Lessons of phased drawing with a pencil. Hatching - creating a structure

We all drew at some point in our childhood. It was easy then, no matter what we drew with - colored pencils, a stick, or a finger on a misted glass. But even then, you may have noticed that some children drew better than you. Not that you knew what "better" meant - all you understood was the joy of praise. When you heard someone being praised and your work completely ignored, you felt worse and worse. After all, you gave up drawing. After all, why continue if no one cares?

Now, for whatever reason, you want to start painting again, but it scares you. Those children who never stopped drawing are now professionals, and their work looks almost magical. How can you bridge this gap? Will you ever catch up with them?

The answer is that no one knows. But not their you have to try to catch up. After all, this your dream is to draw what you want, in the style you want, without constant criticism for mistakes. This "future you" should be your ideal, because whether you become as good as he or she depends only on you, and not on the abilities / opinions of others.

Once you make your future self your example, you will continually grow. Your goal is to be better than yesterday. Doesn't that sound more real than becoming as good an artist as anyone else in an instant? If you agree with me, join me in this great task. I won't show you how to draw - you wouldn't even want to! Instead I'll show you how study paint. I will take you through four major stages, which you will gradually master.

This is the first level. If you have been wondering how to start drawing after a long break, here is your answer. I will present a set of exercises for beginners - some of them will seem obvious to you, but it will only mean that your level is slightly higher than you thought. Ready?

tune in

When you decide to learn something, the right attitude matters more than all the books in the world. I already gave you one little piece of advice - Compare your present self with your future self, not with others. More tips are ahead of you, so read this part carefully before starting the exercises.

Ideal does not exist

When you set a goal for yourself, it can look very real and achievable. “This is me today, and this is me when I reach the goal,” that's what you imagine. There is a certain path between these two points, and it seems to you that you can quite walk this path. However, you are missing one important detail - your needs change with you.

Today, the ability to draw a stick man may seem amazing, but only because you don’t know how to do it yet. Once you reach your goal, it loses its power and you look for something else, something stronger. You can't want what you already have. That's why you can complain about not being able to draw a stickman as if it's some valuable ability, and someone who can draw him complains about not being able to draw a real person.

There is no moment when you are good enough. This is how we are made, so just accept it. You will never think of your abilities like this: “I am a great artist, and I don’t need to learn anything else, now I do it just for fun.” This will not happen! There will always be something you can't do, something that will make you perfect...and once you achieve that something, that something opens up a whole new world of things to learn before your very eyes.

When you think you know 99% of something, the remaining 1% will show you how wrong you are.

If there's a way to be perfect, it's easy. stop trying. You must understand that no matter how good you are at drawing, it will not make you better, more significant than at the moment. This is true on the other hand, no matter how bad you are at drawing, it doesn't make you any less important. This leads us to the next step:

Do it for yourself

If you want to draw beautifully just to feel the joy of praise, get ready for a lot of suffering. Do you remember that feeling of pride in your work until someone started criticizing you? Why is your satisfaction so easily dissipated just by the fact that a random stranger has expressed his opinion?

If your satisfaction depends on the opinions of others, you will never be completely satisfied. What's more, you'll let people who don't even care manage your mood! Even if it makes you a good artist, in the end you will be in constant tension from the fact that you are not good enough. And what would you choose - to be a great artist in constant tension, or to be a bad but satisfied artist?

I covered the topic of criticism in another article of mine, so if this is a burning topic for you, be sure to read it. Remember: you don't want to become a great artist. You just want to be happy with your work, and sometimes you think that you need to be at the level of a professional for this. This is wrong! Stop comparing yourself to them and instead consider if you can be better than you were yesterday - that's all you need to feel satisfied.

You set your own goals, so don't make them unattainable. Your goal should be good enough" You. Do it for fun, with ease, and don't be too hard on yourself for not being as good as someone who has been training for years. You are doing this for yourself and only for yourself. Learn to celebrate small successes, regardless of what others think about it. After all, what do they understand?

There is only one goal

There may be many reasons for you to start learning to draw, but you only have one goal. This study, how to draw! “Learn” is the key word here, because learning how to draw once and for all is really impossible. It is a constant, endless process. Therefore, if your goal is "to be able to draw anything 100% realistic", you will be disappointed, because this goal depends on what you want to see, not from what you can draw. And what you want to see changes with the development of your abilities, along with your vision of 100% realism.

