How To Draw Water With Pencil
Most of us have seen movies with breathtakingly beautiful pictures of water being drawn with pencil and felt a twinge of envy. Drawing water with pencil is difficult, but it isn’t impossible! Creating a believable and realistic water drawing starts with a willingness to learn, practise and experiment.
To learn how to draw water with pencil, you first need to understand the basics of form and texture. With a few simple blind contours and texture swatches, you’ll be ready to create convincing bodies of water in no time. It’s wise to keep a pencil handy, along with graphite paper, to make sure you’re getting your forms and textures just right.
Once you have an understanding of form and texture, you can move on to exploring lines and shadows. Combining various line weights and shadows can help define the movement of the water. A single stroke with a thick lead pencil can help capture the gleam and sparkle of the waves. Be sure to add a few jagged edges to the lines to make them look real, and use light shading to give your drawing added life.
The next step in creating something truly spectacular is the use of tone to help define both the water and the sky. Using a range of tones and shades can give the water a beautiful sheen, while changing the sky tones can help to create a sense of movement and depth. A more tonal style of water drawing will also bring out finer details like reflections, allowing you to capture the beauty and mystery of the world beneath the surface of the water.
Once you are able to successfully use these techniques to create basic water drawings, you can start to experiment by adding elements like splashes and ripples. Experiment with various pencils, lead diameters and techniques to create unique effects in and around your water drawing. For a quick, dynamic and realistic rendering of water, try adding a few contrasting highlights, dark shadows and a sweeping line or two.
Finally, to make the most of larger drawings and compose a scene, it’s important to consider where the water goes and how it connects with shorelines, objects and other features. Drawing realistic and believable water will require careful thought about water flow, movement, current and structure.
Once you have the basics, practice is key! Don’t be afraid to experiment with different pencils, paper stocks and acrylics, and never be afraid to make mistakes. Even the most seemingly complex drawings of water can be created with the right understanding, equipment and patience. So what are you waiting for? With a few simple tools and a little bit of practice, you could be drawing beautiful water scenes in no time!
