Primarily, this art involves the utilization of lines to depict mostly two-dimensional medium. The art requires the draughtsman to have a number of tools or instruments, which are compulsory for completion of any work of art in this field.
This paper will discuss drawing lessons for beginners, with emphasis on the nature of material important in different drawings, amount of time required, and procedures that any draughtsman must use, for success in drawing ventures.
Lesson 1: How to Hold a Pencil
Any venture into this world of art begins with the handling of materials; mostly pencils, necessary for completing sketches. Depending on one’s preferred method of holding it, practically there is no method that the art recommends for use but rather, the mechanism of holding depends on individual preferences. It is important for all individuals to note that, use of forced holding methodologies can be disastrous, hence the importance of adopting a strategy that is the most comfortable.
One of the most ordinary methods of holding a pencil is the basic tripod grip. This is the commonly used methods by majority of individuals in their normal writing practices. The method requires individuals to position their fingers in a manner that will ensure the middle finger, thumb and forefinger form a shape, which almost resembles a triangle.
For achievement of such a shape, individuals must use their ring finger and pinkie to sustain the shape. The primary aim behind use of all these fingers is to ensure there is full management of the pencil orientation hence, ensuring achievement of required shading pattern using the tip.
In undertaking the entire exercise, because the hand will always rest on the same page one is using, it is advisable for one for one to use an extra piece of paper; a practice aimed at minimizing effects resulting from skin oils and stains. Sometimes, depending on the nature of hand movements involved; primarily the elbow, it is advisable for individuals to ensure they place their elbows on the border of the surface they are using. Another second common method is the extended tripod grip.
To some extent it uses the same idea as the basic tripod technique however, in this method individuals must elevate the positions of their pencils; a practice aimed at writing easiness. In addition, this method requires individuals to ease their holds, to ensure they achieve superlative outcomes.
The third practical method, which individuals can use, is the overhand grip. This method is the most appropriate in any sketching exercise. It primarily involves supporting of the pencil with fingers; primary the flat section of the thumb, whereby, the grip orientation depends on the hand proportions. In addition, this method works best, when individuals are using vertical surfaces, in sitting or standing positions hence, giving the hand some movement liberty.
Contrary to this, the underarm grip requires individuals to raise their thumbs a little bit higher whereby, the pencil rests on the palm, in the space existing between the thumb and index finger. Success in this first lesson requires a minimum of five minutes whereby, an individual has to have a pencil and some piece of papers for practice.
Lesson 2: Exploring Mark Marking
Regardless of the type of pencil owned by individuals, it is important for all individuals to explore the how different writing materials work. The primary method of ascertaining the working mechanisms of different drawing materials is mark marking. This method involves basic scribbling, with no intent of creating a meaningful drawing. Through such basic scribbling, draughtsman will build the required confidence in their resources.
Success in this undertaking requires an individual to take at least five minutes of their time whereby, they must have the writing material they want to test; charcoal or pencils, and some writing surfaces, which are mostly pieces of papers. The entire exercise involves simple scribbling using different grades of the writing materials, which one is intending to use.
Although it may sound like an easy exercise, it is important for all individuals to bear in mind that, success of this exercise depends on how serious individuals take their scribbling ventures. That is, whichever the orientation preferred, individuals should do the whole exercise with one goal in mind; to discover how different materials work. The most meaningful scribbling orientations that one can use include drawing of oval, wavy, light or heavy lines.
In addition, this involves varying the shading patterns; from light to dark ones, through scribbling varying marks and lightly erasing them. This is important in ascertain the most appropriate pencils for erasing with little smudges, materials with the best impressions, and which materials are appropriate in creating specific impressions.
In ensuring maximum learning from this lesson, individuals require a minimum of five minutes whereby, it is important for individuals to conduct a critical analysis of the quality of their scribbling, in terms of orderliness, gentleness, and neatness.
Lesson 3: Wire Drawing Lesson
After ascertaining the effectiveness of the working materials, individuals now can venture into the drawing exercise, whereby such exercises involves drawing with little significance on impression. The entire practice may require a time span of about fifteen to thirty minutes whereby, it is important for individuals to have materials such as a piece of wire (flexible one), some drawing surface; primarily pieces of paper, pencils, or pens, and some wire bending instruments for example, a pliers.
The main purpose behind using a flexible piece of wire is that, all obtained shapes from different wire twists are theoretical however, they are crucial in helping individuals learn to synchronize their eyes and hand.
To achieve good results, it is advisable for individual to avoid bending the wire into shapes that are common in nature but rather, they should embrace the concept of randomness in their shapes. In addition, there is need for individuals to try to form both two and three-dimensional shapes.
In three-dimensional shapes, the depth concept is very important; hence, to achieve this, individuals should use the lightweight concept of drawing. It is important to note here that, the primary aim behind this lesson, is achievement of desired shapes of wires hence, the individuals should lay little attention of the shadow effect, which may result.
