| Drawing is a relaxing and fun hobby for anyone | | | | its surface. On a rough object, shadows may be |
| willing to take the time to learn it, step by step. | | | | subtly mottled by each indentation or variation in |
| Just let yourself go and sketch, concentrating on | | | | the surface. Whatever the case, practice each |
| what you're drawing. It is important to think | | | | fruit ten times again. Then, look at all the drawings |
| positively, and not be too hard on yourself. So | | | | you've done and notice how the last one is |
| many of my students have told me at first, "I | | | | probably much better than the first. That is what |
| can't draw anything," or "my drawings are | | | | practice does, it sharpens your seeing and helps |
| horrible!" but in time, they learned that with | | | | you interpret what you see better on the paper. |
| practice, their drawings improve. Don't discourage | | | | Using erasers |
| yourself with negative self-talk. Just do what | | | | When you have a large area to erase, use the |
| comes from your heart. One of the great things | | | | white eraser. Erase lightly, in layers. If you erase |
| about art is that there is no right and wrong to it. | | | | hard, you may damage the paper. Paper can only |
| You have the creative license to do things your | | | | handle so much manhandling, so it will start to |
| way, with no explanation. Take what you learn | | | | break down if rubbed too much. To avoid that, |
| and make it your own by seeing what techniques | | | | use a light touch as you erase, and gently take |
| and styles are most rewarding to you. When I | | | | off the unwanted area with one or two sweeps. |
| was learning to draw, I had many, many lousy | | | | If you want to erase a very small area but want |
| drawings. My father, a fantastic artist and | | | | to leave the area around it intact, use the knead |
| architect, taught me to draw from a young age, | | | | able eraser. It will allow you to erase areas that |
| along with many art courses that I took in school. | | | | the big, white eraser can't get into. When done, |
| The more I drew, the more confident I became, | | | | knead the eraser. You can use the same eraser |
| and it showed in my work. The same will happen | | | | over and over again. To clean graphite off a white |
| to you. With practice and time, your art will | | | | eraser, just rub it repeatedly on a piece of scrap |
| improve more and more. Don't give up and | | | | paper, to remove the dark graphite residue. |
| remember that nobody, no matter how talented | | | | Experiment with different weights of pencils |
| or not, learns overnight. | | | | The hardest pencils (H series) are for lighter |
| Good starter materials for drawing | | | | colored shading and shadows. The softer pencils |
| A set of pencils, from 6H (very hard lead) all the | | | | (B series) are for darker shading and shadows. |
| way down to 6D (very soft lead) | | | | The Ebony pencil is great for the darkest parts of |
| An Ebony Pencil (it puts out a very dark graphite | | | | shading and shadows. Experiment with them, and |
| line) | | | | get used to using the different weights. After |
| A knead able eraser (Before using it, knead the | | | | awhile you will become more comfortable |
| heck out of it until it's very pliable. It is therapeutic | | | | switching from one to another. The 6H is the |
| to knead these things, when stressed.) | | | | hardest; the 6B is the softest in the series. Try |
| A white eraser, meant for artists, a good brand is | | | | drawing fruit with the hard set, then try the same |
| Staedtler | | | | fruit with the soft set. Use your sharpener to |
| Pad of Strathmore Sketch paper (50 lb paper | | | | keep the leads at comfortable sharpness for you. |
| weight, which means a lightweight paper) or Bond | | | | Finally, draw the fruit with both H and B series |
| paper | | | | pencils, paying attention to using the H's for the |
| Good lighting, such as an arm lamp | | | | object's lighter areas, and the B's for its darker |
| Start with the basics | | | | ones. Use erasers to add highlights, too or for |
| With an HB (not too hard, not too soft) or regular | | | | removing things. Add and subtract. Think of it as |
| pencil, start practicing sketching objects that | | | | kind of drawing with the eraser itself, to create |
| aren't too complicated. I learned with oranges, | | | | different tones and effects. Do ten of them, and |
| pears, grapes, bananas and carrots. Draw each | | | | remember to really focus on what you are |
| one, individually, ten times. Look at the shape and | | | | seeing. Don't give up, remember, this is a practice |
| study it. Notice where the stem on it was, and | | | | exercise, and not meant for hanging on your wall. |
| how it rests on the table. Drawing is all about | | | | My practice art stayed hidden in my sketchbook, |
| learning how to see objects as accurately as | | | | away from others. You don't have to make |
| possible. Imagine following the edge of the object | | | | masterpieces, just enjoy what you're doing and |
| with your finger, and draw the silhouette on the | | | | experiment as you learn. |
| paper. Then do it again. The idea is to learn to | | | | That is my mini drawing course in a nutshell. I |
| interpret what you see in three dimension (real | | | | have spent my life drawing, learning and trying |
| life) into a two dimensional drawing (sketch.) | | | | new techniques and seeing what worked best for |
| Shading | | | | me. Believe in yourself. Focus on the object, and |
| Put the fruit in a bright window with light coming | | | | don't expect perfection. Right now is the beginning. |
| at it from only one direction, so it casts a shadow | | | | Later you can switch to more interesting objects |
| on one side. Again, practice drawing each item, | | | | to draw. But, for now, stick with the fruit because |
| this time adding shading. See how different | | | | they represent basic shapes like circles, crescents, |
| textured surfaces make the lighting a little bit | | | | and more. Adding color will come later, too. It's a |
| different. For example, notice the skin of an | | | | lot of lessons all rolled into one, so take your time. |
| orange as compared to a pear. One is smoother | | | | You can do it, just believe in yourself. I believe |
| than the other. The shinier and smoother the | | | | you can do it, too so go for it! |
| subject, the more distinct the shading will be on | | | | |