The feeling that there is an end point somewhere is just an illusion.

It is important to understand that this journey never ends. As long as it seems to you that there is a goal that you need to achieve in order to be satisfied with your drawings, you will never be satisfied! Learn to appreciate every, even a small indicator of progress, and just enjoy the journey. Learning is the only thing you will do constantly and it is the only goal that will no longer move.

If you really need more specific goals, please set them. However, don't make any of them the reason for your happiness and confidence - it's pointless. And even as you follow these small goals, don't forget that it's all for the sake of the process, and it doesn't really matter when you achieve them.

Core Skills

The simpler the drawing looks to you, the weaker your abilities are likely to be. It may sound funny, but there is a rule for this, and it is called the Dunning-Kruger effect. Briefly, the less you know about something, the more you think you know. This is because knowledge of what you Not know - also knowledge!

You can say "I know drawing is not easy - if it were easy, I could do it!" But at the same time, you almost cry when your drawing does not turn out the way you would like. If you really knew how difficult it is to draw something correctly, you would not be so upset - it would be obvious to you that this difficult!

When you look at a skilled artist painting his masterpiece and cannot understand how he does it, you just want to blame talent for everything. This is a clear sign that you are a beginner. If you were a level higher, even just a little, if you only tried learn how to draw - you'd understand what's up Not only in abilities.

When you are completely new to drawing, do you think that draw is all that is required

Stage 1: Draw what you want

This touches on the main definition of drawing: to leave marks on something. It's about training your hands to draw almost automatically, with whatever material you want to use. Beginners usually see this as the one essential drawing skill, but it's really just the basics. Keyword: physical exercise.

Stage 2: Draw what you want

This is about using the tool intentionally, avoiding guesswork. If after drawing something beautiful you are afraid that you will not be able to repeat it, perhaps this is the stage you need to work on. It's also up to you if you can't copy the source well until you've outlined it. Keyword: accuracy.

Stage 3: Draw what you want

This part is less about drawing and more about memory. I covered the main idea in another article, but there are also other exercises that will make the process easier for you. While the previous level was about drawing from imagination, this one is about putting things in place. Keyword: visual database.

Stage 4: Draw what you want

This is the hardest, most blurry part. How can you draw something exactly the way you want it, no matter what others might expect? How can you draw something unrealistic, but still worthy of praise? Notice it comes after how you master realism! Keyword: style.

How to study

Of course, today we are working on the first stage, hence such a long introduction. You need to understand that this is not a lesson in the truest sense of the word - these are exercises that will help you move to the next level, but how to use them is up to you.

I am assuming that for this tutorial you will be using a simple pencil and paper. Beginners often wonder if they should start with a pencil or a graphics tablet, but the latter makes things more difficult. There is a good chance that you are already familiar with the pencil - there is no need to add a new tool that you will have to learn from scratch.

However, if you're fairly experienced with traditional drawing and want to start your electronic drawing adventure, these exercises will help you get used to the special stylus motions. If you want to draw with your other hand (for example, because of an injury, or just for fun), they will also be useful!

Now there is only you and a good pencil. Start with the one you write with, and then if it's not clear/comfortable enough, choose the one that works best. All exercises are your playground, don't push yourself, test your abilities, and don't compare them to any abilities you imagined.

• Practice in short time periods(from 5 to 15 minutes), but regularly - at least once a day.
• Don't hurt inconvenience to your hand- she can get tired, and even more - in this case, find a more comfortable version of the movements.
• Let your hand always will be relaxed- Do not press down on the pencil/pen with all your might. Your job is to leave traces, nothing more.
• Do not use any special paper or notepad. You can draw on the back of printed sheets that you were about to throw away, or on the cheapest printer paper.
• Turn on good music, or even an audiobook - there's no need to focus entirely on what you're doing. Our goal here is to make the movements automatic for your hand.
• Never forget why you are doing it. Don't treat it like a duty- you can stop at any time if you don't feel like it anymore!

Enough talk, let's get to work!

