The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Drawing: More than 200 drawing techniques, tips & lessons

243 Pages·2016·38.95 MB·English

by  Walter Foster Creative Team

THE COMPLETE
BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO
DRAWING
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Cats. 99
Rendering.Cats. 100
Contents Feline.Features . 102
Paws.&.Tails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Tabby.Cat. 104
Persian.Cat . 106
Composition . 108
Common.Cat.Behaviors . 110
Adult.Cats . 112
Basics. 5 Dogs. 113
Tools.&.Materials . 6 Depicting.Dogs. 114
Getting.Started. 9 Proportion.&.Anatomy. 116
Learning.to.See. 12 Muzzles. 118
Starting.with.Sketches. 14 Doberman.Pinscher . 119
Beginning.with.Basic.Shapes . 16 Great.Dane. 120
Warming.Up. 18 Shar-Pei.Puppy. 121
Simple.Shapes . 20 Golden.Retriever. 122
Strawberries. 22 Siberian.Husky.Puppy . 124
Pineapple. 23 Rough.Collies . 126
Developing.Form. 24 Bloodhound. 128
Dachshund . 129
Maltese . 130
Horses. 131
Clouds . 62 Basic.Heads. 132
Rocks. 64 Horse.Portrait. 134
Creek.with.Rocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Horse.Head.in.Profle. 136
Mountains. 68 Advanced.Horse.Heads . 137
Rendering.a.Grand.Landscape . 70 Pony. 138
Deserts. 72 Foal’s.Body . 140
Exploring.Distance. 74 Arabian. 142
Shetland.Pony. 143
Adult.Horse’s.Body. 144
Flowers. 27 Horse.&.Rider.in.Action . 146
Mastering.Flowers . 28 The.Jump. 148
Basic.Flower.Shapes. 30
Simple.Flowers. 31
Tulips. 32
Rose.&.Water.Drops. 33
Daffodil . 34
Carnation. 35
Dendrobium . 36
Fuchsia. 37
Primrose . 38 Animals. 77
Hibiscus. 39 Drawing.from.Photographs. 78
People. 151
Hybrid.Tea.Rose . 40 Drawing.from.Life. 79
Beginning.Portraiture. 152
Floribunda.Rose . 41 Drawing.Animals. 80
Adult.Head.Proportions. 154
Bearded.Iris. 42 Shading.Techniques. 82
Woman.in.Profle. 155
Rabbits. 84
Studying.Adult.Proportions. 156
Landscapes. 45 Guinea.Pig. 86
Exploring.Other.Views. 157
Studying.Trees . 46 Squirrel . 87
Depicting.Adult.Features. 158
Surfaces.&.Textures. 48 Kangaroo. 88.
The.Nose,.Ears.&.Mouth . 160
Trees.in.Perspective. 49 Toucan. 89
Head.Positions . 162
Begin.with.Simple.Shapes. 50 Budgerigars. 90
Learning.the.Planes.of.the.Face . 163
Tree.Trunks . 52 Iguana . 91
Approaching.a.Profle.View. 164
Root.Patterns . 53 Giraffe . 92
Woman.Frontal.View. 166
Branches.&.Boughs . 54 Elephant. 93
Developing.a.Portrait. 167
Majestic.Oak. 56 Baboon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Capturing.a.Likeness . 168
Sycamore.Lane. 58 Giant.Panda. 95
Including.a.Background. 169
Landscape.Composition. 60 Chimpanzees. 96
Depicting.Age. 170
Perspective.Tips . 61 Parrot. 98
Elderly.Men. 172
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Cats. 99 Body. 173
Rendering.Cats. 100 Figures.in.Action. 174
Contents Feline.Features . 102 Movement.&.Balance. 176
Paws.&.Tails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Bending.&.Twisting.Figures. 177
Tabby.Cat. 104 Proportion.&.Detail. 178
Persian.Cat . 106 Hands.&.Feet. 179
Composition . 108 Drawing.from.Life. 180
Common.Cat.Behaviors . 110 Clothing.Folds. 182
Adult.Cats . 112
Children. 183
Dogs. 113 Portraying.Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Depicting.Dogs. 114 Children’s.Proportions. 186
Proportion.&.Anatomy. 116 Girl.in.Profle. 187
Muzzles. 118 Indicating.Fair.Features. 188
Doberman.Pinscher . 119 Child.Body.Proportions . 190
Great.Dane. 120
Shar-Pei.Puppy. 121 Anatomy. 191
Golden.Retriever. 122 Getting.to.Know.the.Basics. 192
Siberian.Husky.Puppy . 124 Exploring.the.Torso. 193
Rough.Collies . 126 Portraying.a.Seated.Figure.in.Pencil. 194
Bloodhound. 128 Sketching.a.Standing.Figure.in.Pencil . 196
Dachshund . 129 Rendering.a.Reclining.Figure.in.Charcoal. 198
Maltese . 130
Horses. 131
Clouds . 62 Basic.Heads. 132
Rocks. 64 Horse.Portrait. 134
Creek.with.Rocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Horse.Head.in.Profle. 136
Mountains. 68 Advanced.Horse.Heads . 137
Rendering.a.Grand.Landscape . 70 Pony. 138
Deserts. 72 Foal’s.Body . 140
Exploring.Distance. 74 Arabian. 142
