An Introduction To Pencil and Crayon Drawing

An Introduction To Pencil and Crayon Drawing Learn To Draw With Graphite Pencils, Crayons And Colouring Pencils ChaptersUsing Graphite Pencils To Create Texture And DepthDrawing Lifelike Pictures With Colouring PencilsChoosing And Sticking With The Best BrandThe Benefits Of Basic Drawing MaterialsStarting To Draw With Basic MediumsMost art teachers would advise starting to draw with a basic medium, like pencils, and mastering a set of drawing techniques before even considering moving on to more specialist tools.For example, you can learn to draw incredibly detailed drawings using just a humble pencil from your pencil case (with a rubber sometimes permitted for those easy-to-make mistakes).Graphite pencils, just like their lead alternatives, can be used to create a range of markings so whether you wish to create a contemporary sketch or a traditional, true to life observation, you can achieve almost any finish by manipulating your tool. Pencils are a great way to produce rough sketches but also a tool to practice techniques in blending, and create simply tones and shades in your drawing - techn iques you can also use in charcoal drawing, but without the dust.For instance, try applying different amounts of pressure or smudging the product on the paper or even  scratching some of the pigment off at  the point of the pencil to create a powdery medium to work with.Important Questions Before You StartBefore you start sketching, you should first of all consider a number of factors:The type of drawing you want to produce,Whether or not your background will stay white (if you have started off with a white surface),The type of paper you want to use,What medium or combination of mediums will you use.These are basic questions you should be asking yourself each and every time you set out to draw, but do also allow yourself some freedom as an initial idea might evolve into something far greater.Using just a pencil, you can make a drawing look 3-dimensional. Photo credit: pedrosimoes7 on VisualHunt.comGoing back to the idea of rubbing out unintentional markings, some tutors will discour age you from altering any part of your work once you have out pencil to paper. Instead, they will encourage you to work with what you have produced and keep on striving in your technique to improve it until you are happy with the result.You can’t create a perfect image in a matter of minutes, and even professional artists get it wrong sometimes, but ideas grow and you need to be patient in trying to get what is in front of you to resemble what you want it to.Drawing Lifelike Pictures With Colouring PencilsColouring pencils, more so Crayola crayons, are often associated with toddlers or school-aged children but interestingly the tools are used by many successful illustrators. All you need to do is search for the #pencilart  or similar on Instagram in order to see some truly stunning images of artwork created with the modest medium.Furthermore, coloured pencils are a popular choice for children’s book illustrators and general immustration, along with oil pastels, mainly due to the soft appearance of their application. Designers and architects also consider wax crayons as their friend as they are so easy to use and add a touch of colour and a rough texture to any sketch or design.While it is unlikely that you will learn to draw with crayons, as they don’t offer much in the way of definition or precision, you could be asked by a tutor to create a drawing using colouring pencils.You can use colouring pencils to create colour, shape, light and dark. Photo credit: ElizabethHudy on VisualHuntA particularly good use for colouring pencils, due to their thin and detailed appearance on application, is drawing animals. Debra Kauffman is an artist who specialises in drawing strikingly realistic images of all types of animals. She is so influential in the field of colouring pencil art that she has published books with tutorials on how to draw animals.Choosing And Sticking With The Best BrandWhile it may seem odd, a 2B pencil from one art supply brand might be completel y different to another. Just think of it as being like buying clothes from different high street shops in the same size â€" they are almost never perfectly true to size!You can research the best brands of mediums online or ask someone who has experience using them, but the best way to decide which is right for you is to actually try them yourself. Get a good feel for what they are like to hold, how smooth the application is and so on. Even the tiniest elements can make a big difference in how happy you are drawing with them.If you feel comfortable using a particular brand, then you will be more confident and this will be reflected in your drawing.The Benefits Of Basic Drawing MaterialsAbove all, just like drawing in pen,  one of the biggest positives of materials such as crayons and pencils has to be the cost.Most grocery stores will stock a range of art supplies, with colouring pencils and crayons included. Some of the larger superstores may even offer a range of graphite pencils a s well as a larger selection of alternative materials.Most supermarkets will sell basic art supplies like pencils and crayons. Photo credit: WrightstyleLtd on VisualhuntIn addition, the nature of these mediums means that they can be used on equally inexpensive surfaces  like ordinary white paper (again, most shops will stock packs of printing paper). There is therefore no need to go out to specialist art stores and buy special textured paper or card, which will ultimately keep your costs down.This is particularly useful if you are already paying for a drawing tutor or are taking part in drawing classes.With accessibility and cost at a low, these mediums are perfect for beginners or for those turning to art as a hobby or pastime.Take drawing lessons  across the UK with a personal tutor from Superprof:Drawing courses LondonDrawing courses Manchester