1. Draw Doodles

Let's start freely - just draw something. Believe it or not, you already you can draw, you just want more control over it. Let yourself have some fun and just draw like you're sitting in a boring lecture with nothing to do. Don't draw anything specific, and don't judge yourself harshly!

This exercise:

• warms up your hand;
• relaxes your hand;
• reminds you what drawing is;
• allows you to free your thoughts.

This is a warm-up exercise, so don't push yourself!

All examples in the illustration above are drawn by my left hand (I'm right handed). The hand you write with is probably more skillful, because you use it (at least sometimes) to write. However, the untrained hand of an experienced artist clearly shows us the mechanical part of the drawing process.

2. Control the direction

Draw a bunch of dots, or a starry sky. Then play Snake! Try to move smoothly, and do not make sharp turns. If you want to make it harder, use more dots and connect them diagonally first.

This exercise:

• teaches you how to smoothly change direction;
• allows you to gain control over the direction of the line - this is the first step in achieving accuracy;
• adapts your hand to several positions;
• allows you to check if the pencil/pen is comfortable in all positions.

This is a fun exercise that you should treat like a game.

3. Draw any lines

Drawing straight lines can be tricky for an untrained hand, so it's important to practice drawing them. Don't aim for perfect straightness - draw lines quickly, easily, using different directions. Some of them will be more comfortable for you to draw than others, and that's okay. For this reason, I draw my creatures facing left!

This exercise:

• trains a stable position of the pencil / pen in the hand;
• is an extension of the previous exercise;
• allows you to find the "rhythm" of your hand - the most comfortable direction of your lines.

Don't worry if the lines come out uneven - this is normal for a start.

When you find that ideal direction, use it in the future. Rotate the sheet if necessary, but still continue to work in this favorite rhythm - this will be your first step towards drawing comfort.

4. Draw ovals

I didn't say "circles" on purpose, because circles are just as scary as straight lines. Draw ovals, and not even perfect ones. Draw them big and small, fast and slow, and don't worry about them being perfect. The goal here is to keep turning and end the line where you started.

This exercise:

• practices hand rotation in large and small ranges;
• teaches you how to handle a pencil/pen while spinning;
• this is the next step in gaining control of direction.

Forget about perfect circles for a moment - they are rarely needed in drawing.

5. Practice your strokes

Hatching is a technique that is used for shading, but it also relies on a very important movement of the hand. Draw a series of fast, short lines in one direction and then criss-cross with another series of lines. You can also try the hairball technique, or any other shading technique. If this is difficult for you, start a little slower, but never focus on one line!

This exercise:

• allows you to recreate the movement you just used;
• trains your hand for quick but conscious movement;
• trains the movement "quickly and clearly";
• makes you look for ways to repeat that won't tire you out;
• teaches you to think in terms of "space" instead of "line";

This technique will always be a little tedious, but try to find a way that doesn't require more effort than necessary.

6. Fill closed spaces

Let's combine the two exercises. Draw ovals and then quickly fill them in with hatching. Here your goal is not to cross the path, which can be very difficult if you work fast enough. Don't try to fill in the gaps - instead try to make sure they don't appear.

This exercise:

• expands the exercise "drawing lines" - trains a stable position of the pencil / pen in the hand;
• increases your confidence in control;
• includes several different exercises;
• trains your accuracy both at the beginning and at the end of the line.

It's harder than you think!

7. Master pressure levels

For a perfectionist who is just learning to draw, letting go can be very difficult. It was as if imprinted in them that each line should be perfect the first time, without corrections. This exercise is the first step towards breaking this “rule”. Draw lines and scribbles using different levels of pressure. Change them and see if you can do it gradually. You can even make a line gradient!

This exercise:

• gives you freedom!
• teaches you the very important vertical movement and how to combine it with the more familiar horizontal movement;
• teaches you to "feel" the pencil/pen;
• the most important of all.

Soft pencils (B) have more pressure levels than hard pencils (H) - check them out and choose the one that suits you.

8. Repeat Lines

Let's continue the previous exercise. Now you will learn a very important trick, a trick that not all beginners know about.

Draw a short line with low pressure. Then paint over it again and again. As a final touch, you can press harder. Do the same with different lines, quickly, and don't worry if you don't succeed at first. This is a difficult exercise, but it works wonders!

