Here's a link to a fantastic book on the Internet Archive for anyone starting with pen and ink.
Obviously you can't learn everything from the internet. However, this is a great reference to follow along with if you're taking a drawing class.
If you're debating taking an art class, but think you can just learn online, I'll let you in on an I Ching saying:
There is something very limited about the self-taught man.
That one hit me in the gut when I first heard it because I thought I could teach myself everything. It took a disaster for me to reap the consequences from "teaching myself."
I took online classes prior to taking in-person classes again. I wanted to "get back into the flow of school," and all it did was shoot me in the foot. The teachers didn't teach, they sent linked in learning videos, and that was it. The assignments were disproportionally advanced compared the basic, incomplete knowledge given in Linked In videos.
The final projects were impossibly hard, and there was no one to ask for help. The breaking point wasn't just my own stress; it was seeing another student have a mental breakdown in the campus lab. In the end, my reward for putting in more effort than ever was failing every class and losing my financial aid. It felt like a massive, unfair setback.
(I forgot to mention, never take architecture or design classes at LBCC).
But that failure, which felt like the end of the world, was actually a redirection. It’s proof of my personal motto: the universe always has our backs.
I finally did what I should have done all along and signed up for my first in-person art class. And that whole disaster taught me an invaluable lesson. In choosing architecture and design, I had been standing on the sidelines of my own life, watching the game I desperately wanted to play. I was pursuing something that was just a taste of what I really wanted- to be an artist.
This is what so many of us do- especially women- isn't it? We become city planners or architecture majors when we dream of being artists. We support other people who are chasing the very dreams we've shelved. It's a special kind of torture.
In that moment, I decided I will never dip my toe into my dreams again. I'm going balls to the wall, full force no turning back on all my dreams. No matter how big or small.
Being in a studio with 20 other artists creating and learning with you is unparalleled. Even if no one's talking and everyone has their headphones in, just being in physical proximity to other students is so vital. You walk around and see what other people are doing; then there's critiques on your work to boost your confidence and show you where to make necessary adjustments.
It's also a huge plus to get away from home for a few hours a day. No dogs whining when you need to focus on your work. No loud motorcycles going by or neighbors smoking cigarettes outside your open window. I highly recommend in-person classes.
I'm not even pursuing art as a career necessarily. I just absolutely love it. Two days ago, I passed my real estate exam and next I'm taking my private pilot exam. Art, Real Estate, and Aviation are all very important to me. Women need to create art in some form. It is so critical for us to be engaged in something where our daily womanly lives are put aside and we're just creating. Seeing your skills improve boosts your confidence.
There's so much to learn from slowing down and falling in love with the process. Not only are you getting better at your skill, but the process teaches you about yourself too.