What is Summer Slide

What is Summer Slide As the new school year begins, students may find themselves overwhelmed by the plethora of new information encountered. During the hazy first few weeks of back-to-school time, you may notice your child has lost skills they learned the year prior over the summer months. Summer learning loss, also known as summer slide, occurs when students dont retain all of the important information taught in the classroom during the last school year. While this is often a common occurrence for young students, there are ways you can work to prevent it come next summer break. Looking to increase academic retention in your student and ward off summer learning loss in the future? Keep reading to learn how you can understand, identify, and prevent summer slide. Understanding summer slide Summer slide is a term that encompasses any learning loss a student may experience when returning to school after summer vacation. While its important for your student to rest and refresh their mind over the summer, its also vital to incorporate some level of learning during these months. Summer learning loss can be detrimental to students in a multitude of ways, including: Decreased reading level A lapse in foundational math skills If your student experiences summer learning loss, they may get discouraged more quickly when doing homework, frustrated that they dont recall various concepts. Reassure your child that this is often a common occurrence for students, and work with them to find creative ways to relearn the material. [RELATED: 4 Questions to Ask Your Child About School] Identifying summer slide If your student is noticeably struggling with concepts and subject areas that they focused on in the school year prior, they may be experiencing summer slide. Initiate honest conversations with your student about how their classes are going so far this school year. Ask in what areas theyre struggling, and if any of the concepts were learned previously. If youre able to identify that your child is suffering from summer learning loss, encourage them to review notebooks from last year that may jog their memory or offer a deeper insight into the concept or subject matter. Additionally, reach out to your students teacher to discuss any extra credit opportunities that are available to bridge the knowledge gap. Teachers are typically quite familiar with summer slide, and likely have strategies to help students tackle it. Catching any signs of summer learning loss early in the school year can give your student an opportunity to address it early on and get back on track. [RELATED: 4 Tips to Prevent Summer Slide] Preventing summer slide Looking ahead, there are many ways you can prevent summer slide. While keeping the restful aspect of summer vacation in mind, develop a learning schedule for the summer months. Encourage your student to reador practice their reading skills, depending on their agefor a specific amount of time each week. Create fun games, such as keeping track of the cost of food at the grocery store, to keep basic math skills fresh in their minds. Also execute engaging STEM projects, both inside and outside your house, that will allow them to practice foundational science skills learned the previous year. While it can be challenging to motivate your student to learn during the summer months, getting creative with your methods can keep them excited about their education. [RELATED: How Parents Can Help Students Setand AchieveAcademic Goals] Summer slide impacts numerous students each year. If you find that your student is one of them, discuss with your student and their teacher ways in which they can regain lost skills and start the new school year off on the right foot. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

