How to Draw Through Seeing

Many people believe that drawing is a talent that is bestowed on a select few. While many individuals are naturally gifted, anyone can learn how to draw. Drawing is a process that requires practice. Learning how to draw is just as much about seeing as it is about doing. The following steps will help you learn how to draw better than you imagined.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Drawing pad
• Tracing paper
• Pencil and/or charcoal
• Eraser
• Ruler or grid

1. Learn how to see. This may seem like an odd first step but it works wonders when you learn how to draw. The ability to recreate what is seen is an integral part of drawing well. Part of this lies in the way you look at things.
2. Look at shapes and forms rather than the subject as a whole. Look at the form within the form. Instead of looking at a face, concentrate on the shape of the eyes and the contour of the jaw line. You will use these shapes as you learn how to draw the image.
3. Seek out depth and surface. This simply means to take a mental note of what is close and what is far away. For example, the nose will be the closest shape on a face while the eye sockets will typically be the furthest away.
4. See things in terms of light and dark. The deeper, further shapes will be darker in shade than those up close. The bridge of the nose will have less shading than the eye sockets.
5. Trace. This doesn't mean that you should mindlessly draw a line over the image. Instead, draw the shapes within the form, taking note of how everything fits together. Use the shapes on the tracing paper to practice shading.
6. Shade the image using a pencil or charcoal. Many artists like to use a blending stick to pull the shades seamlessly into the image. As you learn to draw, you will become familiar with shading. The fundamental principal is to follow the source of light.
7. Look for the source of light as you draw and shade. The light source will strike the image from a certain direction. Shading should fall opposite of the source of light. The shapes hidden from the light source will be the darkest areas of the image.
8. Check your progress. This is often difficult because your brain actually has a preconceived notion of how the image should look. When you learn how to draw you learn how to see and re-see. Turn the image upside down. This forces you look at the image in a different perspective.
9. Put what you have learned to work. Practice is the most important step and for many, it's the hardest to follow. Dedicate a few hours a week to drawing. Doodle on notebooks. Take time to hone your skills.

Tips & Warnings

• Try different types of media to see what works best for you.
• There are various styles of drawing that you can test.
• Work on one section at a time rather than on the entire piece at once.
• Use a grid or ruler for measuring while you hone your skills.