The Joy of Homework
I am a pretty unapologetic dork and I love doing homework.
Yes, I wrote a whole newsletter a few weeks ago about this being my fifth September not working in academia. But, I'm still showing up in various art classes and revelling in doing my homework.
For those of you who know me, it won't come as a surprise that Elementary Student Danielle was a "pleasure to have in class."
I like rules and clear expectations that I can compete against. I love following directions and practicing. I tilt more towards perfectionism than I would like to admit. And there is nothing I love more than the satisfaction of doing a good job.
Homework scratches all of these itches: completable tasks with defined objectives and a deadline.
What's not to love?
Back to class
This fall, I'm taking a portraits sketching class with the fabulous Megan Bray at Articulations, in Toronto. I signed up for it because I struggle with drawing people.
I've taken enough classes and workshops over the past few years to know that the only way to improve is to do something over and over again. Especially for someone like me, who does not have natural talent and learns the hard way (by making the same mistakes repeatedly!).
Taking the class is helping. Megan gives us different techniques for looking and approaches to mark making that start off gestural and get more detailed. Class is weekly for three hours. It's in the evening, a time when I'm not always able to summon my most focused student energy.
When we leave class, Megan gives the gentle suggestion that we might practice a bit in between classes. A bit of practice can help consolidate and deepen what we've learned in the in-class session.
Because she is The Teacher, my good-student brain takes this as a directive: I have homework!
It makes the “pleasure to have in class" part of me want to work extra hard, but also keeps my inner perfectionist too busy with reps to get bogged down in perfectionism.
Homework as structure
When I have a clear assignment, I don't have to worry about the blank page. It's not blank anymore anyways. It has the date and the homework assignment: a page of ears, a page of mouths, 30 minutes of life drawing.
Having the structure of the homework assignment helps me draw more. It takes away the additional labour of deciding what to work on.
When I used to think more about writing than drawing, I read something about finishing your daily writing mid-paragraph or mid-sentence so you can pick it up and keep momentum the next day. This is called "parking downhill".
Homework is not quite the same, but it gives me the same boost of momentum. I typically have time to draw early in the morning or in the evenings - both times when my decision making power is not the sharpest.
Knowing that I just have to pick up the pencil and start filling a page, per the homework instructions, is just the right amount of structure to help me keep going.
Homework as perfectionism relief
The whole point of exercise is to do things over and over. When they get easier, you make it a little harder and you keep going. Rep after rep.
Learning to draw has been pretty much the same. I never get something right on the first try. I'm pretty good at drawing things that I have drawn many, many times: tulips, shelves of books, desks covered in work materials, chickpeas.
Homework is about repetition. If I'm focused on doing a large volume of things, it's the doing it over and over that matters, not the doing it perfectly.
Last week, my homework was to draw a bunch of ears, to fill a whole page with noses. The assignment was not to figure out a perfect ear or a flawless, photorealistic nose.
I experience homework as relief from perfectionism. But, in reality, it's probably just re-directing my perfectionism.
When I'm doing my drawing homework, my competitive perfectionist brain is distracted by the volume (trying to get the MOST done), which frees me from needing each drawing to be perfect.
On balance, I find this really helpful because it keeps my pencil moving and keeps me from being too evaluative of the results. Repetition is where the learning is, and how I'll eventually improve.
Practice makes practice
A while ago, my still life painting teacher Laura reminded me that:
“Practice makes practice makes practice makes practice makes practice makes practice makes practice makes practice makes practice makes practice makes practice makes practice makes practice makes practice makes practice makes practice makes practice makes practice....”
Practicing is the whole point.
There won't be a time when I will draw the perfect nose. The nose that feels like the very best nose I've ever drawn is only practice for the next one.
Homework is just one more container for practicing. In my experience it's just the combination of invitation and nudge that I need to keep going (even on a very tired evening when I'd rather just lay on the couch and watch Taskmaster - it turns out you can draw a mouth and keep one eye on the tasks).
P.S. Another fun way to do a bunch of practice: Speed Portrait Night! I'm teaming up with the amazing team at Hot Pizza Studio in Toronto to facilitate an evening of five minute portraits. Leave your perfectionism behind and bring your favourite drawing supplies!
Speed Portrait Night is on 01 November 2025 from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, just $29! Come join me - good times and wonky noses guaranteed.
