How To Draw 101
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to draw, but weren’t sure where to start, you’re in luck – drawing 101 is here. By taking the time to learn the basics and having the confidence to put pencil to paper, you’ll be well on your way to creating beautiful pictures of anything your imagination can dream up.
Start Small
Like any skill, learning to draw starts with the basics. Don’t expect to perfectly render a complex landscape from the first try – start with simple shapes and working your way up. Draw circles, squares, and triangles in varying sizes, shapes, and thicknesses. Before long, you’ll develop the muscle memory and hand-eye coordination needed for drawing more detailed objects.
Play around with the way pressure and speed affects how your pencil strokes look on the paper. Keep practicing and see the progress as you draw more and more complex shapes, using circles and other shapes as building blocks to create everything from surrealist abstracts to recognizable images.
Observe the Environment
Experience is a key element in drawing correctly, so familiarize yourself with the object you’re trying to draw by closely observing the environment around you and the shapes that compose it. Which way the shadows fall, the colors and textures, and other interesting details can be helpful in creating detailed and life-like objects.
Find photos to replicate, or take your own! You can recreate your own photographs to get a greater understanding of perspective, composition, and how to create depth. An easy way to start learning how to draw is to look at a 2D photo and try to keep the same perspective when drawing it on a piece of paper.
Access Your Inner Artist
Go beyond your default way of thinking and don’t be afraid to explore new materials and techniques. Try oil pastel, watercolour pencils, indian ink, or whatever creative material you can get your hands on. Experiment with the material and push yourself to create something bold and daring.
It’s ok if it doesn’t always work out; even the best masters have failed and failed again before they achieved perfection. Fostering creativity and self-expression also comes hand in hand with knowing how to draw. Dare to draw on your own and step out of your comfort zone; have the courage to make mistakes and surprise yourself.
Tools at Your Disposal
Whether you’re in the middle of a park sketching or in your bedroom doodling, the tools in your arsenal are key. Erasers, pencils, a sketchbook – these are all essential for any artist. Qualitative sketchbooks and good pencils are also important for this; good tools will make sure you’re working from a stable and energised starting point. It’s all too easy to give up in the face of tools that are of lesser quality, so make sure you’re investing in the right tools.
Markers, bullet journals, ink, brushes and inks are some of the things you may want to try out. Having your favourite things in drawing can greatly help in making your work attractive; so make sure you experiment and find out what works for you. It’s important to keep an open mind and give yourself the opportunity to explore different things.
It’s A Process
The process of creating a piece of art is just as important as the end result. Don’t forget that to be able to draw something, practice and failure are part of the journey. Realize that slip-ups and pitfalls will likely happen, accept it and don’t be afraid to fail. Practice tightens the necessary skills, so it is key to keep drawing and experimenting.
Practice, practice, practice. It’s really the only way to learn how to draw. Make use of reference books, lessons and tutorials to supplement your practice. Look at what other artists have done, even different media types, as this can help to learn perspective, composition and ways to create more life-like images.
Learning how to draw takes time and patience; but if you follow the steps and stay motivated, it can be an incredibly fulfilling experience. Just like any other skill, it takes practice and passion and you will be soon be able to express yourself through your art. Enjoy the journey, and the best of luck!
Build a Foundation of Knowledge
Just like any skill worth learning, your drawing skills will be built on a strong foundation of knowledge. Learn about perspective, light, shading and colour theory – as these are the fundamental building blocks for making good art. You can start by taking a drawing class; or if that isn’t an option, online classes or books are also a great option.
You can also find helpful drawing tutorials online that cover topics such as composition, shape and form. Knowing the basics can help you draw whatever you’d like, with greater confidence. Plus, you’ll develop a deeper knowledge of the drawing world and the rules that come with it.
Illustration Works
When it comes to illustration, sometimes life-like works are not the best option. For instance, animation cels, cartoons and caricatures can be used to capture a moment in time, or an emotion in a different, unique way. This type of illustration uses loose lines and exaggerated shapes to create a unique piece and often involves exaggerating the elements of a scene or character.
Learning the basics for traditional drawing is essential for understanding how to illustrate, as it provides a framework for building an original piece of work. Whether you want to draw iconic cartoon characters or create your own, illustration can be a fantastic way to express creativity and an effective way to capture the world around you.
Learn from Others
Sometimes life can get in the way and make it difficult to find the time needed to practice your craft. In those times, it can be helpful to look at the work of others – especially artists that you admire – and draw inspiration (pun intended) from their work. By analysing the works of others, you can learn different techniques that can aid in your own works.
Once you’ve developed a basic understanding of drawing, join an art community or local drawing classes near you to further your development. Working with other artists can help break through mental barriers and will help you find the motivation to keep drawing. Plus, it’s a great way to build relationships with other talented artists who can help you hone your skills.