Shetland.Pony. 143
Adult.Horse’s.Body. 144
Horse.&.Rider.in.Action . 146
The.Jump. 148
Still Life. 201
Still.Life.Composition. 202
Pinecone . 204
Floral.Arrangement. 206
Liquid.&.Glass. 207
Bottle.&.Bread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Animals. 77
Drawing.from.Photographs. 78
People. 151 More Tips. 211
Drawing.from.Life. 79
Beginning.Portraiture. 152 Pictorial.Composition. 212
Drawing.Animals. 80
Adult.Head.Proportions. 154 Perspective . 214
Shading.Techniques. 82
Woman.in.Profle. 155 Practicing.Perspective . 216
Rabbits. 84
Studying.Adult.Proportions. 156 People.in.Perspective. 220
Guinea.Pig. 86
Exploring.Other.Views. 157 Composing.Figures. 221
Squirrel . 87
Depicting.Adult.Features. 158 Foreshortening. 222
Kangaroo. 88.
The.Nose,.Ears.&.Mouth . 160 More.Foreshortening. 224
Toucan. 89
Head.Positions . 162 Choosing.a.Pose. 225
Budgerigars. 90
Learning.the.Planes.of.the.Face . 163 Understanding.Lighting. 228
Iguana . 91
Approaching.a.Profle.View. 164 Depicting.Textures . 230
Giraffe . 92
Woman.Frontal.View. 166 Describing.Surface.Textures . 232
Elephant. 93
Developing.a.Portrait. 167 Capturing.Vacation.Scenes . 234
Baboon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Capturing.a.Likeness . 168 Experimenting.with.Different.Media. 236
Giant.Panda. 95
Including.a.Background. 169
Chimpanzees. 96
Depicting.Age. 170
Parrot. 98
Elderly.Men. 172
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BASICS
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Gathering the Basics
You don’t need a lot of supplies to start; you can begin enjoying
Tools & Materials drawing with just a No. 2 or an HB pencil, a sharpener, a vinyl
eraser, and any piece of paper. You can always add more pencils,
charcoal, tortillons, and such later on. When shopping for pencils,
rawing is not only fun, it is also an important art form in itself. notice that they are labeled with letters and numbers; these indicate
DEven when you write or print your name, you are drawing! If the degree of lead softness. Pencils with B leads are softer than ones
you organize the lines, you can make shapes, and when you carry that with H leads and make darker strokes. An HB is in between, which
a bit further and add dark and light shading, your drawings begin to makes it very versatile and a good beginner’s tool. The chart on the
take on a three-dimensional form and look more realistic. One of the right shows a variety of drawing tools and the kinds of strokes that
great things about drawing is you can do it anywhere—and the are achieved with each one. As you expand your pencil supply,
materials are very inexpensive. You get what you pay for though, so practice shaping different points and creating different effects with
purchase the best you can afford at the time, and upgrade your each pencil by varying the pressure you put on it. The more comfor-
supplies whenever possible. Although anything that makes a mark table you are with your tools, the better your drawings will be!
can be used for some type of drawing, you’ll want to make certain
your magnifcent efforts will not fade over time. Here are some of the Gathering Other Drawing Tools
materials that will get you off to a good start. I start my drawings with graphite pencils, but I also like to use other
tools as my pieces progress. For example, Conté crayons and charcoal
produce chalky, smudged lines that soften the look of a subject.
Outlining a drawing with black ink really makes a subject “pop” (see
page 30), and thin washes of ink (or black waterc olor) applied with a
paintbrush produce smooth shadings.
Work Station. It.is.a.good.idea.to.set.up.a.work.area.that.has.bright.lighting.and.
enough.room.for.you.to.work.and.lay.out.your.tools .Of.course,.an.entire.room.with.
track.lighting,.an.easel,.and.a.drawing.table.is.ideal .But.all.you.really.need.is.a.
place.by.a.window.for.natural.lighting .When.drawing.at.night,.use.a.soft.white.light.
bulb.and.a.cool.white.fuorescent.light.so.you.have.both.warm.(yellowish).and.cool.
(bluish).light
Tortillons. These.paper.
