No work of art can quite capture the feeling of standing atop a sand dune, inhaling the salty coastal air, and taking in its splendid ebb and flow; however, with some patience, time – and a few simple steps – you can learn to draw a sand dune and recreate the dreamy landscape at home. Here’s how to get started on your very own masterpiece.
Preparing Your Palette
If you’re not adept at the art of sketching, no worries! You don’t need anything but a few pieces of paper, a respectable assortment of colored pencils, and perhaps a ruler if you’re planning to add any linear elements. Before you begin, it’s important to get organized. Take a moment to survey your environment – is it an ideal surface for creating? Are you sitting upright enough to help you concentrate and focus? Has something around you changed that’s distracting? By being mindful of the area you plan to draw in, you’ll mentally prepare yourself and create a more inviting atmosphere for the creative process.
Gathering Your Inspiration
Once you’re organized and completely ready to begin, it’s time to turn your attention to the sand dune itself. What do you observe? What do you intend to capture? Despite its simplicity, don’t underestimate the complexity of every stroke. Let your eye wander. You’ll notice the curvatures in the terrain, the texture of the grains, and its rich hues. You may also take inspiration from the air around it. Is there a mist in the vicinity? Is the breeze moving its surface? Use your senses to soak it all up, so when it’s time to start drawing, your material is all fresh in your mind.
Taking Pen To Paper
Now it’s time to transfer what you’ve studied onto the paper. To start, it’s best to keep your strokes wide and your moves as direct as possible. We’d recommend beginning your masterpiece with the most crucial element – the mountains. Start with a basic outline and go from there. Depending on the level of detail you wish to capture, you may want to incorporate small ridges, which will ultimately be removable after the entire drawing has been finished. With the mountains completed, move onto the finer details, such as the curves and valleys, shades, and the unique smoothness of the grains. Remember to move slowly, observing the sand dune you’ve been studying, and taking note at key features that truly define it. Working diligently, layer by layer you’ll soon come to complete your sand dune masterpiece.
Enhancing and Finishing Touches
After the sand dune has been drawn, it’s essential to further refine it. Maybe you want to give your dune a slightly rougher, rugged texture along its edges; perhaps you want to add a few swishing strokes across the entire surface. No matter what you choose, the resulting effect will be totally unique. Topping off the picture, consider adding an introductory or finishing element. Consider adding a silhouette or a faint tint of blue, the possibilities are endless.
The Enjoyment Is In The Journey
Take it slow and steady, let yourself fully experience and appreciate the whole process. Tapping into your own creativity is a perfect opportunity to enjoy the moment and let go a little. Who knows? After settling into your own drawing style, you may never look at sand dunes in the same way again.
