Jacci at About Desktop Publishing just blogged about computer drawing with a look back at her recent coverage of digital drawing topics, while Animation guru Adrien-Luc has some tips on Smoothing and Straightening wiggly lines in your Flash drawings.

I smiled at the funky Ninja Mice concept art blogged by J L Meyer. Dave Cutler shares some figure drawings with a focus on strong, clean contour in his blog Gruntor's Grotto

Collaborative blogs are a great way to get involved in social art interaction without the hassle of third-party sites. There's quite a few around, some of which seem to be a loose gathering of friends, while others invite wider participation. Check out The Daily Sketch Group and Illustration Friday.

If you have an active sketch blog or group and would like to feature in blog roundups, leave a link and I'll check it out.

Improve your portraiture and figure drawing by studying anatomy. Awareness of the skeletal and muscular anatomy under the skin can help you more accurately observe and draw the surface anatomy. This article on drawing the anatomy of the head and neck has examples of studies exploring the skull and musculature.

I haven't included a guide to the names of muscles: you can easily find these online in Gray's Anatomy. It is useful to be able to name the muscles, but don't let it put you off - don't bother with labels unless you want to. The main thing is to understand how muscles fit together under the skin.

Image: © Sharon McKeeman, licensed to About.com

As the title implies, 'A Foundation Course in Drawing ' by Peter Stanyer and Terry Rosenberg is quite an academic book aimed at first-year university students, so while I don't really recommend this book for beginners, its a worthwhile and substantial volume, which will also interest others who wish to broaden their drawing technique.

The project-based approach used in the book means that the focus is always on hands-on drawing to put the theory into practice. Read the review to find out more.

Winter is a surprisingly good time for landscape drawing, especially when the sky is clear or only partially cloudy. The low angle of the sun can create interesting contrasts, while bare trees make dramatic subjects. Why not rug up warmly, and spend some time drawing in the garden? Or if you really can't face the chilly weather, find a cozy spot by the window - your own or a favorite cafe. As for me, it's summer in Australia, so I'll be on my verandah with a cool drink!

More on Landscape Drawing:
Drawing Clouds Step by Step
Sketching Trees
Sketching with Pen and Ink
Landscape Drawing Ideas
Tips on Drawing Winter Scenes
Winter Snow Scene References

It's the first week of December, so it's time you got cracking on those holiday crafts. Here are some winter treasures to get started with.

Winterscape Needlepoint Ornaments
Create a needlepoint ornament with these Winterscape printable patterns. Cheryl Fall has your pattern and how-to.

Antique Christmas Scraps
Use these great looking antique Santa illustrations to use on all your paper projects-- scrapbooks, cards, ornaments and newsletters!

Knit Tinsel
If you can make an I-cord, you can use a fancy eyelash yarn to make knit tinsel in no time for your hearth or holiday tree. Sarah E. White shows you how.

Shrink Plastic Necklace
Use shrink plastic to create unique charms to make necklaces and other items of jewelry. These are quick to make and are perfect for last minute gifts!

Sweater Holiday Lighting
Make a light-up Christmas tree using an old sweater and a little know-how form the Sweater Surgery blog.

Printable Paper Sleigh
A Printable Sleigh to fill with goodies.  This sleigh fits dolls house scale dolls, but it also stands nicely behind most commercial reindeer figures to make a table decoration.  You can print it in the colors shown, or use the template to construct your own sleigh in the color you want.

Peace Cross Stitch
One message during the holidays that everyone can agree with is 'Peace'. Create this simple cross stitch with the free pattern and instructions from Connie G. Barwick.

Draw a Santa
Decorate cards, tags and more when you learn how to sketch the perfect Santa from Helen South.

Glittery Wood and Wire Snowman Earrings
These super easy snowmen earrings are a whimsical design that even the beginning jewelry maker can create.

Ribbon Wreath Craft
Find out how you can create a unique wreath using pieces of ribbon. By looking at this finished project, you will never believe how easy it is!

Holiday Pear Quilt
Create a pear quilt as a holiday gift or just to spruce up the place. Cyndi Lavin at the Mixed Media Blog has your tips and instructions.

Cuttlebugged Christmas Cards
These quick Christmas cards were made using my Sissix Big Shot, ProvoCraft Christmas Tree embossing folder, Versamark inks and embellishments. Get the instructions at the Firenze Cards blog.

Christmas Card Art Worksheet
Make a watercolor Christmas Card out of a cathedral rose window without all that pesky drawing. Just print this outline from Marion Boddy-Evans on a sheet of watercolor paper using waterproof ink.

Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more.

You can also join Drawing/Sketching readers in the Holiday Artwork Show and Tell.

Because highly finished artwork is often so impressive, we sometimes feel that everything we do has to be a major undertaking. But think how many of our favorite Old Master drawings - from Leonardo to Picasso - are quick sketches. One of my favorite drawings is a Brett Whiteley ink sketch that he did in just a few moments on-camera. Cats aren't the easiest of subjects, but they can be a delight. Here's some tips on How to Sketch Cats.

Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating the holiday. Here's another edition of Make it Merry, where talented artists and crafters share their holiday how-to's.

Snowman Ornament
Sherri Osborn will show you how to create a cute snowman face using a clear, glass ornament. It's a great project for the whole family.
Recycled Pine Cone Gnome
Collect some fallen pine cones and create this pine cone gnome at the Recycled Crafts blog.
CopprClay Pendants
Try your hand with pendant making this year with a little help from some winter foliage. The Beading Arts blog will show you how.
How to Make Paper
Make handmade paper for the scrapbooker in your life, or create tags and cards for every present on your list. Marion Boddy-Evans shows us how.
Little Town of Bethlehem Cross Stitch
For a traditional Christmas, a simple cross stitch pattern from Connie G. Barwick.
Mitten Earrings
Tammy Powley shows us how to make these cute mitten earrings using lampwork beads.
Christmas Stocking
Worked with bulky yarn on big needles, even beginner knitters can have this two-color sock finished and ready to embellish in no time.
Advent Garland
Count down to the holidays with this pyramid box garland. Use the free template to make the boxes and decorate them with your favorite festive stamps.
Miniature Gift Boxes
Have a tiny gift to give? Check out these free printable miniature gift boxes for small gifts or advent calendars from Lesley Shepherd.
Manga Holiday Card
Give your Christmas greetings a contemporary flavour with this greeting card from guest artist Shinaebi at About Drawing/Sketching.
Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more.

Draw this gorgeous wolf - or werewolf - in graphite pencil. This wolf drawing tutorial was created for us by Michael Hames, whose experience as an artist and teacher is evident in the clear structure and beautiful textures that he develops in this drawing. Michael is a Canadian artist whose work is widely published and exhibited - and rightly so, with a combination of technical excellence and aesthetic sensitivity. So I'm really excited to be able to bring you this tutorial. Draw a Wolf.

I used to covet a Kolinsky Sable brush. Not just a little one - a big, fat lovely one to do huge washes with. But I've realized that using fur is neither compassionate nor ethical. Facing up to the reality of fur means that a Kolinsky sable brush will never find a place in my studio. Fortunately, synthetic alternatives are excellent - my preferred brushes are Taklon, and especially the Robert Wade white Taklon brushes available here in Australia. Comparable brushes in the USA would be Robert Simmons 'White Sable'. I find that the Taklon brush holds its point well, and holds enough water to wash well without flooding. And there's no animal cruelty involved.

The 'best' Kolinsky Sable is made from winter coat of the Siberian Weasel, though fur from its cousins, the Himalayan or Yellow weasels or Martens, is also used. Farming methods are not humane, and the animals are protected in some areas so there's a thriving trade in illegal pelts.

More on Fur:
The Cruelty of Fur Farms
Peta Exposes Cruelty (caution, distressing video)
Fur Isn't Green (discussion in comments)

Image: Part of a haul of 85 wild weasel skins confiscated by Beijing forest police. (© Getty Images) Top: a Siberian Weasel in Dresden Zoo (Wikimedia).

We often think of charcoal as a medium for quick sketches or large figure drawings. But you can use it for detailed work too. Studies like this animal skull by Alberoni show the depth that can be achieved. Charcoal pencils are ideal for doing the detail in drawings like this, or you can use a stick, 'sharpened' on a piece of sandpaper or rough cardboard. Charcoal can be difficult to erase, so be careful to preserve highlights. Beginners sometimes make the mistake of making dark areas too flat, and can seem oddly featureless, as though part of the drawing is missing. Unless you've got a microscopic black hole in there absorbing all the light, you can still have some subtle modeling of form.

Charcoal Drawing Articles:
Charcoal Drawing FAQ
Charcoal Exercise - Soft Volume
How to Apply Spray Fixative
Charcoal for Drawing - Top Picks

Photo: Skull (c) Alberoni, licensed to About.com, Inc.