What is it Like to Attend the University of Tulsa

What is it Like to Attend the University of Tulsa Catherine earned her bachelors degree in economics and English from the University of Tulsa. She specializes inalgebra tutoring, GRE tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at the University of Tulsa: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Catherine: The University of Tulsa is a lovely campus in an area of town thats rapidly revitalizing (the university is a big force for that). I never felt unsafe on campus, even late at night. Unfortunately, Tulsa is a car town; there arent a lot of public transit options. Its a quick bike ride or drive from campus to many of the fun neighborhoods and areas of town. If you do use your bike, be sure to be carefulits best to use the neighborhood streets, as many drivers arent used to seeing bikes. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Catherine: I never had a problem meeting with a professor or an adviser; its a small school, and people are generally available and happy to talk with you. Also, its a small enough campus that you can find people easily. For instance, if you needed to talk to a certain professor, everyone knew you could always find him outside at a certain time taking his break. How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Catherine: The freshman and sophomore dorms and cafeteria are fairly standard. In your junior and senior years, its likely youll be able to get into one of the on-campus apartments, which are spacious and convenient (living room, dining room, full kitchen, etc.). The dorms and apartment communities do host events, but there are plenty of other opportunities to socializeespecially if youre involved in one of the many clubs. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Catherine: I studied English and economics. I found the faculties of both programs to be extremely knowledgeable and passionate about what they did. The English department is larger, and probably has more opportunities for working in the field as a student (literary journals both student and professional, a few enviable special collections of original material from authors like James Joyce), but the economics department also supports students original research and opportunities for sharing or publishing. The bigger majors include various engineering persuasions, especially petroleum, and some business majors, like energy management. (Tulsa is an oil town.) How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Catherine: Greek life is fairly significant, though I never participated. Faith groups also make up a big component of social life on campus. Personally, I made most of my friends via the student newspaper which I worked for as a reporter and eventually as editor-in-chief. As long as you take a chance on a groupwhether its a sorority or a club like the newspaperyou shouldnt have too much trouble. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Catherine: Student and career services staff are friendly and helpful. Energy companies, large corporations, and engineering firms have an especially large presence among recruiters. Its more difficult for liberal arts majors; however, I believe that is symptomatic of the larger job market, and not a fault of the school. Plenty of my peers were able to make great connections in the worlds of graphic design or the nonprofit sector. I went into public radio by way of an internship I did at the on-campus NPR affiliate. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Catherine: The library is probably the top choice for a study area, especially when the weather is nice and its possible to use the tables on the terrace outside of the library. It also has several great reading rooms, as well as rooms and various nooks down in the stacks. Generally, its not too hard to find a good place to camp out and studyexcept for during finals! Describe the surrounding town. Catherine: Downtown Tulsa, just a couple miles away from campus, has boomed in recent years. Theres a lot of fun to be had there at art galleries, restaurants, shops, and parks. A fair number of TU students hang out there, though that tends to be more popular with the people whove grown up in Tulsa. And if you want to learn to two-step, Tulsa is the place for you. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Catherine: The undergraduate student body is about 3,000 students. I found the class size to be small and comfortable, especially in the liberal arts classes. Class size tends to run larger in the sciences, for classes like statistics and calculus. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Catherine: One of the best things I did while at TU was participate in the Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge. The program supports undergraduate research, both traditional and unconventional. I opted for the unconventional side, and used the program for support in helping my old high school create a student literary journal. I got to work with a group of students at the high school to help them shape their vision for the journal, solicit and select work, and publish a final product, which continues to this day. Check out Catherines tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Tips for Singing Why Practicing Scales Matters

