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3 Tips on How to Learn to Draw Anyone Can Do

3 Tips on How to Learn to Draw Anyone Can Do

Every human skill can be enhanced with the right set of instructions or directives be it pottery, baking, painting, etc., the same goes for drawing.

An artist is not born in one day as he or she needs to have their skills honed to perfection before it becomes widely appreciated by the masses.

Learning to draw is a journey that keeps on getting better every step of the way. Basically, it starts from learning how to draw still-life objects such as; a vase, a chair and other objects that can easily be recollected from memory.

After this, it moves on to more complex objects like plants, animals, etc. The most advanced form of drawing is capturing the image of a human being perfectly on paper, tracing the line of every expression; sour or happy on their faces, that is to say, bringing your drawings to life.

Artists are one set of individuals that are largely recognized and respected in the world. Founders of art such as; Leonardo Dan Vinci and Vincent Van Gogh all started from the basics and now though centuries later still have their works widely appreciated.

So do not be discouraged if you find it difficult to outline the basic curves or lines of a human face or perfectly bring a still-life object to life on paper. Perhaps you are yet to learn the basics art of drawing that will skyrocket you to the next phase, you have to learn how to crawl before you walk.

How to learn to draw

3 Tips On How To Learn To Draw

Drawing is an extremely rewarding activity as there is much joy to be derived from it. However, it can prove to be quite frustrating when the image you envisioned in your head does not look the same on paper.

The art of drawing tends to engage your whole mind and body leaving little room for other thoughts except to perfect that which you have pictured. For beginners, it is advisable that you start from the simplest of shapes and curves.

Learn to draw a line without the aid of a ruler before proceeding to connect said lines and shapes into a full-blown object. In order to reach that level of advancement, there are some basic tips that you need to adhere to and these include;

Patiently Visualize The Image You Choose To Draw:

Learning to draw can be quite challenging for some people while for others it is a skill that comes naturally, more like an extension of themselves. It is their own way of communicating what they see and hear on paper, a way of expressing themselves.

Nevertheless, not being born with such skills should not discourage you from drawing as with the right set of instructions, practice, and use of some basic key elements, anyone can become a professional. This is where patience comes into play.

As an artist, you have to be able to exercise patience as it is not a skill that can be rushed. It is a skill that requires nurturing, more or less like growing a flower that would bloom later on. Take out time to ponder on the image you choose to capture and its significance to you.

The art of drawing can be seen as an extension of one’s curiosity, that is to say how a person views that natural world. Such curiosity cannot be satisfied unless time is taken out to dwell on it and realize its purpose.

The Key to Drawing Images from Photographs

Such images are available on the drawings of others as well as photographs. Learning to draw can easily be achieved when you try to recreate the images of others. Drawing from photographs is easier to recreate as the image is already a two-dimensional reproduction of the actual object.

This format should be taken into consideration by the artist before moving onto real-life objects. The same goes for drawings done by professionals. It makes you wonder about every curve and line made that got them to create such masterpieces.

The key is not to trace from these works but to recreate or simply, draw. Patience can also be built while watching others strive to achieve a common goal. Therefore, it is advisable to enroll in a class or any other institution where the art of drawing can be learned.

Seeing fellow artists draw can help to build your observational skills. Having an instructor is also beneficial when learning to draw as he or she tends to correct your weaknesses and improve your strengths.

The Next Step After You Patiently Visualizing

After practicing patience, the next step is to see the object that you desire to draw with a keen eye. As an artist, you have to be able to notice some attributes that a non-artist would not be able to pin-point. This can be referred to as visualizing or active seeing.

Using your mind’s eye, you have to notice the qualities that distinguish a particular object from others. These differences include; the shape, scale, color relationships or blending, contours, angles, etc.

Active seeing also involves predicting the actual size of an object when drawing from real life and how it can correctly be represented on paper. Being able to relate the shape and form of the object you choose to draw to others shows the true skills of an artist.

Here, you need to ignore what you think that the object should look like and be able to capture the form that is right in front of you. Especially when drawing still-life objects, try to think of how general proportions of the object will merge as a whole and not just by the sum of their parts.

Learn To Situate The Object Perfectly On The Page While Considering All Negative Spaces:

The format of the edges on the page you choose to draw on should be largely considered be it digital or paper. A rectangular page which is that which is most commonly used has four edges and as such the strokes you will make must correlate with the horizontal and vertical form of the page.