This exercise:

• trains your accuracy;
• gives you full control over the line;
• gives you a higher level of accuracy;
• gives you confidence that you can draw - the lines start to come out as you intended, and not just "turn out".

Do not do this exercise too slowly, otherwise it will not have any effect.

9. Draw "soft" shapes

All these exercises should prepare you for this last exercise. Circles or long lines are nearly impossible to draw all at once without any further adjustments. The truth is that artists rarely draw with long lines - short lines are much easier to control.

Learn this - and you are free - draw various shapes, constantly lifting and moving the pencil / pen. Do it quickly and don't strain your arm too much.

This exercise:

• will allow you to get rid of the most limiting habit of a beginner
• really let you plan how to direct your line instead of letting your hand decide
• prepares you for the next level

With this technique, you can draw anything - see for yourself how it can change.

Like this!

Use these exercises to practice your mechanical skills every day. The progress they give you depends entirely on your diligence and discipline. Do them until they are child's play before moving on to the next stage. The order here is very important - without a good base, it will be more difficult for you to learn something new in the future.

This can all be boring, but remember why you are doing this - you are teaching your hand the movements that are the basis for the most complex drawings. It's like buying the ingredients for a new, amazing recipe. You can invest more money and get the tastiest dish you want, or try to save money and end up with disappointing results. Nothing of value comes easy!

Remember: repetition is the key here. What you train is called muscle memory, and like "ordinary" memory, it requires constant, regular practice to keep anything in it for long. So, keep practicing and look forward to the lesson on the next step - intent and precision.

You can print this image to remember all the exercises.

About a year ago, I set out to find a hobby for my soul. It all started with the theater, but it lasted me exactly three months. Then I signed up for an introductory month-long drawing course. And away we go, I quickly remembered why, as a child, I used to draw princesses until nightfall.

True, the hook hands did not want to draw what they needed, so I decided to take a more serious course in oil painting. Just in time for its completion, I discovered the watercolor works of Veronika Kalacheva and realized that ... You need to start with the basics and first learn how to build a drawing correctly, and only then work with color.

Of course, you can always copy and color other people's work, but imagine how great it is to embody your fantasies or images on paper! In this case, without knowledge of academic drawing, which, of course, I did not have, in any way. To get them, it is most effective to attend an art school, but what a blessing that there is an Internet! After a few nights of digging around on the net, I found something that will help you become a real creator if you stick to the main rule - a lot, a lot of practice.

Although I am not a fan of Anna's style of work, her lessons have everything you need to learn from scratch: what tools you will need, how to fix paper on a tablet, how to hatch and tint a drawing. Anna also talks about how to correctly redraw objects and paint with the same watercolor.

Lessons based on the book of the same name, of course, will not work a miracle - to learn how to draw professionally, it will take much more than a month or even a year. However, as already mentioned, the main thing is practice, so these lessons, which give a general idea of ​​\u200b\u200bdrawing, will not be superfluous. If you feel like you're making progress, or want to branch out into a particular style, you can find a guide to crayon drawing, 3D lettering, and zentangle on the same site.

In this group you will find step-by-step drawing lessons for various figures, depending on your level of preparation. The most difficult lessons are suitable only for professional artists, but beginners can also master the simpler figures.

Useful materials for beginners - from how to draw specific objects, and ending with elementary hatching training.

A drawing school site where you can find a lot of good materials on basic topics: “How to hold a pencil”, “How to draw a ball”, “Possibilities of a simple pencil”, etc. Upon request, the author of the site will also share with you the secret of how to sell his work when you get cool.

Just do not be afraid of the design of these sites, I also wonder why the artists have their "virtual face" made in such an unremarkable style. You can also use Youtube for learning, there are many detailed lessons on drawing specific objects, people, body parts and landscapes. In the meantime - a few works for inspiration, made with a simple pencil. I think it's great!

We live in wonderful times when all the knowledge about the world is within reach of the Internet. Do you want to learn how to draw? No need to go to art school or pay a personal tutor. There are many free tutorials to quickly draw something simple. But it is easy to get lost on the Internet, so I have prepared for you a collection of 100 drawing lessons.

