using two separate devices to follow the course in the best possible conditions:
The course video on a large screen:
➤ A laptop, computer monitor, or even a TV.
This will help you clearly see the gestures, details, and textures — without straining your eyes.
The reference photo on a second screen:
➤ A tablet or smartphone with a good display.
Ideally, place it right next to your drawing surface, so you can compare at a glance without constantly turning your head.
📌 Tip: Turn on “battery saver mode” and disable the screen sleep timer on your reference device, so it doesn’t turn off while you’re drawing.
