How to Make 2D Artwork Look Like Photography
One the of purposes of art is to make the viewer see an object with new eyes. Photorealistic artwork represents one subtle, but eye-catching, method of accomplishing this. Artists who aspire to create 2D works that look like photography must develop a variety of skills. All of these skill sets help you to develop your artistic eye, allowing you to notice details you tend to overlook. It's when you successfully capture these details that you begin to produce art that is sophisticated enough to fool even the most discerning eye.
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Things You'll Need
- Visual references
- Ruler
- Drawing paper
- Drawing pencils
- Blending stumps
- Tortillon
- Charcoal pencils
Instructions
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The Grid
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1
Choose quality visual reference materials. Take the photos of the subject yourself if you can and take a number of them. Get close ups. Make large prints of the photos, because it'll be easier to see the details, which is important when you're creating photorealistic art.
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2
Make a grid. A grid represents a common artist tool that most beginning artists learn in order to capture the precise dimensions of the object they're drawing. Start with the reference photo. Draw a grid on it. A 8-inch by 10-inch photo may have a grid with 1-inch by 1-inch squares. Once you draw that, recreate the grid on your drawing paper, making the grid lines with pencil.
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Observe how the grid lines interact with the lines forming the subject on your photo. For example, if you have a photo of someone's face, notice how the grid lines intersect the lines creating the eyes, nose and mouth.
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4
Draw the lines on your drawing paper so that they replicate the lines on your photo's grid. Capture each line as it curves or angles within each grid square. Draw what you see without adding details that aren't there; this may be the most important principle of turning 2D artwork into art that looks like photography.
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Erase the grid around your drawing, and then shade as usual. Extreme accuracy is required for photorealism in art, and the grid will help you capture that.
Other Techniques
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Use a blending stump or tortillon. These rolled pieces of paper have points at the end, which help you to blend the graphite or charcoal so that the gradations between lights and darks are very subtle. Use tools to create realistic human skin tones.
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Layer graphite and charcoal to create the shine of glass or metal. Graphite has a reflective quality. To create this look, lay down a layer of charcoal. Then put down graphite on top of it. Experiment with this technique by doing studies before you make your drawing so that you know how much of each element you need.
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Utilize textures. The realistic recreation of textures gives your artwork a look of photography. Although it's possible to create some textures using only a pencil or charcoal pencil, you can also use the actual item to make realistic textures in your artwork. For example, if you place a leaf under your piece of paper and rub on the spot with the side of your pencil lead, the leaf's veins will show through, capturing the realistic texture of the leaf.
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References
Resources
- Art Made Easy: Drawing Using a Grid
- All About Drawings: Grid Drawing
- J. D. Hillberry: Learn How to Draw
- How to Draw and Paint: How to Draw Faces
- Learn to Art: Shading Techniques: Hatching, Scribbling, Pointillism
- Environmental Graffiti: Incredible Pencil Drawings of Animals That Look Like Photographs
- Photo Credit Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images