“stumps”.can.be.used.to.
blend.and.soften.small.
areas.where.your.fnger.or.
a.cloth.is.too.large .You.
can.also.use.the.sides.to.
quickly.blend.large.
areas .Once.the.
tortillons.become.
dirty,.simply.rub.
them.on.a.cloth.and.
they’re.ready.to.go.
again
Charcoal Papers. Charc. oal.paper.and.tab.lets.are.available.in.a.variety.of.textures .Some.of. Drawing Papers. For.fnished.works.of.art,.using.single.sheets.of.drawing.paper.is.best .
the.surface.fnishes.are.quite.pronounced.and.can.be.used.to.enhance.the.texture.in.your. They.are.available.in.a.range.of.surface.textures:.smooth.grain.(plate.and.hot.pressed),.
drawings .These.papers.also.come.in.a.variety.of.colors,.which.can.add.depth.and.visual. medium.grain.(cold.presse. d),.and.rough.to.very.rough .The.cold-pressed.surface.is.the.most.
interest.to.your.drawings versatile .It.is.of.medium.texture.but.not.totally.smooth,.so.it.makes.a.good.surface.for.a.
variety.of.drawing.techniques
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Gathering the Basics
You don’t need a lot of supplies to start; you can begin enjoying
Tools & Materials drawing with just a No. 2 or an HB pencil, a sharpener, a vinyl HB,
sharp point
eraser, and any piece of paper. You can always add more pencils,
charcoal, tortillons, and such later on. When shopping for pencils,
notice that they are labeled with letters and numbers; these indicate HB,
the degree of lead softness. Pencils with B leads are softer than ones round point
with H leads and make darker strokes. An HB is in between, which HB. An.HB.with.a.sharp.point.produces.crisp.lines.and.offers.
makes it very versatile and a good beginner’s tool. The chart on the good.control .With.a.round.point,.you.can.make.slightly.thicker.
lines.and.shade.small.areas
right shows a variety of drawing tools and the kinds of strokes that
are achieved with each one. As you expand your pencil supply,
practice shaping different points and creating different effects with
each pencil by varying the pressure you put on it. The more comfor-
4B,
table you are with your tools, the better your drawings will be! fat point
Gathering Other Drawing Tools
I start my drawings with graphite pencils, but I also like to use other
Flat
tools as my pieces progress. For example, Conté crayons and charcoal sketching
produce chalky, smudged lines that soften the look of a subject.
Outlining a drawing with black ink really makes a subject “pop” (see
page 30), and thin washes of ink (or black waterc olor) applied with a
paintbrush produce smooth shadings. Flat. For.wider.strokes,.use.the.sharp.point.of.a.fat.4B .A.large,.
fat.sketch.pencil.is.great.for.shading.large.areas,.but.the.sharp,.
chiseled.edge.can.also.be.used.to.make.thinner.lines .
Artist’s Erasers 4B
A.kneaded.eraser.is.a. charcoal
must .It.can.be.formed.into.
small.wedges.and.points.
to.remove.marks.in.very.
tiny.areas .Vinyl.erasers. Vine
are.good.for.larger.areas;. charcoal
they.remove.pencil.marks.
completely ..Neit.her.eraser.
will.damage.the.paper..
surface.unless.it.is. White
scrubbed.too.hard charcoal
Charcoal. 4B.charcoal.is.soft,.so.it.makes.a.dark.mark .Natural.
charcoal.vines.are.even.softer.and.leave.a.more.crum.bly.residue.
Tortillons. These.paper. on.the.paper .Some.artists.use.white.charcoal.pencils.for.
“stumps”.can.be.used.to. blending.and.lightening.areas.in.their.drawings
blend.and.soften.small.
areas.where.your.fnger.or.
a.cloth.is.too.large .You.
can.also.use.the.sides.to.
quickly.blend.large.
areas .Once.the. Conté
tortillons.become. Utility Knives Utility.knives. crayon
dirty,.simply.rub. (also.called.“craft”.knives).are.
t
themy’r.eo.nre.aa.cdlyo.tho.agnod. . gdreaawti.nfogr..pcalepaenrlsy.a.cnudtt. ing. Cpeonnctiél
again matboard;.you.can.also.use.
them.for.sharpe. ning.pencils .
(See.the.box.on.the.right ).
Blades.come.in.a.variety.of. Conté Crayon or Pencil Conté.crayon.is.made.from.very.fne.
shapes.and.sizes.and.are. Kaolin.clay .It.used.to.come.only.in.black,.white,.red,.and.
easily.interchanged .But.be. sanguine.sticks,.but.now.it’s.also.available.in.a.wide.range.of.
careful;.the.blades.are.as. colored.pencils .Because.it’s.water.soluble,.it.can.be.blended.
sharp.as.scalpels! with.a.wet.brush.or.cloth
Drawing Papers. For.fnished.works.of.art,.using.single.sheets.of.drawing.paper.is.best .
