How to Learn to Draw a Simple Castle

When drawing a castle, look at its shapes and colors first.

Drawing is a task that is simpler than most people think. When you learn to look at objects as basic shapes and lines that an artist fills in later, drawing can become a useful tool. Learning to draw does not happen overnight. You need to know basic principles behind drawing, and know how to apply those principles to your own work. In addition, knowing the basic elements of drawing will make even the simplest castle look well-drawn.

Instructions

1. Move beyond logic and start simple. To learn to draw a castle, you need to learn to look at it as more than just an architectural structure. Learn-to-Draw.com states that the artistic part of your brain does not see an object for what it is. Instead, it sees a combination of shapes, colors and lines combined to form an image. For example, the outline of a castle may resemble a rectangular shape that is gray in color.

2. Learn the basic elements of drawing. Learn how to draw lines and know their purpose. Then study shapes; find out how they define an object. Learn how to use perspective to make objects in a drawing appear close or far away, and use proportion to make elements in a drawing relate to the size of another correctly. Take into account lights and shadows to help add perspective to a drawing of a castle, especially if your drawing of a castle is a view from the top or has tiered elements.

3. Learn and practice drawing by tracing. Tracing is a helpful exercise for those who are having a difficult time grasping some of the basic elements of drawing. Tracing an image will show your brain how to see lines and shapes in a logical manner. Practice tracing a simple drawing of a castle by placing a piece of tracing paper or thin white paper over an image. Copy the lines and shapes you see onto your tracing paper. If you do not have tracing paper, outline the lines of a simple drawing of a castle with a pencil or pen (cap the pen if you cannot actually draw on the image).

4. Practice drawing castles. Draw the frame for your simple castle out of basic shapes and lines. Using the shapes, begin to add more elements such as smaller shapes, curved lines and shadows. This will help you add more details (such as windows, bricks, gates and the points of towers) to the drawing of your castle.

5. Consult an artist. If you are in school, ask an art teacher to review your drawings of a simple castle and ask them to give you advice on how to improve your drawing. If you are not in school, ask an artistic friend to give you some tips. This person may show you how adding a simple line to a castle's wall gives it more definition, or how a shadow in a castle tower's widow gives it more depth.

References

• How-to-Draw-Cartoons-Online.com: How to Draw a Cartoon Castle
• Learn-to-Draw.com: The elements of drawing