Easy step by step drawing tutorials

Drawing is a difficult skill that cannot be learned overnight, but sometimes you want to draw... something, a drawing that you will be proud of without waiting months for decent results. Here are simple step by step tutorials. You can do them with little to no experience and good results are almost guaranteed if you follow the instructions carefully.

• How to Draw Cute Chibi Animals (with video!)
  

  In this tutorial, you will learn how to draw five simple chibi animals by applying the same rules to your own drawings. Each drawing is accompanied by a video!
  

• How to Draw Simple Christmas Icons - With Video!
  

  In this tutorial, you will learn how to draw four Christmas and winter mini illustrations. You don't have to wait for Christmas to draw them!
  

• How to draw Mandala
  

  Drawing mandalas can be very relaxing and it's up to you how the end result should look. So it can't fail!
  

• How to draw snowflakes
  

  Repetitive things are the easiest to draw and can be very beautiful. In this tutorial you will learn how to draw snowflakes step by step and how to use the same method to draw your own unique snowflake.
  

• Drawing for kids: pony drawing
  

  Sometimes it's best to keep things as simple as possible. This lesson was created for kids, but you can enjoy it at any age!
  

• Drawing for children: a galloping pony
  

  Want to try something a little harder? In this lesson you will learn how to draw a pony in a more dynamic pose.
  

• Drawing for children: drawing of a cute little fox
  

  This tutorial combines a cute end result with easy-to-follow instructions, perfect for kids and beginners.
  

• Fun Lesson: How to Draw a Doge!
  

  Drawing is supposed to be fun and what could be more fun than drawing a meme character? In this tutorial you will learn how to draw the famous dog, Doge, step by step.
  

• How to Draw T-Rex Dinosaur
  

  Who doesn't love dinosaurs? In this lesson you will draw the most terrible - the mighty T-Rex.
  

• How to draw a Unicorn step by step
  

  In this tutorial you will learn how to draw a real unicorn step by step with elegant body, shiny mane and screw horn.
  

• How to draw a boy from the Fallout series
  

  You can make drawing more fun by using the theme you like. In this tutorial you will draw the mascot of Vault-Tec, the famous Vault Boy.
  

• How To Draw Cute Chibi Kawaii Pokemon Characters
  

  Fan art is a great way to express your appreciation for others. Do you like Pokemon? Then you will love this series of easy tutorials!
  

• Fly, honey! How to draw a winged monkey
  

  Especially for Halloween, you will learn how to draw creatures from childhood nightmares - a winged monkey from the Wizard of Oz.
  

• Learn to draw patterns step by step
  

  Drawing doesn't always have to be about real things - you can have a lot of fun drawing simple patterns and this tutorial will show you how.
  

• How to Draw Animals: Butterflies, Their Anatomy and Wing Ornaments
  

  In this lesson, you will learn how to draw four kinds of beautiful butterflies, as well as how to create butterfly wings.
  

• How to draw a roaring lion
  

  Growl! In this tutorial you will draw a ferocious lion step by step, simply but accurately.
  

• How to draw a car from scratch
  

  In this tutorial, our instructor James Butler will show you how to draw a sports car step by step.
  

• How to Draw Transport: Drawing an Airplane from Scratch
  

  Do you like airplanes? Then you will love this step by step Supermarine Spitfire drawing tutorial.
  

• How to draw transport: motorcycles
  

  In this James Butler tutorial, you will learn how to draw a super fast motorcycle step by step.
  

• How to draw a tank
  

  Tanks can be a great drawing subject if you look at them up close. In this lesson you will learn how to draw this deadly heavy machine.
  

• How to draw a classic steam locomotive from scratch
  

  Choo-choo! In this lesson, you will draw a favorite theme of many children - a train.
  

• How to draw cars: tractors
  

  In this tutorial, James Butler will show you the world of working machines: tractors.
  

How to use the drawing tools

Drawing is not only about what you draw, but how you do it. It is important to have a good understanding of the tools, because even a simple pencil is not as simple as you think. You can learn by reading about the tools and also by following the teacher to learn his methods.

• Pencil Drawing Techniques
  

  In this lesson, you will learn all the basics of using a pencil - all in one place!
  

• 2B or Not 2B? Pencil Drawing Guide
  

  In this tutorial, you will learn the basic drawing techniques explained in an understandable way.
  

