How To Pick Up Drawing As A Hobby

Jackson is a moving picture and animation enthusiast who enjoys cartoon. He likes to create tutorials to help others learn how to draw.

A few years ago, I took to drawing. Information technology was an run a risk for me that I took on belatedly in life, and I wouldn't trade the experience for the world. You can read more about it on another of my articles called I Wish I Could Draw.

One of the things that's motivated me and kept my interest has been writing drawing lessons online. It's something I've enjoyed since joining, and I plan to continue doing it for as long as I maybe tin. The one thing I always tried to imply in all of these lessons is that anyone can draw.

Forth with that, I try to imply that all it takes is the will, the pencil, and the paper. That really is true. But there are a few more things people who depict ofttimes know. And I'd like to share some of it here.

Draw Things More than Than Once

Take a look at the picture to a higher place. It'due south a scribble sheet that I used to create my logo. I spent a practiced amount of fourth dimension, I didn't get discouraged, and I connected until I had what I wanted.

The thing is, repetition is a skillful way to learn things. Information technology may seem similar information technology's dull, but when learning something new, sometimes information technology really is the only way. And every motion picture drawn is a new picture.

I also feel like it's a skilful idea to take a few stabs at cartoon something because information technology takes the force per unit area off getting it right the first time. I'm not obsessing over each little thing, and I tin afford to be more experimental.

In fact, the picture above wasn't the first 1 I thought to place here. I found a number of them in my folders that I scribbled on repeatedly, trying to get the cartoon right. I establish that I become anywhere from iii-to-ten times before I stop on one I like, only more than often than not, three seems to be the number.

I think on my first pass, I'm actually simply feeling things out, trying to figure out exactly what I want. Then on the 2nd pass, I'll really nail down the proportions. And the third time, I have a good idea of what I'm doing, so depending upon the complication of the drawing, I'll get it that time.

Add together Nuance to Lines

Take a expect at the two arm drawings above. It should be fairly obvious that they are both arms, only the one at the pinnacle is kind of straight and lacks any kind of definition. It'south the kind of arm that Shaggy on Scooby-Doo might be drawn with. There isn't much in that location.

Now, accept a look at the second arm. When I drew both artillery, I began with the exact same framework, but with the bottom arm, I continued to nuance until it looked similar it had muscle depth. I didn't want to stop at the bare minimum of an arm. I wanted to make sure I pushed the lines as far as I could.

Gentle curves can indicate something very unlike to the eyes. Information technology's all in the dash.

Utilize Simple Shapes

Often times, artists volition begin by blocking out a drawing with unproblematic shapes, rather than trying to tackle the complex collection all at once. This can exist an extremely beneficial process when accompanied by nuances to lines, as you go.

Roll to Continue

Apply a Number of Pencils

One thing many artists do is that they use more than ane pencil. This is a great technique that offers a number of benefits.

The first matter is, whenever you lot depict, you want to begin with a light sketch, so I personally always showtime with either my F or HB pencils. The F and HB demonstrate the hardness of the pencil. These two are very difficult, so they write very light on paper. They're perfect for blocking out a sketch. And so, in one case I've established which lines I want, and my drawing is pretty much at that place, I'll move up to the 2B or 4B, which are softer pencils, and write darker.

Drawing with darker pencils intensifies the drawing. The sketch lines will literally brainstorm to disappear every bit you utilise the darker pencils. This is great, especially if the sketch was loaded with lines going all over the place you may not take wanted. Once the darkened lines are established, you lot can still drop back down to lighter pencils to add some shadowing to the drawing. Information technology's fun to switch betwixt two or iii pencils and run across what kind of effects that can offer.

Don't Terminate Until Information technology Pops

The final step in drawing is most popping the film off of the paper. It'southward about taking the simple lines and adding calorie-free, shadow, and depth.

If you lot want something to look really skillful, never stop at the terminal cartoon. Keep going until you've go tired of it. Use both hands to smudge, erase and re-pencil areas until it begins to really bound from the paper. This stage can take much longer than any of the previous stages, and information technology tin can really resemble sculpting, more than cartoon.

Information technology's my favorite role, and it can exist interesting to see what effects y'all tin can go from introducing dissimilar levels of light and night.

