How to Draw Photorealistic Hair

So you want to learn to draw, but so far all your pictures have just turned out terribly... If you really are just beginning, I have no doubt you're just "trying it out" and using whatever pencils and tools you find lying around.

Well that's no good. you need the right equipment. Maybe you've looked on-line, but are so confused by all the options you have no idea where to start? Sound familiar?

Your best bet is to go down to your local art store. Don't be afraid, they'll love to have someone new starting out their art, a new customer.

Simply ask them what they recommend for a beginner who wants to learn to draw. Nothing fancy, you just want pencils that will be good enough to start learning to draw photo realistically.

Stick with gray scale at first... color can be very confusing, and you don't want to have to be learning all the ins and outs of adding color when you're also trying to learn all the other basics of drawing. Specify this to them, so they don't try and sell some other stuff you don't need or want.

See, as long as you know exactly what you're trying to do, then you'll come out of this store with exactly what you need, and nothing extra. If you seem like you're unsure of what you're trying to accomplish if you're first few drawings, the store staff are going to notice this and try to convince you to try out so many other things too!

Don't let them do this. It'll be too much to handle and you'll be far more tempted to give up, because you'll have all these extra things you feel you should be using, but just have no idea what to do with. And most likely won't for a long long time.

You don't want to make this harder on yourself, so try to start as simple as possible, with as few tools as possible.

So what do you really need? Five pencils at most really, typically you'll want 4B, 2B, HB, 2H and 4H. As well as a rubber, of course, which isn't just for getting rid of mistakes, which you'll certainly make a lot of, but to help shade too.

Shading is easily the most important part of photo realistic drawing. In reality, you will never have a perfectly uniform light on anything that doesn't leave shadows. Which means, if you don't draw and shade in these light variations, while you're drawing may technically be masterful, there'll be just... something missing that makes your drawing look fake and just terrible.

It doesn't even need to be a real shop though. Go to Google and find yourself a popular drawing forum or group. and ask them instead. You may be a little overwhelmed by the amount of information you can receive, but again, just make sure you keep your needs specific and to the point, and that is the kind of answers you'll receive.

Otherwise everyone will be confused as to what you want, and they're answers will be just as vague and unhelpful as your questions were. Remember, these people can't read your mind, so even if you think you're making sense, read back through anything you're about to post as if you're the person trying to answer it.

And once you have your equipment, which won't even cost you much since you only need a few beginner pieces, you can properly get started on your drawing. Maybe it'll end up nearly as terrible as before, but now you've got the right equipment for where you're at, you'll only get better with practice and with the right how-to knowledge.