Tips for Drawing

Sketching for many people can sometimes be frustrating, especially if you have just recently started getting serious about your artwork. There are, however, a few tips about what drawing materials to use and just tips about drawing in general that you might want to check out. Well, lets get started shall we.

Probably a few of the most important items for many artists is an eraser and a pencil. However, there are many different types of erasers, pencils, and other drawing materials to choose from and each with their own particular purpose.

Pencils. A very important drawing tool for any artist. Basically, drawing pencils have different graphites, with H (Hard) having the hardest graphite, F (Fine Point) having a medium graphite, and B (Black) having the softest and darkest graphite. The harder the graphite, the lighter the pencil writes. In contrast, the softer the graphite, the darker the pencil writes. There are usually numbers assigned to each pencil as well with the higher number being the softest. For example, B4 would write dark but B6 would write even darker because the graphite is softer and takes less pressure to write with. H2 usually has the same graphite as the very popular #2 pencils, and HB is basically a middle pencil being that it is not too light or too dark.

Pens. If you are going to use a pen in any part of your drawing, I would recommend a black Paper Mate Fine Tip Flair Pen. This type of pen usually is easier to work with and has less tendency to smudge. For larger areas, you probably want to use a good permanent marker.

Colored Pencils. More than likely, you probably want to use colored pencils with strong leads and that also produce better quality lines. For coloring purposes, I usually use Rose Art Colored Pencils over Crayola mainly because their lead seems less likely to break.

Pencil Sharpener. There are hundreds of sharpeners to choose from, but they are all basically the same. You basically want to find one that doesn't destroy your pencils. For drawing, I would recommend a good metal sharpener.

Soft White Eraser. This eraser is basically your everyday eraser, except that it is less likely to smudge like a pink eraser. This is a great eraser to use for simple drawing mistakes.

Kneaded Eraser. This eraser is probably my favorite. This small gray eraser is just as it names implies, meaning you can knead the eraser into any shape. This particular eraser is great for tight spaces and for cleaning up smudges. I highly recommend having one of these.

Gum Eraser. A small square eraser that has a small tendency to crumble. Even so, this eraser is great for cleaning up any heavy drawing mistakes.

Drawing Sketchbook. Drawing pads come in a variety of sizes, but they serve the same basic purpose. Choosing the right drawing pad is mainly dependent on your drawing style. For example, if you have a tendency to draw small, you probably wouldn't want to buy an enormous sketchbook. Basically, pick out a sketchbook that has some decent quality paper, fits your drawing style, and one that is affordable for you.

Now that you have the materials down, it is time for some drawing tips.

Use An Open And Clean Workstation. Try to find a place that has a lot of space and that is clean of clutter. This helps prevent anything from getting onto your drawing, and it also gives you more room for your materials so you will become less likely to misplace them.

Use Scrap Paper To Prevent Smudging. If you are someone who often smudges their drawing with your hand, like me, you probably want to put a scrap piece of paper under your drawing hand to try and prevent it.

Use The Right Pencil. Now that you have a wide variety of pencil to choose from, you got to make sure to use the right one. You probably want to use a lighter pencil, such as a H4, to draw you basic sketch. This makes it a lot easier to erase any mistakes you might make later on. Once you do that, you will want to come in with a darker graphite pencil, such as a B3, B4, or B6. Just make sure not to over use the darker graphite. This can lead to major smudging and an over darkened sketch.

Make Guidelines. If you have the tendency to draw large sketches, you may want to make basic guidelines both vertically and horizontally across your drawing paper. If you are referring to a picture, you may also want to draw guidelines across it as well to help give you a basic understanding of the picture size when you sketch it. This helps keep your drawing proportional, and you are less likely to cut your drawing off.

Look For Shapes. When you are drawing, especially if you are referring to a picture, you may want to try and find shapes in that particular picture to make drawing easier. For example, if you are drawing a face, you will more than likely draw a circle or oval for the basic shape of the face. This same rule also applies to negative space, or the space outside or around an object. Take a pair of scissors for example. The positive space of the scissor would be the its' handle and blade. The negative space would be the holes in the handle. They are not part of the actual object, but they still have a some sort of shape. The background surrounding the pair scissors can also be considered negative space.

Shading. Shading is probably the most difficult aspect in drawing, especially when you are trying to achieve a three dimensional effect. Techniques like stippling, a shading technique that uses small dots, and cross hatching, a shading technique that uses several weaving or crossing lines, can really help you to achieve a particular desired effect. The main thing you need to remember is that there are different degrees of shading. Some objects require only the slightest shading while others need heavy shading. If there is heavy shading involved, go in lightly first and then use a darker graphite later.

Use Your Kneaded Eraser. Even though the kneaded eraser comes in hand for smudging, it is also a great tool to use for shading. "Smacking" the eraser against a shaded area can help lighten a particular area that you may have accidentally made too dark. Simply press the eraser against the paper and when you lift, you will kinda hear a soft smacking noise. This is a term I've been using for this technique anyways..

Add Shine With Colored Pencils. The best way I've found to add a glossy look to colored pencil projects is by going back over a colored area with a white colored pencil. This helps to achieve a shiny look, but it can also be tedious and tiring. Before you try this, just make sure you are willing to put in the time because it can be time consuming.

Take Your Time. If you don't have a deadline, try and pace yourself. Set personal goals for yourself that you want to achieve on a particular day, and don't try to over exert yourself.

Take A Break. Don't forget to give yourself time to relax for a few minutes. The last thing you want to do is to get sloppy because you are tired or anxious to finish. Also, you may want to listen to music while working on your drawing. This can keep you from getting bored, and it can also help motivate you to work harder.

When drawing, just keep in mind the goal you are trying to achieve by drawing. If you make any mistakes, just remember to avoid those mistakes on any future projects. The most important thing, however, is to enjoy what your doing, and it will hopefully show in your artwork.