How to Draw What You See - The Step by Step Technique (3)

Are you all ready to start drawing and are now ready to try out drawing techniques?

If you have read my previous articles, and have done what I suggested, you will have:

1. Great drawing supplies

2. Joined a drawing community

3. Found a great photo to draw

4. Wondered when I would finally tell you how to draw.

You are all ready to draw.... but don't know how to get started. Let me start you off with two excellent drawing techniques.

There are so many different ways to draw. You may be looking for the drawing technique that will help you draw what you see. Or, you may want to try something new and see what happens. In this article I will discuss the step by step technique and the drawing upside down technique. Recently I started using both when drawing photos of people.

The Step by Step Technique

Before you get started with the step by step approach, make sure the image you choose to draw is:

1. Not too hard for you. Do not try drawing something that is really detailed or looks too hard right away. Save that for later. A simple object drawn well can be very rewarding.

2. Clear (perfectly in focus).A great picture makes for a great drawing. Don't draw from a grainy, unfocused, blurry, distorted, fuzzy (I am running out of adjectives) image. Why set yourself up for failure? It is not worth it.

3. Something you really want to draw. Drawing something that looks real takes time. You have to really want to draw your subject. For example, if you love cars, try drawing one. Challenge yourself.

Step 1

Most people like to start with the HB or an F. I usually like using the 2B. It does not matter what pencil you choose as long as is fairly hard.

Using your light pencil, draw a very VERY light outline of your drawing. For example, draw only the outline of the head, eyes, pupils, mouth, bottom of nose, eyebrows, and hair.

Don't get caught up here for too long. Make it rough. It will never look very good until you start shading which comes later. Perhaps you need to hide you eraser for this part. If you can not get the proportions right, grab a ruler and lightly draw lines that are one inch apart. Do the same to the photo you are drawing from (which should be the same size as your drawing). Find what is wrong and move as quickly as possible to step 2.

Step 2

Next, take out a darker pencil, that is if you are using a pencil lighter than the 2B, and start filling in the parts of the picture that you see that are a little darker.

Don't draw highly detailed areas yet. Just get the parts that are important. Don't draw the lines or wrinkles on the face, the necklace, or the strands of hair. Stick to the eyes nose, mouth, and outline of the head.

Step 3

Next, once you are done the darker areas start working on shading in your lines. It is important not to leave all most of the shading for last because otherwise you loose some of the smudge some of the details you want to stand out. Then you will have to draw them all over again. Some artists shade in the whole area, such as the face, and then lighten shaded areas with their kneaded eraser. I prefer not to.

Step 4

Next, start working on some the important details. It is wise to start (if you are right-handed) on the top left of the page and work your way down the subject. Start with the eyes, then work on the nose and then the mouth, assuming your drawing a face. Once you are finished the important details, shading in your lines as you go, start on the hair, ears, finishing the neck, etc.

I usually leave the background for last. I often like to keep it light or very dark. That way it focuses the viewers attention on the drawing and not the background (I will explain why in an article on the use of positive and negative space).

Finally, blend those unwanted lines, and then you are finished!

When you are finished trying out this technique you may also want to try out the upside down technique. My next article will describe how to use this technique.

Happy drawing!

Reuel Feenstra is a drawing artist who draws photos of people. He has his own website at 2bdrawing.com. He began drawing at a very young age and has recently started drawing for photographers around the world.

Visit his website

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.