If you are apprehensive of your art skills, this write-up is just for you! Scroll down to know the Tips and Tricks to Make you Start Drawing.
You can develop and improve your drawing skills by constant practice, and determination. This skill can be evolved and nurtured even if you are not born with the talent. Developing your drawing skills require hours of practice and this skill can be fostered at any age. You may be surprised to see your potential if you put your heart and soul into it. I know many artists who just started drawing and have made amazing progress.
It has been scientifically proved that Art, in any form reduces stress. Studies reveal that creating and observing art reduces cortisol, the ‘stress hormone’. When you do something you love, it releases endorphins- feel-good chemicals that combat stress and reduces pain. You feel elated and accomplished for having made something. This boosts your confidence and self-esteem.
Everyone has a different style and creates art differently. Many artists can observe the same thing and produce accurate yet different drawings. It is all about observation and perception. It is training yourself to see the world differently.
Here are some “Tricks To Make You Start Drawing”
- Exercise Doodling
Doodles are simple drawings that are made by putting a pencil or pen to paper and spontaneously sketching anything that comes to your mind. There can be any shape or form, any colour. No straight lines required!
Doodling is composing random and abstract lines, generally without ever lifting the drawing device from the paper, in which case it is usually called a “scribble”.
This increases your visual observations and helps you process ideas, even when you are not trying.
Look, Observe, and Perceive the Drawings
You can learn a lot from looking at the work of others. Whether there are simple line drawings or meticulously detailed renderings. Notice how did they use line and shape? How did they shade? This may sound bizarre, but you can learn tons by copying a sketch that inspired you. Learn from the masters by copying them. Believe me, they will be pleased with your gesture!
- Choose One Theme in a day
You can choose any one type of theme, animate or inanimate object of any colour, form, shape, or size and draw that one thing during the day. The more you are focussed on that one drawing the more it boosts your concentration levels and helps you to improve tremendously. You will be surprised just how the practice of one day grows your drawing skills.
- Draw from Life
If you’re a beginner, pick simple objects and work your way up to complex ones. Try drawing your coffee cup or an apple. Try your hand at drawing furniture and your living spaces. For most people, it is easier to reproduce an image than drawing an actual object or person. So you can draw from photographs as well. If you can master drawing your hands or feet, you’ll pretty much be able to draw anything.
- Draw Smaller Sizes and focus on Shapes
One of the “Tricks To Make You Start Drawing” is to start small. When you are a beginner, prefer short sketches over longer studies to build confidence and intuition. Start with 1-minute sketches of various objects then increase the time as your confidence grows. Focus on drawing shapes rather than outlines. For example, when you are drawing a tree draw a rectangle and a circle on top of it first. Then give details later. Eventually, you’ll get into longer “studies”
Vertical vs Horizontal Drawing
Now, this is an often ignored tip! Have you realised if you keep the paper horizontally on the table, it distorts your perception and you can end up with drawings that have a wonky perspective. On the contrary, when you draw vertically you get a more accurate view of things and you tend to keep things in proportion.
- Stay Loose
Holding the pencil too close to the tip will restrict the movement of your hand which makes your drawing tight. So hold the pencil at a considerable distance from the tip to let your hand and shoulder move freely. The secret to good drawings is to relax, unwind and enjoy the experience. This is one of the important “Tricks To Make You Start Drawing”
1.Use an Eraser to highlight in your drawings
Though our conventional white erasers are good to use but if you want to take your drawings to the next level, get a Kneaded eraser. Kneaded Erasers are useful as you can reshape them with your hands. Kneaded erasers are flexible so they are perfect for precision erasing, creating highlights, or performing detailed work.
Many artists suggest not to use an eraser. If you learn to draw over your errors, embracing them many times, it looks more beautiful.
Erasers are easy to find at any stationery store or online shops.
- Learn about Value
One of the main “Tricks To Make You Start Drawing” is understanding the Value of the drawing. Value is how dark or light is the drawing. To help you draw light and shadow better, gradually increase the pressure on your hand as the drawing develops but draw with a light hand first. Put in your lighter tones first then the darker ones. Work your way up to deeper shadows. It’s easy to go light to dark in a drawing but it makes your work untidy or messy when you go from dark to light.
- Quality of Paper
A medium textured paper which is a balance between rough and smooth is ideal for graphite or coloured pencil drawings. Rough texture paper is for charcoal or pastels.
The heavier weight paper is more suitable as it can take more pressure on the pencil and continuous erasure. Anything between 120gsm-200gsm is the usual choice.
The best quality paper is 100 percent cotton but is usually expensive. Most people prefer a mix of cotton and wood fibre. The higher the percentage of cotton, the more suitable it will be for your drawings.
- Type of Pencil
There are different graphite shades available from 9H-9B (lightest-darkest) for drawing, sketching, and shading. I recommend buying a pencil set that have all the shades. But if you want to start with just one , HB or 2B is good to go. You have to work on the pressure on your hand, to make light or dark marks.
In a broader category there are two types of pencils-wooden and mechanical. You can choose the pencil you are comfortable with.
- Take a Class
A class will keep you accountable and progressive. A teacher will highlight your mistakes and correct your weaknesses. Seeing others draw is very beneficial for building your observational skills.
Find a drawing class near you. Check your local magazines, community clubs, schools, or art learning schools around you. A good source is your local art supply store, where artists post notices of drawing meet-ups, sessions with models, or private learning.
Another alternative is the many online art tutorials that motivate you and guide you throughout your learning process.
The fundamental step in developing your drawing skills is observing what you have drawn and evaluating how to make it better. So have confidence in yourself, be persistent, and trust the process because it is a long journey.
I hope these” tips and tricks that can make you start drawing”, will help to bring out the artist in you, good luck!