Tips For Improving Your Drawing Skills

Many of us unknowingly start doodling if we get a piece of paper and pen or pencil. It happens without the knowledge that we are doing it. We do it because it takes the mind off stress, relaxes the stressed mind, and it is enjoyable. Similar to doodling sketching is also a great way of taking the mind off stress. Sketching can be done using pen or pencil. Sketching involves drawing. When the basic foundation of drawing is good, sketching comes out really well. Some pointers to improve the drawing skills are mentioned below,

Adopt the method of the great artist Leonardo Da Vinci, who was using mirror to check for any mistakes. Mirror can be used to identify mistakes like imbalanced symmetry or shading or change of facial shapes like bigger nose or smaller ears, etc. It is a good way of identifying any problem in the sketch because when you look at the work in the mirror, it gives a new perspective, and you can easily identify the mistakes compared to when you view it directly without the use of mirror.

When the tools are good, work comes out well. Hence it is very important to have proper tools like sharpened pencils, fine tipped nibs, good erasers, good quality papers, etc.

While drawing and sketching, it is always good to try it with different media. Using a pencil to draw gives a nice soft effect with great blending, whereas using a pen gives a striking image. Drawing a portrait can be a difficult process. It would require time to master it and start drawing freehand.

Until then you can use the portrait grid to draw. Observe the face and start filling in square by square till you finish drawing the portrait. Later on fill in with appropriate shades like the light and the shadow spots to give a nice shading. This process can be very time consuming, but it is good for beginners to practice on grids. Once they learn the skill of drawing portrait completely, they can start drawing freehand.

If you find it difficult to shade and find it difficult to understand the concept of light and shadow, there is a simple method that can help you understand it easily. Use some molding clay to make a rough image of what you are drawing, and check where exactly the shadows form and where the lights are highlighted on the mold. This can help you shade the drawing better. It is especially good for beginners until they master the subtle shading techniques too.

Sometimes you might feel all the sketches that you are drawing are flat and similar. At such a time, think that you are seeing an image from someone else's view like how would a picture look from an aerial view or a bird view. How would an image look through an ant or a rat's view. Try viewing images imagining you are viewing it from some other person's perspective. Immediately, you will be bursting with new ideas.

Another new perspective that you can use is trying to draw negative space. Means you are not drawing the object like you usually do, but its surrounding in a positive colour that is white and the object itself in a negative colour that is black. It gives a whole new look to the sketch.

Remember that whatever sketch you are making, try not to discard any of them and organize them properly in a file. Even if the sketch is incomplete, do not discard it. Make a separate file for unfinished sketches and another one for finished sketches. This way you will be making a portfolio for yourself.

Drawing Courses:

Pencil Drawing Made Easy
What really makes this course stand out from the rest is that it goes much deeper than any of the other courses I have seen. There are even classes on how to draw material textures and hands. For more info click here

Drawing Secrets Revealed
Incorporates brain research and proven drawing techniques to provide the more organized, easy-to-grasp training for artists who want to improve their drawing skills. For more info click here

Realistic Pencil Portrait Mastery Home Study Course
A "truly" step-by-step guide showing you how to achieve a certain outcome with helpful descriptions. For more info click here

About the Author
With a few experimentation on your own, you will be able to become a good sketch artist. If you are very interested in sketching, it is recommended that you take up short courses in sketching, which will help you learn sketching properly.

Article Source: Tips For Improving Drawing Skills