How to Learn to Pencil Sketch
To sketch cleanly and effectively, you will need to learn how to use long, flowing lines. Rid yourself of bad habits such as choppy, heavy sketching that can be troublesome when you need to erase it. Learn to sketch lightly to avoid smudges and erase only when needed.
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Things You'll Need
- Pencils
- A4 white paper (standard printer paper available everywhere)
- Eraser
Instructions
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Linework techniques
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Decide what it is you want to sketch, perhaps a house, a landscape or a scene with figures in it. Observe the scene carefully and start to make light pencil strokes on the paper to mark important features such as buildings and people.
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When sketching, it is important to make sure every line means something and isn't just placed randomly to create a "sketched" look to an image. Sketch with care, using long, flowing lines rather than heavy, short, choppy lines. Use shorter lines to create shadow and form but keep your strokes light.
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Avoid erasing any part of your sketch. Sketches are loose by their vary nature and should look loose. Mistakes are part of any sketch and highlight its raw aspect. Your drawing should clearly show what you want it to, but accuracy is not paramount.
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Keep your sketches quick, as the more time you spend on your sketch, the more occupied with details you will become. Don't be afraid of making mistakes and perhaps hide the eraser.
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Use basic shapes to build up form and keep your pencil lines faint until you start to add definition and details, at which point you can make bolder strokes. Don't make your strokes too heavy as this will lead to smudges and mess.
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Tips & Warnings
Try to go without using the eraser.
Try to make every line mean something.
Try sketching with a pen, it will teach you to avoid using the eraser.
Heavy sketching can lead to a messy and unreadable sketch so keep pencil lines faint
References
Resources
- Photo Credit sketch image by dpaint from Fotolia.com
