How To Draw The Desert
The desert is a mysterious and beautiful setting, and drawing it can be a challenge. But with the right approach, a bit of practice, and some helpful tips, you’ll be able to capture the gorgeous mountains and sand dunes of the desert in your drawings. Here are some things to consider as you take on the challenge of drawing the desert.
The Basics
When it comes to mediums for drawing the desert, you have many options. From graphite and colored pencils to markers and watercolors, the choice is yours. When you’re starting out, it’s best to keep your medium simple as you practice. This way, you’ll have fewer variables to keep track of, and you can focus on the techniques you’re learning.
In terms of composition and perspective, be sure to leave enough negative space in your image. This will help the desert itself be the focus, rather than competing elements. Choose a point of view that best shows off the land and its patterns. If the desert has mountains, consider the angle at which they will be seen in the painting.
Finally, don’t forget to take your time. Drawing the desert is a process, and you don’t have to complete everything in one go—so take your time and make sure you get it right.
Tools
Before starting your desert painting, be sure to gather the supplies you’ll need. Pencils, paper, and an eraser are the basics. You can also use an HB pencil for sketching, to create a light shade of grey. If you choose to work with colored pencils, you can use various shades to add depth and shadows.
You may also need watercolors for painting the sky and sand, as well as other materials such as a ruler, a blending tool, and a brush for blending. Depending on the scene you’re trying to capture, there are also special art supplies that can help create a realistic and striking image.
Techniques
For some inspiration, research different types of desert scenery so you can get a better idea of how to capture the area on paper. Study how the shapes of the mountains, valleys, and plains interact. Look up photographs of sand dunes, and how the light plays against their unique shapes. This willhelp you better understand how to shade and color them in your drawing.
When sketching out your card, creating light lines with a good pencil and erasing easily will be essential. Start by lightly sketching the large parts of the desert, such as mountains and plains. Then focus on the smaller details, like sand dunes, the patterns of the rocks, trees, and so on. Once you have the desired shape created, try adding dark soft lines to bring dimension and detail to your painting.
The Finishing Touches
After sketching, you can now add color to your drawing. Carefully choose the colors you want to use and decide if you’re going to use traditional shades—such as reddish-orange for the desert sand—or if you want to experiment with other color combinations. For example, you may even want to create a moody all-blue scene by adding a few cooler shades.
When you’re ready to add realism to your drawing, the next step is to add shadows and highlights. Use a light pencil or blending tool and shade the objects that are closer to you or those that are darker. Create a gradient and use softer lines while shading the darker objects. Areas such as the sky and sand should be shaded with a darker color to create depth.
Now, you can use a darker color and a fine brush to create swaying lines that look like sand dunes. This will give more volume and texture to the painting and help create a realistic looking desert. As your final touch, use a light pencil and add thin lines of fast-moving shadows in the sky and sand to make the desert look like it’s in the throes of a sandstorm.
Details and Patterns
To give your desert drawing more realism and sense of motion, you can add some touches of texture and small details. This could mean adding textures to the mountains and sand, such as crags and shadows. Or, you could use lines and other shapes to represent the cracks and crevices of the ground.
You can also create patterns in the sky such as small blue lines, or draw a few clouds to further work on your painting’s perspective. Finally, you can use a few small details such as cacti and small plants to add to the scene’s realism.
Bringing It All Together
Drawing the desert is a beautiful and rewarding challenge that rewards patience and careful attention to detail. With the right combination of mediums and techniques, you can bring a vast and majestic oasis to life on paper. So take your time, and never stop striving to make your art better!
