How to Draw - An Introduction to Drawing Anything and Everything

Every day, thousands of people search for information on how to draw roses, people, horses, dragons, airplanes, and other objects. Over the next weeks I will be writing a series of articles that will help you learn how to draw anything and everything. My goal is to get you to a point where you no longer need drawing books or websites telling you how to draw, but are comfortable with a technique, or number of techniques that help you draw what you see. It may take you months or even years to get to this point, but if you are determined you will get there. All the information provided in the articles are meant to steer you in the right direction and get you there faster. You will have to set the pace. Remember to not set the bar too high, or to set it too low. Make sure you are challenging yourself, but at the same time do not choose to do something that is too challenging. You will be setting yourself up for failure. Over the past number of years, but especially this year, with the creation of my first how to draw website, I have searched the internet to see how others tackle the subject of drawing. I found that most of them use the step by step technique that breaks down a drawing into manageable chunks. It seems that most well known artists use some sort of step by step technique that works for them. The reason why most websites use this technique is because our brains seem to be able to only absorb so much at a time. At least my brain works that way. If I was to look at a photo of a person for a minute, and then told to draw it without ever looking at the photo again, I could not do it. However, if I was given a photo of a ball and told to do the same thing, I could draw it. My point is that our brains can only take in so much at a time and the step by step technique helps you focus on a certain part of the object one step at a time.

There are other techniques as well. What they all have in common is that they each train your brain to draw what you see. One of the techniques, which I will describe in greater detail in a future article, is the upside down technique. Just like the name suggests, you draw the object upside down. This helps your eyes focus on the actual shapes, rather than the image as a whole. Graphs also break down an object into manageable sections. Especially for artists who can not get the proportions right, graphs are the way to go. By making a graph on you photo and drawing paper, you force your brain to focus on one area at a time. You draw what you see in the boxes, rather than trying to draw the whole object at once. Again, by doing this you are breaking down the image into manageable chunks. I think I may be starting losing some of you already. So, let me put you to work. Here my first assignment. Assignment 1 - Finding a Drawing Book Below is a list of drawing books. They are all drawing books by well known authors. I want you to choose a title and search it on the internet (amazon.com). Find a drawing book that looks appealing. Purchase it if you want to. But, before you do, make sure it is the best one. Don't pick one and then decide later that you actually wanted another one. There are many how to draw books, and not all of them are very helpful. LEE HAMMOND (her books got me interested in drawing people) Lee Hammond's Big Book of Drawing Lifelike Drawing with Lee Hammond BETTY EDWARDS (very well know author) Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain J. D. HILLBERRY (he has a great website) Drawing Realistic Textures in Pencil

BERT DODSON Keys to drawing ROBERT HALE Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters BURNE HOGARTH (his books do NOT contain many drawings that you can use, but he has a lot of information that may be helpful to you) Drawing Dynamic Hands Dynamic Figure Drawing Drawing the Human Head PRESTON BLAIR Cartoon Animation There are more, but as you do your search, you will come across them. How to draw books are great for two reasons. They provide you with pictures of drawings, and with information and techniques you can use. Sometimes, it is hard to find something that is good to draw. Actually for me, often it is hard to find an image that is perfect for drawing. Most of the photos I have are not all that great for drawing. Assignment 2 - Drawing Supplies DRAWING PENCILS As you wait for that drawing book to come, or when you go out to purchase one from an art store, make sure you also have the right drawing supplies Here is what you should look for: A set of drawing pencils. Drawing pencils range from around 2H 9B. You should not really need any pencils harder than the 2H.

For those who do not know what the H and B stand for, let me explain. The graphite in each pencil has a certain hardness. The common HB pencil is right in the middle of the spectrum. B stands for blackness and H stands for hardness. The graphite ranging from B to 9B leave the darkest marks. The higher the number of B or blackness, the softer the graphite will be. That is why this range in used a lot in drawings. Dark marks are often more effective than light ones. The other range, which is often good for shading and light areas is the F - 2H range. Yes this range goes all the way to 9H. But the 9H is so light, I don't think you will want to use it and most drawing pencil packages do not go that high in hardness. As you have most likely guessed by now, the higher the number of hardness, the harder the graphite and the lighter the mark will be. Just for your information, there is another pencil that I mentioned that fits in the middle of the spectrum beside the HB pencil. It is the F which stands for fine point. There, I think I got them all. DRAWING ERASERS I highly recommend that you get a kneaded eraser. This eraser you can mold by warming it in your hands. What is really nice about this eraser is that it it pulls the graphite off the page. Many other erasers tend to roll some of it deeper into the page. If you do not already have one. Pick one up. They are inexpensive. DRAWING PAPER. There are so many different kinds of drawing paper that it is hard to recommend one or two, but here are some labels to look for: Acid Free - Most are acid free after they are manufactured, however will become acidic again over time.

Buffered - It is a bonus if it has been buffered, which means that it has undergone some chemical treatments so that it will stay acid free). Lignin free - If it is lignin free, that means that it has been made from something free of lignin, such as cotton, or has undergone some treatment to make it safe. You may want to try using vellum paper. It has a nice grain. It is toothy, which means it has texture. This makes it easier for shading because the graphite has something to grab on to. SHADING TOOLS For shading and smudging I recommend that you use a drawing tortillon. I suggest using them because the oil on your hands can, in the long run, damage your drawing. What also works, and some artist use them all the time, is cotton swabs, or Q-tips. Occasionally I use Q-tips, but I still prefer the tortillon. Try both and see what works well for you. FINISHING If you are using a sketch book and would like to keep your work in good condition it is a good idea to purchase a clear spray to protect your work. It prevents the drawings from smudging. Note: If you can, spray your drawing outside because it has very strong smell! Purchased a drawing book? Do you have the right drawing supplies? Great! Then you are ready for my next article. My next article called Drawing with a Purpose. In this how to draw article I explain the importance of sharing your work with others. In the end of the article I will recommend some sites you may wish to join.

...because it is great to be drawing Reuel Feenstra is a drawing artist who draws photos of people. He has his own website at 2bdrawing.com. He began drawing at a very young age and has recently started drawing for photographers around the world. Visit his website Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Reuel_Feenstra

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