Tips for Singing Why Practicing Scales Matters Megan L. Its a common misconception that singers and instrumentalists are two completely different types of musicians. Theyre actually much more alike than you might think! The difference is that, as singers, your instrument is your body! Because of this, as you learn how to sing, youll likely come across some specific issues of technique. One of the most important things for singers to work on is singing notes that are perfectly in tune. Generally, producing the correct notes for an instrumentalist is almost automatic: once you know the correct fingering or position for a note on your respective instrument, its relatively easy to play. More so, the note will likely be close to being in tune already, just by virtue of the consistent physical dimensions and regulations in instrument building. For singers, however, singing the right pitches is not achieved by pressing down the right fingers. This is where singing scales can help Why are Singing Scales Important? Scales are the foundation of all music. This is why mastering your particular instrument your voice should begin with mastering all the different scales! This is true for virtually every genre of music, from classical to jazz to pop and so on. Just think: if most music is built on scales and you can already sing them all proficiently and confidently, then you have a head start on learning almost any piece or song that you want to sing. Besides being a fundamental baseline for learning vocal literature with ease, singing scales as part of your daily practice routine is also necessary for building advanced technique. Much like an athlete that starts and ends their daily training with specific fundamental exercises, stretches, and calisthenics, singing scales allows you to keep your singing body in excellent shape. Because there are no words to be memorized, melodies to remember, nor any complicated rhythms to maneuver, you can better address things like breath control, extending your vocal range, developing a variety of vocal timbres and colors, perfecting pitch and intonation, and controlling your mental and emotional focus. The Best Ways to Practice Singing Scales There is no right or wrong way to practice scales, but there are several good tips for singing scales you should keep in mind. Most singers prefer to focus on scales at the beginning of a practice session. This is because scales serve as an excellent vehicle for warming up the voice. Be sure to focus on a variety of scales. Major and minor scales are the most important to learn and implement in your routine. There are 12 musical keys, and for each of those keys, there is one major scale and three different types of minor scales: natural, harmonic, and melodic. Start with one octave of each scale. As you become increasingly proficient and confident, you can develop your range by doing two octaves. You can also learn and incorporate other types of scales: jazz, blues, whole tone, octatonic, chromatic, and so on. Making Scales Fun As with anything else, repetition can get boring. Fortunately, there are a number of different things you can do to make scale-singing fun and fresh: Start with just a few scales and add one or two new ones every week. This will make every week feel new and give you a constant feeling of achievement. Incorporate different rhythms. Add words to the scales. This will help you practice your diction along with the scales, as well as make it fun. You can even try a tongue twister! Sing the scales in different interval patterns, such as thirds. This is great if you are more advanced and have already become proficient at singing scales straight. Use a tuner to make sure your intonation is accurate. You can also work with your teacher  or fellow singing students to get more ideas and tips for singing scales. Although scales have the reputation of being boring or pedantic, they are an invaluable part of any musicians technical and artistic development. Just as important, they can also be fun! By acknowledging their usefulness and incorporating different routines and exercises through various tips for singing, you might even start looking forward to daily scale singing! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by bobnjeff

