Learn to Draw step by step, using several methods that are accurate and inexpensive.You know, there are sooo many people searching the internet on lessons in how to learn to draw.This is so fantastic, because that's exactly how I got into art! Things we will explore from this page will be:
These items are listed in the "Table of Contents" as they go live. (Sign up for the e-zine "Easy Oils Blast!" and you’ll know when new stuff gets posted!)
Why have a "Learn to Draw" section in a painting site. Painting could be said to be drawing with a brush! The same skill and eye to hand coordination needed to handle a brush can be started using the pencil. These step by step methods will help you learn to draw well, meaning, you will also learn to paint well too! Now on with the lesson.... I’ll show you how to draw, using some easy tricks at first, then throw in a bonus in rose drawing. Learning how to draw is not difficult, but it does require some practice and again, some ambition on your part! One thing for sure, improve your drawing, you will improve your painting as painting is drawing with a brush! Learn to Draw Trick #1.On small pictures, a simple inkjet printout of the reference photo is printed out, and transferred to your drawing paper using transfer paper! (You can make your own by simply taking a piece of paper and filling one whole side with graphite from a pencil)This is probably the quickest and easiest way to start. Just do the outline, and some of the major shadows, as this gives you an accurate drawing to start with. Complete the shading after removing the transfer paper until you're satisfied with the work. Now please, don't laugh at me for suggesting this, but it is a great training aid. You are learning eye to hand co-ordination, and you will have an accurate drawing to start with. You need this at first to keep your enthusiasm high.
Here you can see a little tape at the top of the print out holding it secure so it will not shift. It's really hard to get it exactly back into place if it moves on you while tracing!
Now that's one short cut. Here's another below: Learn to draw trick #2, using the projector for tracing your photo onto the paper.For larger works, use a good quality photo projector. Shocked! Don't be, even Leonardo Da Vinci used an invention he created called a camera obscura, the great-great grand-daddy of modern camera’s to speed up his process of painting. Did he ever learn to draw? Of coarse he did, but he also used every available tool needed to make his craft better.You can use the cheaper quality projectors, but you won’t be happy with the results because they can’t give you the details you need on the large pieces. A minimum of 500 watts is recommended.
The info page opens in a new window so you will not loose your place here. I've got one, and I use it. Again, using the projector to get an accurate start to your drawing is it's purpose. Shading can come after you have the outline completed. Learn to draw trick #3, using the grid method, an inexpensive yet accurate way to transfer your drawing to canvas.Now you're saying, Hey, I aien't got the money for a projector! No worries. Here's how I used to do it before I had one. This item still hangs in my studio and is quite the nice tool!
Take an old frame, something that you pick up at a yard sale for $3, and a ball of string. Mark along each edge 1 or 2 inch intervals. Tie your string at these intervals along one side, then down the other. When you start the cross pattern, interweave the string to help keep them in place.
Graph your canvas off at the same intervals as your screen, and begin drawing using the screen grids as a reference. It's much easier to learn to draw or match what you see in a 1 inch square than the entire picture. Concentrate on getting intersecting lines of the 1 inch square correct, and like a jigsaw puzzle, the whole piece will come together. Yes, you will learn to draw using this technique. As your eye to hand co-ordination becomes better, you find you can use other reference than just a string grid to get a good handle on what you are drawing. If you need more explanation on this technique click here for how to transfer drawing using the grid method.
Also, because drawing intersects so many aspects of this site, I've included a table of contents box (below) to show where some additional drawing exercises are located in case you miss the links within the text. I so excited about this part of the site because it's something I've been wanting to include for a long time. Now back to the lesson: You’ll need a bound sketch pad, #2 pencils, and a gummy (pliable) erasure. These exercises will not only improve your drawing skills, but will improve your painting skills because painting is merely drawing with a brush. You’ll see this all throughout the lessons in painting! Anyway, here are some exercises to work with. Start with these before any others. Just like regular exercise, you need to warm up. These are a few easy exercises to get your hand warm!
OH! If when you're done with the warm ups, and feel you need some more detailed instructions, a very good recommendation would be a downloadable e-book that has loads of exercises and tips. Check it out now as she has a number of special offers that she includes with her book. Some very nice offers! And the price is right too!
Another great course is Cris's here, Realistic Pencil Portrait Drawing course is one of the most comprehensive packages available in this price range. Beginner to intermediate artist will improve their work with this course. Better yet, visit my review of Realistic Pencil Portraits, home study course! Another highly recommended book is "Drawing on the right side of the brain" by Betty Edwards. I'll get into more details on some of her exercises in the complex drawing exercises. It explains how the human brain is working while you're drawing, or doing heavy concentration work. Now concerning drawing, it seems women have the upper hand in this area since cross brain communication of the left and right side brain is better in women. Us men only work from the one side it seems. Did I just call myself a half-wit? My wife does tell me I'm very single minded on some things. LOL.
If you do want to begin drawing as a finished art piece, then you can go through all the drawing pages on the site. Start here
drawing pencil sketches
to begin your journey in the Graphite arts. Now for your bonus's mentioned above:
How to draw a rose.
It's found on my Rose Art page at the very bottom. There are several links to take you to some great sites on that page. New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
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