How to Improve Your Drawing Skills
The art of drawing is like any other hobby; no one starts out perfect. Regardless of whether you are a cartoonist, a caricature-artist, enchanted by still-lifes or just draw for fun with a pencil and a piece of printer paper, you can always improve your technique. There are a variety of ways to improve your drawing skills, some obvious, others not so obvious but just as necessary.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- 1 large sketch pad (made from thinner, recycled paper)
- 1 medium-sized sketch pad (made from medium stock)
- 1 notebook (small enough so you can carry it with you for quick sketches and notes)
- 1 set of graphite pencils with varying lead types (from soft to hard)
- 1 tin of charcoal sticks (as alternative to pencil for quick, large-format drawings)
- 1 stopwatch or timer
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1
Draw. This is one of those "obvious" methods. The simplest way to improve your drawing is to draw. The more you practice, the better you'll be.
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2
Observe your surroundings. Drawing isn't just about putting pencil to paper; it's about seeing. Whether you draw pictures from your mind's eye or use a model, you'll need to be a skilled observer to be a skilled artist. Watch everything around you, observe how your environment looks and think actively about how you can transfer those observations onto the page through your pencil. Active observation will raise your skill level.
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3
Read up on the subject. It may be surprising to learn, but you aren't the only artist in the world. Other artists have written helpful books on the subject. Study books or websites dedicated to drawing techniques and tutorials, read materials dedicated to helping you improve your craft. You might learn something new.
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4
Draw some more. Yes, this has been mentioned before, but only because it is the most important piece of improving your skill. All the study and observation in the world is useless unless you actively practice your art. You'll never get better unless you put pencil onto paper and create those drawings.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Really stick to the time constraints and try to set up a daily regiment where you are drawing everyday.
When traveling or going to your job, carry your notebook. You will find many chances to complete quick sketches that can serve as foundations for later drawings.
Related Searches
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
Comments
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Colonna
Jan 05, 2009
nice tips.the key to improving your drawing skills is basically repetition...keep drawing. Also, it pays to watch another artist work- you get a different perspective ( no pun intended) of work habits, time management and their own sense of focus. By employing n open mind and taking in either the similarities or the differences you pick up on, you can hopefully re-tune your own work habits to a point where you become more focused and perhaps, more confident. Thanks-MIKE 5 star rating!!