Can Life Coaching Help Build Confidence

Can Life Coaching Help Build Confidence Need to Boost Your Self-Confidence? Maybe a Life Coach Could Help ChaptersWhat Services do Life Coaches Offer?Methods Used by Life Coaches to Help Build ConfidenceAs the professional world seems to be moving faster each day, and the practice of networking makes every social interaction all-the-more valuable, having confidence in yourself and your skills is more important than ever before.But what if you find it difficult to throw yourself into a conversation with someone else? Or you fear being judged by others in public?If you’re often struggling to get your voice heard more generally, whether it be in a professional setting, among friends, or even trying to talk to make conversation with the people you come across in your everyday life, you might have been wondering about what you can do to help this.Some people put their low amount of social interaction down to having an introverted personality, but introversion, while it is often associated with shyness, is not down to a lack of confidence. In fact, you can be an introvert who is perfectly co mfortable going about their personal and working lives, but a lack of confidence can make this significantly more difficult.So, how might improving your levels of self-confidence change the way you experience life?There are many reasons people want to increase their confidence. From climbing the career ladder to simply having the courage to take up a new hobby, being more confident in yourself will not only open up multiple opportunities, but it will also help you get more out of life.Whether you're looking for success or you want to feel confident in your own skin, life coaches can help you ¦ source: Pixabay - ernestoeslavaActing more confident is not the same thing as feeling confident, however, so if you’re hoping to become more confident, rather than learning how to act like a confident person, think about hiring a life coach to help you reach your goal.Life coaching is a method of talk therapy used by people who want guidance on altering their lifestyles. There are many type s of life coaching available for various purposes, including services to help with professional goals such as career coaching programs, business coaching, leadership coaching, corporate coaching services, executive coaching, business coaches for entrepreneurs and coaching sessions for those looking for guidance with a career change or improving their work-life balance.In addition to these, there are coaches and trainers who help people with personal coaching services such as wellness coaching.Personal coaching focusses on personal development in a way that relates to someone’s personal life, rather than their professional success.People seek the services of a personal coach for many reasons. For instance, they may be working towards transformational change to their lifestyles and need someone to motivate them and keep them moving forward towards their goal. In other situations, clients may have a goal in mind yet they may be unsure as to how to reach it â€" in this case, a wellnes s coach could put them on the right path before helping them to succeed with their dreams.Building confidence can be done with personal coaching services. To learn more about life coaching to improve your confidence as well as finding a life coach to suit our needs, read on!Methods Used by Life Coaches to Help Build ConfidenceHiring a life coach isn’t like buying a product from the supermarket â€" in order to see tangible results, you’ll have to put in the hard work that your coach is asking of you. This means heeding their advice and practising the methods and plans assigned to you.Whether they specialise in a certain area or usually take a holistic approach with their treatment, life coaches use a variety of methods to help people overcome certain feelings which contribute to low self-worth. While some involve learning and practising new skills, others centre around reflection on your place in society.Here are just some methods used by life coaches in cases of low self-confide nce, self-esteem or self-image which you may see in your life coaching sessions:ReflectionOne of the most common ways in which coaches help people to realise their self-worth is to have them take stock of their positive attributes as a means of empowering them. For instance, if someone feels like a fraud in their career (a common issue for those with low self-esteem), they may be asked to list the achievements and positive attributes that led to their position.Life coaches often suggest writing lists of the things their clients like about themselves source: Pixabay - StockSnapReflecting on your personal qualities, achievements and your positive attributes, achievements, and the areas in which you are already confident can lift your spirits and give you a good foundation to build on.Reject negative thoughtsThe root of low levels of confidence is often to do with having a negative mindset when it comes to the opinion which is held of oneself. Life coaches prescribe several exercises t o help their clients change their self-perception. These may involve accepting compliments from other people without self-deprecating or making positive affirmations in front of a mirror as part of a client’s morning routine.Identify and remove sources of negativity from your lifeWhen discussing your personal experiences, your coach may identify some possessions, situations or people who are having a negative impact on your confidence.In order to help resolve your problems, your life coach may ask you about the prospect of removing some of these things from your life. This can be a difficult and sometimes impossible task, and it is up to each individual to make their own decision when it comes to dealing with muting these negative sources.Challenge yourselfConfidence is to do with your level of self-belief, and whether you have faith in your own abilities. This is why coaches are keen to learn about their clients’ personal goals when helping them to boost their confidence.By fin ding out what clients what to achieve or learn to do better, coaches often make plans for them to challenge themselves outside of their sessions. The idea behind this is that confidence when people prove their own abilities to themselves.Practice confidence-building skillsMany people with low self-esteem and self-image believe that they are viewed in a negative way by others. Due to the fact that these feelings can also make people feel like an imposter in their profession or peer group, life coaches often recommend practices which contribute to a good self-image. Examples of these practices include expanding one’s knowledge in certain areas as well as starting a self-care routine.Reading up on various subjects and learning about new ones can help with confidence by giving shy people something new to share with others, while practising self-care can help them enjoy spending time with themselves, thus improving their self-worth.See how a life coach can help with depression.Or, how life coaching can help you to lose weight.

LSAT Tip of the Week Three Types of Analytical Reasoning Questions

LSAT Tip of the Week Three Types of Analytical Reasoning Questions LSAT Law School Blog There are three major types of Analytical Reasoning, or Logic Game, questions. These include sequencing, grouping, and matching games. This week we will talk about how to spot each type of question. Sequencing games are generally the most common, and you can spot these by generally looking for one set of variables. For example, there will be 7 runners and 7 places they could finish in. Note that there could be more variables, but this still constitutes as a sequencing question. Next, we have grouping games. Grouping games will also only have one set of variables, but here there are usually multiple places each variable can go. For example, there could be 10 people that need to be placed on 2 teams. Finally, we have matching games. Matching games differ as they usually have two sets of variables but there is no order to put them into. For example, you could have 6 people and 3 types of pets. Now that you know the major types of logic games, head to TestSherpa to see example problems a nd test your understanding!