• Pencil Blending Tools
  

  In this tutorial, you'll learn what tools you can use to blend different shades drawn with pencils to create more realistic textures.
  

• Realistic mouth and teeth drawing
  

  In this tutorial you will learn how to use different pencils to draw a realistic mouth with teeth. You will also learn how to help yourself in this task.
  

• How to draw a lizard with ink
  

  In this tutorial, our instructor Eugenia Hauss will show you how to use the less popular drawing tool, ink, to create a fantastic end result.
  

• How to draw spring flowers with colored pencils
  

  In this tutorial, Eugenia Hauss will teach you how to draw beautiful flowers using colored pencils.
  

• How to draw a Dalmatian
  

  In this tutorial, Eugenia Hauss will show you how to use ink to draw a super cute Dalmatian dog.
  

• How to draw trees
  

  In this tutorial you will learn how to draw three different trees from scratch using different pencil techniques.
  

• How to draw a rose
  

  In this tutorial you will learn how to draw a beautiful rose from scratch, step by step.
  

• How to draw inexpensively: drawing with one pencil
  

  Do you want to learn how to draw but don't have the money to buy all those fancy tools? In this tutorial you will learn how to draw a lion step by step using just a pencil!
  

• How to draw grass, earth and rocks
  

  In this lesson, you will learn how to draw something like the ground under your characters' feet.
  

• How to draw a flower
  

  In this lesson you will learn how to draw three different flowers step by step.
  

• Draw the elements: how to draw fire
  

  The elements can be hard to draw, but they make every drawing more interesting. In this lesson you will learn how to draw a candle flame, a fireplace and a flame.
  

• How to draw a tree
  

  In this tutorial you will learn how to create a wood texture with pencils. The same technique can be used for many applications.
  

• How to draw a winter landscape from scratch
  

  In this tutorial you will learn how to draw a beautiful winter scene: snowy mountains, a frozen lake and evergreen trees.
  

• How to draw a realistic eye
  

  It's not easy to make a realistic drawing, but the effect is definitely worth it. In this tutorial you will draw a realistic eye step by step using pencils.
  

• How to draw stone and stone textures
  

  In this lesson you will learn how to draw rock textures with pencils.
  

• How to draw fabrics: silk and wool
  

  In this lesson you will learn how to draw fabrics such as shiny silk and fluffy wool. You will also learn how to draw the folds of the material.
  

• How to draw fur
  

  In this lesson you will learn how to draw both long and short fur that will suit any animal.
  

• How to draw feathers
  

  In this tutorial, you will learn about feathers in three different styles. Choose the one you like the most!
  

• Drawing Methods: 7 Basic Pencil Drawing Principles
  

  Bobby Chiu is a hero for anyone learning to draw and here he shares the secrets of drawing with a pencil.
  

The fascinating art of drawing

Sometimes you don't even need to draw anything to learn about drawing. Sometimes you just read about some technique and you are struck by its brilliance or you finally understand where all your problems come from. This list contains lessons and articles, they are full of knowledge that can change everything.

• I want to draw: simple exercises for beginners
  

  In this article, you will find a whole set of easy drawing exercises that will get you going in no time!
  

• Think in shapes, not lines: take it to the next level
  

  Did you know that you don't need to learn classic perspective to draw 3D creatures? This article will explain how this is possible.
  

• In this article, Dan Duhrkoop will give you some tips to improve your drawings quickly.
  

• How to draw cartoons: head shape
  

  Many beginners love caricature art because it doesn't feel as austere as realism. However, he has his own rules. You can find out from this article.
  

• How to start drawing: 5 methods for beginners
  

  In drawing, every stage matters, and this cannot be guesswork. How do you start your drawing? Check out the pros and cons of your method, and what are the alternatives.
  

• 7 sins of budding artists: what prevents you from being good
  

  Sometimes the biggest obstacle to an artist's success is the artist himself. Read this article to see if this is true for you.
  

• There is a simple method called "coil drawing" that you can always come in handy with.
  

• What is composition and why is it so important in drawing?
  

  Every drawing has a composition, even if you didn't plan it. If you don't know how it works, it will work against you!
  

• Why is it so hard to draw from imagination? Here's how to do it!
  

