How to Draw Fast Cars

You do not need to be an expert draftsman or an engineer to capture the power and style of fast cars. By increasing your powers of observation, you will be able to depict the sleekness of a Porsche or the funky features of a Formula 1 race car. Whether you wish to do a quick sketch or a finished work of art, this tutorial breaks down the process of drawing fast cars step by step.

Things You'll Need

• Drawing paper (60lb or heavier weight) HB, 2B and 4B drawing pencils Erasers

Instructions

1. Gain inspiration by examining reference material. The best approach is to cruise the streets looking for fast cars. It can also be helpful to look at drawings of fast cars so you get a sense of how artists depict the gleam of the paint finish and the blur of a car in motion. Thumb through a car magazine and check out photographs and advertisements featuring the latest models of fast cars. The Pictures of Cars website (see Resources below) contains images of fast cars at every angle.

2. Study fast cars from every perspective. If possible, watch how a fast car's visual impact changes from when it is at a standstill to when it is in motion. Take a step back and analyze the underlying shapes that comprise the car, such as the slanted rectangle of the windshield or the curve of the tail end. Examine the shapes in perspective to one another, paying attention to how they connect with one another. Use your HB pencil to sketch the principal shapes. You may also include background elements.

3. Add shading to the drawing using the 2B pencil, which has a softer tip. Shade the segments that you wish to emphasize, starting with the most eye-catching segments, gradually lightening the shading for the more subtle elements. For drawing fast cars, you may want to emphasize the features that characterize speed, such as the wheels or the pistons. Use the eraser to lighten and shape some of the shading.

4. Consider your options for the finishing touches. If you intend to complete the sketch in pencil, you can switch to the 4B, which adds an expressive line, to emphasize certain shaded segments. You can also switch to a brush or pen and apply finishing elements with India ink. If you wish to switch to color, markers, watercolors and colored pencils are among your options, although it is easier to capture the sleekness of fast cars with a definite line (pencil, marker, Sharpie pen) then with the color washes of paint.

5. Compare your sketch of the fast car with reference material. Use your 2B and 4B pencils to emphasize the basic elements of the composition. You may also want to draw or shade background details. Check the reference photograph or car model for any special details you may have overlooked.

Tips & Warnings

• Be prepared to erase and redraw during the process.

• If you use material under copyright, your drawing should only be for personal use.

Resources

• PIctures of Cars image gallery