How to use Direct and Indirect Objects (Video with Exercises)

How to use Direct and Indirect Objects (Video with Exercises) One of the most difficult things to explain to our students is the use of direct and indirect objects in English. In particular, students have difficulty with verbs that require both an object and an indirect object. They are known as ditransitive verbs.The video below gives a very detailed explanation of how to use ditransitive verbs.Exercise: rewrite the following sentences putting the indirect object before the direct object.Here is an example:My sister sent a new scarf to me.My sister sent me a new scarf.1. Paul told a secret to her.2. My mother left some food for me.3. I promised to give my golden ring to her when I die.4. Teauna baked huckleberry muffins for Paul.5. The president awarded the purple heart to the soldiers.6. Ill lend a necklace to you that matches your dress.7. I read a book to my daughter this morning.8. The doctor prescribed penicillin to my grandmother for her infection.9. The waiter served some delicious food to us.10. I ordered a new coat for her because it is almost winter.

7 Tips For Coping With Exam Stress

7 Tips For Coping With Exam Stress During exam season, it is common to feel nervous and stressed before and during the big day. High stress levels around exam times can effect performance. Here at First Tutors, we've put together some tips to help you recognise when you are feeling stressed and learning to manage these stress symptoms. Recognise When You Are Feeling Stressed Have a break from revision and chat to someone who understands the level of pressure you're feeling. Having someone to talk to about your work can help. Whether it be support from a parent, private tutor or study buddy - talking it through can help put things into perspective. Common stress symptoms are: irritability, panic, fatigue, insomnia, chest pains, and increased heart rate. Sleep Well Get yourself into a good sleep routine, it can be easy to have late nights with revision and study sessions. Try and go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, getting 8 hours sleep per night will help you keep focused and concentrate better. And as hard as it may be, avoid 'screen-time' 1-2 hours before you plan to go to bed. Sleep is a powerful mechanism for remembering information better as it helps your brain assimilate new knowledge into your long-term memory which you can retain and recall during your exam. You're not revising when you're asleep but you are preparing for the next day's study or revision Eat Well Your diet can play a major part in your stress levels. Eating right will make you feel better. Eat moderately before your exams; avoid a heavy meal. If you eat too much, your brain will have to devote energy to the process of digestion. On the other hand, if you skip a meal altogether, your brain will have inadequate fuel to function well. Aim for nutritional balance and moderation. For foods that power your brain, have a look at our Brain Food post. Exercise Exercise is proven to help your mood. Get all that excess energy out when you're nervous! Take a bike ride to a study buddy's house, go for a jog, or play a game of football with your brother. If you don't feel comfortable taking that much time away from studying, try and go for a walk around the block to give yourself a break. Relax You can't spend every waking hour of the day revising or panicking about your exams. When you are feeling anxious try doing something that will help calm you down. Whether it be a hot bath,watching a film, lying in a dark room, meditation, listening to music or hanging out with some of your friends - it is important to relax and clear your mind. Listen To Music Listening to music can elevate your mood and help you revise more effectively. Classical music in particular is recommended for studying as it is known to boost brain power. Music can also fight boredom and motivate you to continue studying for longer. If you find yourself getting distracted try searching for mood music which can help you stay on track. Reward Yourself If you're part way through your revision or if you've completed your exam - it is important to reward yourself for your hard work. Go and buy the outfit you have been saving up for, treat yourself for an evening dinner out, have a celebration party with your friends and family. For all of those studying or taking exams, the First Tutors team would like to wish you the best of luck!