Top tips for drawing

1. Observation

  tree shadows

 

 

 

Thorough observation of the subject is very important. It is all too easy to draw what we think we know of our subject and so overlook some vital characteristic. It is often better to ignore such pre-knowledge, look at your subject with fresh eyes and then draw what is really there.

A typical failure to observe often shows itself in the drawing of shadows, when we may concentrate only on their direction and length (far left) and fail to notice the way in which they may be modified by the surface over which they fall (left).
Also pay careful attention to such matters as the shapes, sizes and proportions of the subjects and the effects of light and shade.

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gable end

2. Vertical lines

Using a central, vertical line may be an effective aid to accurately drawing some subjects. It is particularly useful for drawing gable ends (right), viewed at an angle, or for getting both sides of a vase symmetrical (below left). Naturally these central lines need to be drawpotn lightly so that they may be erased easily. Close observation shows that in the diagram of the house, the left-hand half of the gable end, being slightly closer, is fractionally broader than the right-hand half, but unless the building is very close, the difference will only be slight.

Notice, also, how the roughly horizontal lines of the roof and the wall are slightly converging – the effect of perspective.

 

 

 

3. Taking measurements

If you hold your pencil at arm’s length against your subject, you will be able to compare the lengths of the various elements in your composition and so get the proportions right. You can also measure the slopes of the lines of buildings in this way to help you with perspective.

Techniques to try

shadow

You will learn quickly how to portray cast shadows and shadows areas with your pencil. This will involve hatching techniques, which produce an area of roughly parallel lines (far left). The depth of the shadow will depend upon the closeness of the lines and the strength of each stroke of the pencil.

It open helps to use pencil lines that convey something of the shape of the object by following the curve of its surface such as this vase with its shadow (above left).

Watch an extract from Ray's Drawing Landscapes DVD

Discover more top tips for drawing from Trudy Friend.

Read our great guide to drawing media and techniques.

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