  Drawing from imagination is the holy grail for many artists. But why is it so difficult? Is it possible to know? This article will answer these questions and more.
  

• 10 myths blocking your progress
  

  There are common beliefs that can stand in your way even if you are not aware of them. Read this article to find out if you believe in drawing myths!
  

• Lackadaisy expressions
  

• How to learn to draw: the first stage, manual skills
  

  If you are thinking about learning to draw seriously, here you will find the very basics of this skill. Exercise regularly and you will see improvements!
  

• How to learn to draw: the second stage, accuracy
  

  Are proportions your main problem when drawing? In this article you will find a set of exercises to overcome it.
  

• How to learn to draw: stage 3, visual database
  

  It is not easy to draw from the imagination, but can be learned. Read the article to find out how.
  

• How to learn to draw: the fourth stage, style
  

  Do you dream of creating your own art style? It's not easy, but achievable! Details in this article.
  

• Cartoon Fundamentals: How to Draw a Cartoon Face
  

  In this tutorial, our cartoonist Carlos Gomes Cabral will show you the basics of drawing a cartoon face.
  

• Animation Basics: Create Emotions with Simple Face Changes
  

  In the world of cartoons, emotions are easy - learn how to capture them with this tutorial.
  

• Cartoon Fundamentals: How to Draw a Female Figure
  

  How to make a cartoon character feminine? Check out this tutorial to find out!
  

• Cartoon Fundamentals: How to Draw a Torso
  

  Cartoon figures look eccentric. You can learn the rules for creating them from this guide.
  

• Cartoon: Animal Drawing Secrets
  

  How to draw cartoon animals? In this lesson, Carlos Gomes Cabral will answer questions.
  

• Animation Basics: How to Create Movement and Action
  

  If you want to draw comics or bring your characters to life, you must first understand the theme of movement. This lesson will help you!
  

• Cartoon: how to draw children
  

  In this tutorial, Carlos Gomes Cabral will show you how to draw children in cartoon style.
  

• Cartoon Fundamentals: How to Draw Hands
  

  Hands are generally difficult to draw, but in this tutorial Carlos Gomes Cabral will show you how to make it easier.
  

Drawing tutorial videos

Sometimes you want to draw at your own pace, but sometimes it's better to show you exactly what to do, "live". Video tutorials are very useful here - you can see the process and listen to your teacher. Check out these great videos for beginners!

• Drawing Basics: Lines and Shapes
  

  In this video, professional illustrator Clint Cearley explains the basics of drawing: how 2D lines create 3D shapes.
  

• Drawing Basics: Perspective
  

  In this video, Clint Cearley will tell you everything you need to know about perspective in drawing - how to use it and why it's important.
  

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• Drawing Basics: Shadows
  

  In this video, Clint Cearley will show you all the elements of shading in practice. Make your drawings 3D!
  

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No matter how long you learn to draw from life, do you find that doing the same thing from imagination does not work? In this video, Clint Cearley will explain to you why this is happening and how to deal with this problem.


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• How to hold a pencil
  

  Are you holding your pencil correctly? In this video, drawing educator and artist Stan Prokopenko shows you a brilliant way to make your strokes more precise and less tiring.
  

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• Structure Basics - Building Things in 3D

  How to add depth to a drawing? In this video, Stan Prokopenko will show you how to make things voluminous.

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• How to Draw Body Structure - Robo Bean
  

  In this video, Stan Prokopenko will show you one simple trick to draw a 3D human body shape quickly and easily.
  

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• Chiaroscuro and shapes - basics
  

  Understanding light and shadow is critical for every artist and in this video Stan Prokopenko explains how it works.
  

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• Hatching
  

  If you want to know how to shade every shape, whether it's a person, an animal, or an inanimate object, this video will teach you all about it.
  

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• How to draw emotion
  

  In this video, illustrator, animator and art teacher Jazza will show you how to draw simple caricature emotions.
  

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• How to draw HANDS and HAND POSITIONS!
  

  Drawing hands is an artist's nightmare, but it will end thanks to this video tutorial!
  

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• How to draw cartoon eyes
  

  In this video, Jazza will show you how to draw the eyes of your cartoon characters.

