Pre-drawing tips & tutorials wanted.

#1

Hiya all. I’ve come to the realisation long ago that in order to be a good artist you need to learn the basics. I can draw moderatly well if I put my mind to it even though it takes forever. But it is all self tought for the love of it and I lack knowledge in some very basic principles.

  1. Pencil techniques - The right way to hold a pencil when you sketch, wrist and arm movement etc.

  2. Posture - Does it make a difference and if so what would be the correct posture.

  3. Materials - What kind of pencils and paper would you recommend.

  4. Anything else you think might help.

Then I also need a book/tutorial/workshop that does not presume I’m an art major. And although I realise the importance of theory I don’t think you need to devote whole chapters on it in order to make it understandable. I fall asleep halfway through it anyway. I need something a bit more hands on and step by step if you know what I mean. I’m currently working on Andrew Loomis’ “Fun with a pencil”. That’s kind of what I need for more complex figures as well.

Thanx! :slight_smile:

#2

Check out the Art Tutorials, Theories, and Book Recommendations sticky on the forum here and also the Artistic Anatomy and Figurative Art forum. The workshops that Rebecca run there are great! If you spend some time looking through these you should fine some very useful stuff.

#3

Answers:

  1. Use your hands (only one of them, not both at the same time), the tip of the pencil must be pointing down, touching the paper! this is very, very important!!

  2. You must be able to see the paper, dont try to draw on your back… always put the paper ON the desk, not under or behind it… and make sure you can reach it with the pencil!

  3. Pencils must be sharpened, and pens must have ink!! If you are using a tablet, make sure its plugged on a computer, and that the monitor is on!!

  4. Don´t draw whey you are drunk, or under influence of any toxic substance!! (unless you are trying to get some very weird stuff… some people actually recomend it)

Now… seriously, just make sure you are comfortable… everything else just don´t matter! And practice… a lot… You will eventualy come up with a way that suits you…

#4

ROFL @ Meshosh. It does seem like silly questions doesn’t it. :slight_smile:

EDIT: I just came across a book by Andrew Loomis called ‘Successful Drawing’. Might be just what I need. :wink:

#5

I’ve come to the realisation long ago that in order to be a good artist you need to learn the basics. I can draw moderatly well if I put my mind to it even though it takes forever. But it is all self tought for the love of it and I lack knowledge in some very basic principles.

One basic prerequisite to become an artist is pathos.
That means, hours and hours of practice which are needed will not seem as a burden but as a challenge. Inspiration will have to be regular.

As for the questions you asked, go over an artist and look how he works. Thats will give you the basics info. From then on, practice is what matters mostly.

  1. Pencil techniques - The right way to hold a pencil when you sketch, wrist and arm movement etc…
  2. Posture - Does it make a difference and if so what would be the correct posture.

Do not hold the pencil too close to the point.
Sit upright 90 degrees arm and forearm, to have an overall view of the paper, not only details, and draw holding the pencil at an angle to give you sweeprd movements.
note: this is subjective-each artist develops his personal habits that work for him…

  1. Materials - What kind of pencils and paper would you recommend.

From hard 2-3H, HB, to soft 2B even 6B depending on the circum stance. Start with the hard ones lightly, and finish with the soft ones.
Papers, again depend on the project, output format etc.

#6

I use the same grip on my pencil for everything. Just make sure that your hands are comoftable gripping the pencil. Everyone has their own style it just comes from years of drawing.

#7

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