Tuesday Tips and Techniques: Drawing Tips

When I say the word "draw" to other people, often the response is, "I can't draw a stick figure", or "My drawing is horrible."  Well, I think drawing is just like any other skill that one acquires.  Whether it's learning to ride a bike, learning to type, learning to play an instrument, or learning to walk, you have to begin with the first baby steps.  You're going to have to concentrate.  You're going to have to have determination.  You're going to fail miserably at your first attempts.

Photo: Rodin's Sculpture,  "The Farewell" 1892

Sooner or later, you're going to master the basics.  You're eventually going to walk without giving it your undivided attention and concentration.  With more determination you might even find the discipline to walk extreme distances or heights.  I think drawing is the same.  Here are some tips that I've  found helpful and I hope you will too.

1. Copy artists who inspire you.  Examine their techniques and try to mimic their style. Look to "The Masters".
2. Develop a tonal value scale.  This is essential.  It's one of the basics!
3. Watch drawing videos.  YouTube is filled with informative, instructional tutorials.
4. Use a light touch.  (I'm really heavy handed and have been practicing this myself)  Successful drawings are layers of marks.
5. Really look at what you want to draw.  Don't draw what you think you see, draw what you do see!  
6. Squint your eyes to help find the darkest darks and the lightest lights.
7. Use a medium pencil to begin with and gradually use darker pencils to finish. 
8. Practice. Practice. Practice.  Practice may not make perfect, but it will certainly make better!
9. Did I say "Practice?"

Here are some additional tips from a YouTube channel that I stumbled upon recently.  I like the first two videos I watched, and thought I would share them with you.  They're short and informative, and I agree with the things he says about drawing.  Take a look around his channel.  He's completed some really fabulous celebrity drawings that I think you'll like!

I hope you'll pull out your sketchbook and do some drawing.  Remember, there's no need to limit yourself to portraits or people.  Draw what inspires you!  Or draw something that has always been a challenge for you.  I'm thinking that I may do some animal studies, perhaps beginning with birds.  I love them so - I should learn to do them justice with the pencil!

I may work on this some more.  Fix her nose and forehead and do more work on the hand.  Or I just may  move on to the next!

Last put not least, STOP CRITICIZING YOUR WORK!  Making note of what you've done incorrectly and learning from your mistakes is fine.  Telling yourself that "this SUCKS!", without any real critique and solution is NOT.  Did you hear me?  Great!  Now grab your pencils and have some fun with drawing!

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Colored Pencil Drawing Class

My colored pencil drawing class is so much fun that I also joined for March.  I'm learning a lot about colored pencil, but I'm also enjoying the creative atmosphere and getting to know the wonderful men and women in my class.

My drawing is coming along nicely.  All the tiny swirls of layering are beginning to take shape and the face is coming to life.

Week 3 I began mottling the face (adding shadows and highlights)  This was an exciting phase after layering the basic skin tones.

Last week was even more exciting as I began making the darks darker and making the highlights brighter by adding white.  I also used a blending pencil (a pencil of wax with no pigment) to blend the colors and soften the edges.

In yesterday's class, I made the darks even darker and added lines to her face.  I added more detail to her lips and eyes and adjusted some of the colors on her forehead.  I also began adding the dark areas around her face and her headband.  I was happy to take my attention away from her face and concentrate on her headband.  

You know me and color, so I was thrilled to get away from the skin tones and pull out Canary Yellow and Poppy Red for her headband.  Next week, I'll begin working on the leaves of her headdress.

Drawing has been a quiet, contemplative experience.  I only work on this drawing during class, but I've found myself drawing in my sketchbook more and more.  It really helps to step away from your norm as a creative soul.  It's always good to see things from another perspective and engage your psyche in a different way.

Whatever your choice of medium, I hope you'll experiment with something new.  Remember to take time for yourself and "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!"

Drawing II

So I had my 2nd drawing class last Wednesday, and I have to say it's starting to grow on me.  I decided that I would only work on my drawing in class, but in the meantime, I started playing with a new drawing at home. 

The first week, I applied lemon yellow, peach and blush pink layers (Prismacolors).  This week, I began shading her face with sienna brown.  This is referred to as "mottling" the face.  The next layer of color will be pink.  Then mineral orange, cherry black or black raspberry.  I also added her 2nd eye.  She's alive! (at least a little bit).

I wanted to apply what I'm learning to another drawing, so I found another picture in my picture file (torn from a magazine).  Her skin is a lot lighter, so there aren't that many layers of color.  I began with yellow and used peach and sienna.  The shadowed area is olive green and indigo blue.  I made the mistake of using black, but the color was "dead".  (I should have known better.) My fax pas was easily corrected with a kneaded eraser. 

It's still very textured, but when I finish applying all of the color there will be a final burnishing layer of what is now a mystery color.
Over the weekend, I watched the movie, "Coco before Chanel".  It's a french, subtitled movie staring Audrey Tautou as Coco that I have on DVR.  The cinematography is beautiful, and I was so inspired by some of the close ups of Audrey's face that I did some charcoal sketches with the help of the "pause" button.

I had applied a glaze of aquamarine blue to my next set of journal pages.  (I always put left over paint in my journal pages.  I really can't stand wasting paint!)  I started sketching some of the stills with charcoal and added a wash of sienna brown when I finished sketching.

I really loved the way the right side of the page turned out.  I added some white artist acrylic to cover some of the blue and added a phrase in French.  Although I don't speak French, it seemed fitting for the page.  Gotta love Google Translator!

I'm enjoying drawing again.  It's been years since I've really drawn anything, and after looking at all of my wild, fauvism styled art, people seemed shocked that I even know how to draw.  That makes me smile in amusement every time.

Whatever your endeavors, remember to explore different creative styles and mediums, and as always, "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!"