Whether you’re a budding artist who wants to unleash their inner Michelangelo, or a doodler who’s looking to turn their random scribbles into something awesome, drawing can often seem like an incredibly daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be! We promise you, drawing isn’t as scary as it looks, and with a little practice, anyone can become an ace artist. Here’s a simple guide to get those creative juices flowing and turn your basic stick figures into works of art…
Gather Supplies
To start making some seriously amazing works of art, you’ll need the right drawing supplies. This doesn’t mean buying expensive gear. All you really need is some paper, some pencils, and an eraser. To take your art up a notch though, you may want to invest in things like paints, markers, brushes, sketching pencils, rulers, and paper of varying weights and textures. Having the right tools will ensure your drawings are the best they can be.
Draw Lines and Shapes
To give your drawings structure, start by sketching out some basic shapes. If a flower is your goal, start with a circular shape for its core and gently draw petal shapes around it. Then for body parts like hands, think about how it will look from the side or front. Is the wrist curved? Does the thumb stick out? Draw out the lines and shapes to help you get a better idea of how everything should look.
Shade and Color
Once your lines and shapes are in place, it’s time to add life to your drawings with a little bit of shading and color. Start by adding some shadow to the lines to give them greater definition and add a sense of dimension to the whole thing. This shading can be done with a variety of pencils or with paintings. If you’re going for a three-dimensional look, take advantage of highlights and recesses, or for something simpler, adding a little bit of color can easily bring any drawings to life.
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Drawing is a skill and one that needs to be practiced, so stock up on paper and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Every drawing doesn’t have to be a masterpiece and it’s OK if it doesn’t look perfect. The more you draw, the better you’ll get and soon enough, you’ll be creating masterpieces in no time.
Learn From Others
We all have our unique styles and ideas, but drawing inspiration and tips from other talented artists doesn’t hurt. See what techniques they use to bring life to their drawings, watch some tutorials, and look for inspiration for your own artwork. Learning from others is an invaluable way to improve your own art quickly and easily.
Focus on Perspective
By applying perspective to your drawings, you give them a bit of realism that can immediately make a huge impact. Think about things like size, shape, and the angle of your pictures. Incredibly far away items should appear to be very small and vice versa for items close up. Also adding some shading can help emphasize this effect and really bring your drawings to life.
The Finishing Touches
Once all the lines, shapes, and colors are in place, and you’ve given your drawing a bit of depth, now it’s time for the final details. This can include adding some extra highlights or sparkle to the eyes and fur to your furry friends or adding some short strokes around the edges of the clothing to give it a bit of texture. These small things can be the difference between an OK drawing and an amazing one.
Be Creative
Your art should be a reflection of you and your personal style, so don’t be afraid to try things outside the box and get creative. Challenge yourself to draw in different mediums and discover new techniques that you love. Don’t be afraid to experiment and let yourself adjust and adapt to create something totally unique.
Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
After you feel like you’ve mastered the basics of drawing, it’s time to step out of your comfort zone and try something a bit more daring. Try sketching something a bit larger, try a tricky medium like watercolor, or even challenge yourself to draw something totally abstract. There’s no limit to what you can create if you think outside the box and allow yourself to explore.
Keep Going
No matter how your drawing turns out, don’t be discouraged and keep pushing forward. Drawing is a skill that takes practice and patience. Just think, if Michelangelo could bring the Sistine Chapel to life, imagine what you can make with your own imagination and unique style! So keep going and let your creative juices flow.
