How to Draw Stuff for Beginners

Observe your subject closely.

As a beginning artist, you're not going to be able to produce work like Picasso straight away. So don't put unnecessary pressure on yourself; it takes practice to develop the confidence and drawing skills of a seasoned artist. The key to drawing is to observe what you see in terms of basic shapes and to draw it in a way that makes sense to you.

Things You'll Need

• Image or object
• Sketchbook (any size)
• No.2 pencil
• Sketching pencils
• Eraser
• Pencil sharpener or craft knife

Instructions

1. Work from an image, object or live subject. It is essential to look at what you're drawing, rather than to rely on imagination.

2. Observe your subject closely. Notice the basic shape of the object. For instance, if you're drawing a still-life arrangement of fruit, observe that apples, oranges and peaches are basically round in shape.

3. Draw roughly the basic shape of the object in pencil. Don't make the drawing small; use as much of the page as possible.

4. Assess the proportion size of each aspect of your subject, and start reworking your drawing with more shape and detail. Mark short lines on the paper to help you measure the distance between different aspects. For instance, if you're drawing a vase of flowers, observe and assess the length and width of the vase, the stems and the blooms, and consider the proportional relationship between each aspect.

5. Shade your drawing to make it appear three dimensional. Use a range of different pencil grades to shade from dark to light in order to graduate tone throughout your sketch.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't pressure yourself to draw perfectly; it takes time and practice to draw accurately. Don't rush your progression; keep practicing and your style will develop naturally. If you make a mistake, just erase and start again. Keep your pencil sharpened.

References

• "How To Draw Anything"; Mark Linley; 1995
• How To Draw And Paint: Learn to Draw Whatever You Want