Don't Get For the Cease

I think i mistake many people make is they're drawing to achieve a completed drawing. They're rushing to the end, and they forget to enjoy the procedure of drawing, which is actually the indicate.

This tin be tough considering it's e'er fun to see what you lot'll end up with. And then oft, everyone is excited to encounter if they can accomplish the drawing. Just to really attain it, you need to stick with information technology and motility through without feeling the deadline, or any feeling of, I must consummate this. Just try to savour the draw.

Accept The Poll!

Practise You Have Any Tips For Drawing?

Larry Rankin from Oklahoma on July 29, 2015:

I am an artist by necessity, not skill set:-) Every bit a blogger, it is often necessary for me to do artwork. Needless to say, I can use all the assist I tin can become. Pencil art is my primary medium.

Helpful hub.

Jackson Thom (author) from Due west of Left South Lucky on Baronial 09, 2014:

@invictus95: Admittedly, it's fun to see what can happen with a little practice, and a little direction. It'due south not going to happen overnight, simply if you stick with it, anyone can commencement to run into the results they want. Cheers for the kind words. I appreciate it.

invictus95 on August 09, 2014:

Drawing is a bang-up hobby, and you're a good artist.

Jackson Thom (author) from West of Left Due south Lucky on August 06, 2014:

@ainezk: I approximate I agree in certain cases. I never really thought near that. I judge information technology'south a affair of technique. I suppose when the drawing is getting get information technology's better to kickoff with shorter, more rigid lines, and and then sculpt them into something more than natural equally you go. Skillful tip!

ainezk on July 28, 2014:

Swell lenses. 1 more than thing I'd add is that sometimes drawing with short lines tin can be more effective than trying to draw something with one line and expecting information technology to be perfect.

Jackson Thom (author) from W of Left Southward Lucky on May 30, 2014:

@DreyaB: Definitely! You take to slow it downwardly, and just get through the process with joy. Know that they're non all going to come out good. Silence that inner-critic that says, this i wasn't skilful, so stop. Let things work themselves out. I accept a drawing I have pinned on my wall, at piece of work. It'southward dated 10/12/2012. When I drew information technology, I was somewhat happy with how it turned out. Now, I see it, and I tin see how far I've come. It gives me that motivation that each time I draw, I'm amend than the last time I drew.

DreyaB on May xxx, 2014:

Drawing is something I've never been actually adept at, but is something I keep coming back to every now and again, so I'm going with my instinct that in that location'south something there I want to attain. I think my problem is that I'm non patient plenty and desire everything to exist perfect the first time. I'k having another go at the moment but have to let myself to make mistakes and savour the whole process non but the results. Thanks for sharing and keeping me motivated. :0)

Jackson Thom (author) from West of Left South Lucky on May 29, 2014:

@Guy E Wood: Admittedly, Guy! Using different types of pencils is a neat manner to add some interesting depth to drawings. You tin try to become the same furnishings with a single pencil, it's but a little more difficult, and yous need to acquire sort of a feel for the pencils. When I start started learning to draw, I did something similar. I'd employ one sharp pencil to sketch, and 1 wearisome pencil to darken over the lines. Afterwards, I got the sketching pencils, and I realized how great it was to accept unlike densities of pencils, and ones that really felt good in my hand.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by, and good luck!

Guy E Wood from United states on May 29, 2014:

Greetings!

I don't take any tips for drawing. I'thou fascinated by the art form, simply I've never really explored it with my own hands.

Your lens has intrigued me, though, and you've encouraged me to check the pencil thing out more deliberately than I take in the past. Your mention of the different types of pencils made bells go off in my head because when I've doodled (I won't claim that I've seriously tried to describe), I've ever used only a #2 pencil, and then wondered why my drawings were and then boring and stick-like. The softer pencils may just open new doors for me.

Thank you for sharing!

Onward...

Guy

Jackson Thom (author) from West of Left Southward Lucky on May 26, 2014:

@SusanDeppner: Susan, thanks so much! I appreciate the support. And yes, I have a great fourth dimension doing it. Thanks, again!

Susan Deppner from Arkansas U.s. on May 26, 2014:

I love reading your drawing lenses. Love the passion that admittedly beams through! Another great job hither. Thanks!