On the other hand, in wire drawing, the concept of the realistic concept of drawings is of less significance but rather, what individuals should make sure is that, their lines are continuous and embrace the drawing relaxation concept. It is important for all individuals to avoid the use of uncertain strokes, because in most cases they make many drawings to have a bad look.
Lesson 4: Blind Contour Drawing
Although Wire drawing lesson is important in ensuring there is coordination between the eyes and hands, it achieves little as compared to blind contour drawing. This is because; this is a classic undertaking, aimed at ensuring individuals train appropriately their eyes and hands to coordinate in any drawing venture. The entire exercise requires a time span of about fifteen to sixty minutes whereby, it is compulsory for individuals to have some drawing materials for example, pieces of paper; A4 sketch paper and pens or pencils.
It primarily involves drawing of outline representations of various objects in mind, while avoiding staring at the drawing surface. It is important for individuals to note that, regardless of the nature of the outcomes, the main idea behind this lesson is individuals to develop the ability to synchronize ideas in their eyes and put them down using their free hand. That is, individuals must be able to look at the subject hence, draw what their eyes have observed.
Lines are very important in this level, whereby one should at least capture some concepts of the real objects in their drawings. In addition, for individuals to ensure they embrace the continuity concept in their drawings, it is important for them to minimize chances of lifting scribbling materials from drawing surfaces.
To obtain a perfect shape, individuals should draw simple shapes like their hands by making sure that their writing materials are at appropriate positions on the drawing surface. After ensuring that, they should look at the objects they want to draw, conceptualize them, and then commence sketching them, while avoiding staring at them.
As one draws, it is important for one to ensure they follow all the curves and bumps, something that is achievable by being keen on every available feature. After finishing this exercise, it is important for individuals to analyze their pictures, mark all the mistakes hence, try to repeat the same for accuracy purpose, using a variety of shapes.
Lesson 5: Pure Contour Drawing
This form of drawing also applies the concept of outline drawing; however, the method is advanced in that, it is necessary for the drawing to depict the visible ends of the object drawn. This form of drawing can utilize either pure lines or clean contours depending on the artist’s preference.
To achieve this lesson’s objectives, an individual will require a time span of almost thirty to forty five minutes; whereby, it is compulsory for individual to have important materials for example, pencils, erasers and some writing surface, preferably a piece of paper.
The primary goal of this form of drawing is to provide a vivid depiction of the edges of an item, in pictorial representation. Primary qualities, which most drawings of this form should have, include strength, easiness, and lucidity. To achieve this, it is advisable for individuals to limit their use of color, highlight, and shadow; primarily to achieve edge clarity.
In these drawings, individuals can represent edges in different forms for example, in plain forms; for edges with clear starting points and endings or in line-implied forms; in most edge bending or flattening out cases. The main aim behind these two forms is to help the picture observer to clearly see some concepts of form in pictures; a point that is achievable through consistence in representing identical bends. In addition, individuals can represent surface change over using either dotted or a series of broken lines.
On the other hand, in cases where individual do not want to use the two, they can use the line weight concept, which depends on the amount of energy used in pressing the pencil. Primary line forms for use include signatory lines; a feature that embraces the uniqueness concept, depending on an artist and calligraphic lines; a line feature that aims to express the thoughts.
Although a good a good drawing method, this method has limitations, which primarily depend on the features of an object. That is, most complex drawing will vividly give the required characteristics of an object, a feature that is rare in simple pictorial representations; more so in three-dimensional objects.
Lesson 6: Cross Contour Drawing
In addition to blind and pure drawing, there exist cross contour drawing, which encompasses both the concepts of value and line drawing. In addition, this method is very important in drawing of objects in three dimensions in that, it provides a mechanism of creating the three-dimensional effect.
To obtain the three-dimensional effect, artists must draw traverse lines on the form, which can be either horizontal or vertical. It is important for individuals to note that, the angular inclination of such lines varies, depending on the effects the artist wants to bring out hence, forming a pattern, which resembles the grid lines of a globe; but which are a little bit wavy.
The contours in this form of drawing have some linear characteristics whereby, through wrapping a specific form, these lines help in providing a three-dimensional form of an object.
For individuals to ensure they provide a mechanism of understanding the three dimensional concept of an object, it is important for them to show the direction of the contours; a fact that will aid the brain’s imaginative power, in interpreting the picture. In addition, it is important for individuals to note that, it is not necessary for these contours to have the mechanical property, but rather all they need is the ability of having the expressive effects on individuals.
On the other hand, it is important for individuals to ensure their drawings have the expressive power, which is crucial for understanding of the implied form.
One main application of this form of drawing is during hatching whereby, the artist may decide to cover the entire form with lines, or select a few sections to use them, in either a wavy or a straight manner.
This strategy is important even in scenarios where individuals prefer shading primarily because, correct use of contours can help to create a shade effect hence, creating the desired effects dimensionally. To achieve this, an individual requires almost thirty to forty five minutes whereby, it is necessary for one to have an item to sketch, a drawing surface, a pencil, and an eraser.
Work Cited
Helen, South. Learn to draw-beginner lessons. About.com. Web.