They.are.available.in.a.range.of.surface.textures:.smooth.grain.(plate.and.hot.pressed),.
medium.grain.(cold.presse. d),.and.rough.to.very.rough .The.cold-pressed.surface.is.the.most.
versatile .It.is.of.medium.texture.but.not.totally.smooth,.so.it.makes.a.good.surface.for.a.
variety.of.drawing.techniques
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Sharpening Your Drawing implementS
Getting Started
efore you begin sketching, you’ll want to get accustomed to using
Byour whole arm, not just your wrist and hand, to draw. (If you
use only your wrist and hand, your sketches may appear stiff or
forced.) Practice drawing freely by moving your shoulder and arm to
make loose, random strokes on a piece of scrap paper. Try to relax,
and hold your pencil lightly. You don’t need to focus on a particular
subject as you warm up; just get used to the feel of a pencil in your
Utility Knife. A.knife.can.be.used.to.form.different. Sandpaper Block. Sandpaper.will.quickly.hone.the. Rough Paper. Rough.paper.is.wonderful.for.smoothing. hand and the kinds of strokes you can achieve.
points.(chiseled,.blunt,.or.fat).than.those.which.are. lead.into.any.shape.you.wish .It.will.also.sand.down. the.pencil.point.after.tapering.it.with.sandpaper .This.is.
possible.with.an.ordinary.pencil.sharpener .Hold.the. some.of.the.wood .The.fner.the.grit.of.the.paper,.the. a.great.way.to.create.a.very.fne.point.for.small.details . Learning Control
k
shnaifrep.aetn.a.a.swliagyh.ftr.aonmg.yleo.uto.b.tyh.eta.pkeingc.iol.fsfh.oanftly,..aan.ldit.tallew.waoyso.d. ymoourre.f.cnognetros.lwlahbelen.tshhea.repseunlitningg.t.op.okienetp ..Rthoell.sthea.pe.necviel.nin . Ihto.isn.ianlgs.oto.im.shpaorptaent.t.thoe.g.lenadtl.ye.vroelnl.ltyh e.pencil.while. Once your arm is warmed up, try the strokes and techniques shown
and.graphite.at.a.time here. Although making circles, dots, scribbles, and lines may seem
like senseless doodling, creating these marks is actually a great way to
learn control and precision—two traits essential to pencil drawing.
Adding on You should also experiment with different pencil grips to see how
Unless you already have a drawing table, you will probably want to they affect the lines you draw. The more you practice with different
purchase a drawing board. It doesn’t have to be expensive; just get strokes, sketching styles, and grips, the quicker and more skilled your
one large enough to accommodate individual sheets of drawing paper. hand will become!
Consider getting a drawing board with a cut-out handle, especially if
you want to draw outdoors, so you can easily carry it with you.
Varying Edges Making.small.adjustments.in.your.drawings.to.suit.your.subject.is.important .
For.example,.pencil.strokes.that.follow.along.a.straight.edge.are.ideal.for.creating.striped.
fur .But.free.edges.are.more.appropriate.for.creating.a.natural-looking.coat,.as.straight.edges.
can.make.the.hair.seem.too.stiff.and.structured .Edges.created.with.an.eraser.also.have.their.
place—these.lines.can.be.used.to.provide.a.smooth.transition.between.textures.or.values
Spray Fix. A.fxative.“sets”.a.drawing.and.protects.it.from.smearing .Some.artists.avoid.
using.fxative.on.pencil.drawings.because.it.tends.to.deepen.the.light.shadings.and.
eliminate.some.delicate.values .However,.fxative.works.well.for.charcoal.drawings .Fixative.
is.available.in.spray.cans.or.in.bottles,.but.you.need.a.mouth.atomizer.to.use.bottled.fxative .
Spray.cans.are.more.convenient,.giving.a.fner.spray.and.more.even.coverage .
holDing Your Drawing pencil
Basic Underhand. The.basic.underhand.position. Underhand Variation. Holding.the.pencil.at.its.end. Writing. The.writing.position.is.the.most.common,.and.
allows.your.arm.and.wrist.to.move.freely,.which.results. lets.you.make.very.light.strokes,.both.long.and.short . it.gives.you.the.most.control.for.fne.details.and.
in.fresh.and.lively.sketches .Drawing.in.this.position. It.also.gives.you.a.delicate.control.of.lights,.darks,.and. precise.lines .Be.careful.not.to.press.too.hard.on.the.
makes.it.easy.to.use.both.the.point.and.the.side.of.the. textures .Place.a.protective.“slip.sheet”.under.your. point,.or.you’ll.make.indentations.in.the.paper .Also.
lead.by.simply.changing.your.hand.and.arm.angle hand.when.using.this.position.so.you.don’t.smudge. remember.not.to.grip.the.pencil.too.tightly,.as.your.
your.drawing hand.may.cramp
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