stephenbaumanartwork

September Bootcamp Challenge 🚀

Added 2025-09-19 08:41:20 +0000 UTC

This is it! The start of the new Bootcamp Challenge era... and it's here a month early.

Goal
Make the right call the first time. Build edge variety from the first marks so the drawing grows with clarity and efficiency.

Time
Plan for 2–3 hours.

Challenge
From the outset, design edges—not at the end. Keep some contours sharp and declarative; let others soften or dissolve as forms turn. Proportion, shape, and light still matter, but the experiment is to see how far edge handling alone can carry the drawing.

How to Start
Download the source image at the bottom of this post. Get your sheet of Stonehenge paper, an H pencil, a blending stump and a kneaded eraser and you're good to go.

What to Submit for the Group Critique
Make a close-cropped photo of your finished drawing and email it to: stephen@stephenbaumanartwork.com.

Live Critique
October 1, 4:00 PM (Rome time).

Need a refresher on how these challenges work?
Read this: https://www.patreon.com/posts/block-in-2-0-137618777

Do It The Right Way Checklist (use while drawing)

Edges established early, not postponed.
Clear hierarchy: which edges are crisp, which are soft, which nearly disappear.
Proportions and big shapes locked before detail creeps in.
Light–form logic visible at the transitions, not just in the shadows.
Overall read: the subject holds together at arm’s length.