One of the most crucial things to learn when learning to draw is realizing the process nearly every artist applies to fill a white sheet with more and more lines till she completed the drawing. Though seemingly complicated this process consists of several separate and simple tasks.
Many artists follow intuitively these individual tasks stepwise in the proper order. Unluckily when beginning to learn drawing, you lack the experience to follow this strategy intuitively. But rather than waiting for the necessary experience, you should use the following shortcut.
I created a scheme around this process most artists understand and stick with by instinct. It consists of four steps: Placement, Outlines, Shapes, Illumination. These four steps are rather simple and follow the common process to make a drawing. I abbreviated this formula P-O-S-I - a POSItive way to learn drawing.
So let's get going:
1. Placing the elements in your drawing
This is the first step. Have a look at the whole scene, distinguish the individual elements in the scene and seek to understand the scene. Concentrate on the individual elements' positions and their location relative to one another. Ultimately if you believe your apprehension of the scene is good enough, mark on your sheet where you want to place the individual elements.
Try to be as precise as possible unless you possess already some competence in the art of pictorial composing. Experienced artists know how to modify the scene for a stronger expression without disturbing realism.
2. Drafting Outlines of the individual elements
Now you know where to place the elements it is time to outline them as mere outlines. Look cautiously at each part of the scene and try to understand its outline and shape. Then draw its outline - only the silhouette - in a couple of faint lines. Restrict yourself to the outer lines of each object. Repeat this step for every element in the scene. Ideally you begin on elements in the background and continue to the foreground parts.
After finishing the outline of the whole scene this way, it is time to have a concluding judging look (but not too judging although!). In this stage it is still easy to shift any element or to adjust one or another line. But don't be too critical and keep in mind: every outstanding drawing lives thanks to minor deviations from reality.
3. Draw the Shape of the individual elements
Now it is time to turn our attention to the elements' shapes. Begin to add the internal structures of the scene's parts with few and fine lines. Place the strokes in the proper directions to travel along and form the shape of the parts of every element.
For curved elements use curved lines and in plane parts use straight lines. But still limit you to few and faint lines. Just try to catch the contours properly. As there are still only fine and faint lines on the sheet you have still the opportunity to adjust some lines.
Finally your picture will have gained a more substantial perspective and depth impression. Time to fill out the blanks and complete your drawing!
4. Illuminate your Drawing
Thus far we merely worked on arraying the scene using faint lines. Forming the outlines and contours of all elements in the scene we produced a line drawing that portrays the scenes outlook faithfully.
But for creating real naturalism something is missing: texture, light and shadow. In that last step we'll fill out these elements that generate volume to our drawing and ultimately make it seem realistic. So in this last step our chances for creating a great picture are great but also is the risk of damaging it beyond repair.
What to do? Again look cautiously at each part of the scene. Note how light, shadow and surfaces are forming the shapes and what the colors look like. Most important is the surface - as even if a surface is all one color, its structure and texture produces different tones.
The same applies to shadows. Look how the elements cast shadows on themselves and on elements close to them. Add these darker areas by first sketching their outline, correcting and perfecting it and then filling it with dark shades.
When adding all the shadows and textures to your picture all of the time seek to work from the background to the foreground. Whilst following this strategy go from lighter tones and weak contrasts in the background to strong tones and contrasts in the foreground. This creates a more substantial volume and depth.
Congratulations! After this final step you finished your drawing. Make one step back and enjoy the result. But keep in mind: when the petty critic in you awakes, put your drawing away, the more you'll enjoy it in some months!
Author Resource:-
This is the third part of the 6 part series about drawing and how to learn drawing. Visit the next part of the how to draw series. Here you can also get free tutorials for learning to draw.
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