The same goes for around page as well, as the markings drawn on it must relate to the circumference of the page as a whole. Hence it is extremely necessary to consider what you choose to draw and how it relates to the edges and shape of the paper.

For you to be able to get the right representation of the object you choose to draw on paper you need to be able to get the right scale in order to represent it well enough to suit the size of the paper.

The orientation of the page has to be taken into consideration too that is whether it is in portrait or landscape format. Also, a tool known as a ‘Viewfinder’ can also come in handy.

This is because it is shaped in a rectangular format and enables the artist to properly situate the object in a format that matches the edges of the page. The viewfinder can be made from a hole in a cardboard or plastic window.

Correlating the Relationship Between the Object and Paper

Being able to actively correlate the relationship between the object and the paper can be achieved through practice. Get a sketchbook and try as much as possible to always keep it in your person.

Repeated drawings done over time leads to mastery. However, mastery cannot be achieved without you being intentional so try as much as possible to commit to learning to draw in the shortest amount of time possible. Sketchbooks such as Moleskine, Field Notes are most suitable.

Think About This When Learning How to Learn to Draw

Another point that should be considered is the negative space of every object, which is the background of the paper that does not contain the object’s imagery. It can also be referred to as ‘White space’ or ‘Left-over space’.

While the background is called the negative space, the object drawn is known as the ‘Positive shapes’. As an artist, you should be able to draw a comparison between the negative space and the object drawn. They should be perfectly aligned as this gives more life to the object that you are drawing.

The relationship between the negative space and the object has to be intriguing, captivating and suitable to the eye and if this has not been achieved, it should be readjusted until it is so. Capturing the negative space of an object can prove to be quite difficult and as such should be carefully considered.

When necessary, two objects like keys or any other object bearing simple and interesting silhouettes can be used to draw the comparison that you so desire to capture. This shows the true skills of an artist

Envision The Perspective Of The Object And Its Actual Form Whilst Capturing Viewer’s Attention:

As an artist, you have to be able to capture the perspective between an object in its original form and how it is viewed in the pictorial space. For example, if you choose to draw a table, you need to be able to draw the table properly as it is situated in the floor space. This will require you to learn how to draw a one-point perspective or two-point perspective.

The floor line should be well detailed as this will enable you to get the right position in which the table is to be anchored on the pictorial space. Do not just be object-oriented but learn to consider the whole picture and not the image alone.

A method that can help you properly anchor objects in space is learning how to divide the page on which you choose to draw on into quadrants or equal rectangles. The quadrants should be about 4 and this can be done using a ruler. This enables you to capture perfectly the object as it exists in its real form in room space, on a flat surface which is your paper.

The horizontal line on the quadrant can represent where the table touches the floor while all vertical lines can be regarded as things that are above the table. This means that objects that are above the table will appear on the upper quadrants of the page.

The bottom of the object, however, should be on the same level as the horizontal line. The help of a viewfinder can also be employed in this stage and it can be made from plastic or by the use of a marker to create the lines on the paper.

Focus on This When You Learn How to Learn to Draw

An artist’s work is yet to be completed until it has been fully appreciated by another party. When drawing, you should be able to pinpoint what exactly you want to be the first thing that will capture the attention of your viewer.

That is to say, that every drawing should have a focal point or in other words, a point of focus which would be the area that would bear much emphasis. This can easily be done by creating a form of visual hierarchy that will guide the viewer on what to see first, second and then last.

This helps to show your expertise as an artist and creates the opportunity for every section of your drawing to be recognized and admired for its worth.

It’s like navigating the viewer through a journey inside your mind where you as the artist steer the course and set the space. You get him or her to see what you desire and pay more attention to that which you have chosen. It can be quite entrancing.

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Conclusion

The art of drawing is not a skill that can be learned in just a day. It requires discipline, focus and most especially patience. You have to be able to think outside the box and do things that a non-artist would deem impossible.

One amazing thing about drawing is that it is a skill that can never be fully learned. Each day comes with new ideas and challenges that would keep on honing your skills. However with the right set of instructions and a conducive environment, just about anybody can be able to realize and actualize the artistic part of them which can then fully be appreciated by the world at large.

If you could master any of these tips in the next day, which one would it be?