If at school in drawing lessons you could not depict anything but the sun, a house or a tree, if your level of a painter can be compared with the work of a four-year-old child, if you are an artist from the word "bad", we offer you simple lessons on how to draw in stages with a pencil for beginners: for children, for adults and for everyone-all-all.

Perhaps every person who is not related to the fine arts, at least once in his life had to pick up a simple pencil or a piece of chalk and draw a simple picture from scratch without looking into a manual or textbook.

People who have a lack of imagination and problems with spatial thinking will surely agree that this task is not easy. And if you have long forgotten about drawing lessons at school, you may have a sudden need to learn how to draw with a pencil in stages for beginners. With a pencil in stages - this already sounds more pleasant than from scratch without a guide or textbook. After all, if you are not a great artist, you have enough correctly convey the shape of the object, draw the main lines and draw the main details. Leave claims to the realism of the image, to the ratio of color and shadow, as well as other professional requirements for real artists, for now we are learning to draw the simplest pictures: cartoons, animals, plants and people. The schemes of images that await you below are designed for the most adult "dummies" from the field of drawing, as well as for children 5-6 years old, so you will not have any difficulties.

How to learn to draw with a pencil: from scratch step by step for beginners

Drawing can seem like a difficult and overwhelming task for those who want to get results right away without much effort. But you remember that we draw in stages and set ourselves initially simple tasks so that the expectation coincides with reality.

In the early stages of preparation, you will need a simple pencil, paper and patience. You also need to know that almost all simple drawings consist of lines, circles, ovals, rectangles, squares, zigzags and other kinds of squiggles. If for some reason your drawing is not perfect, you can erase part of it or start from scratch. That's the beauty of drawing.

We will start with our smaller brothers, that is, with animals

How to draw a person's face in stages with a pencil for beginners?

Perhaps the most difficult task for a beginner painter is the task in which it is necessary to draw a human face. From the first time you will probably not succeed in reproducing all the details and accuracy of the human physiognomy. It is better to start with less realistic drawings, such as anime.

Learn to Draw Anime

The anime genre has won the attention of not only children, but also adults. Big expressive eyes, an unusual face shape and lush flowing hair are characteristics of anime characters.

However, there is something else interesting in them - these are emotions. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the process of creating an anime face, as well as explore all the shades of anime emotions.

Draw a portrait of a person with a pencil

After a little warm-up with emotions, we will tell you how to draw a person's face in stages with a pencil for beginners. We will not invent a bicycle and draw all the main lines together with you.

How to draw a person with a pencil step by step for beginners?

You have already acquired some knowledge on how to learn how to draw with a pencil from scratch in stages for beginners. A simple pencil is the most practical tool budding artist. With it, you can depict entire landscapes, flowers, tanks, people. And if we have already figured out a little with the image of a human face, then we still need to work with the human figure.

The figure of a standing person will be of interest to novice artists.

A woman taking a step.

The figure of a woman in different positions.

What else can be drawn with a simple pencil?

In fine arts proportions must be taken into account., as well as the symmetry of the arrangement of all parts. Yes, when you draw a cat, you should calculate exactly where the ears, paws, nose and eyes will be. Markup will help you with this.

With a simple pencil, you can draw a beautiful house, palace and even the Kremlin.

When drawing animals, you can use elementary techniques, such as drawing a simple circle.

there are answers to all these questions. Here are the basics, where to start painting. Follow these tips, do the exercises and you will no longer be afraid of a clean slate. You will receive the necessary knowledge and basic skills. Painting will become closer, clearer and will deliver a lot of pleasure.

Part 1. Preparatory

1. Find an inspiring object to draw

It happens that you have already prepared everything, but you cannot find an object that would inspire you. This should be taken care of in advance. Something interesting must have been lying around in cupboards and drawers. Look for items at sales, consignment and grocery stores. Study the paintings of your favorite artists.

The collection should include objects that are pleasant to look at: this is important for creating a successful work.

Interest in color and form will motivate you in the process of working on the picture. There is a connection between feelings for an object and the ability to reveal one's abilities. You can do more than you think.

For the first picture, a simple one-color symmetrical vessel, such as an ordinary coffee cup, will do. Illustration from the book

2. Get familiar with brushes and paints

Take a soft round and bristle brush in your hands and compare their pile. Squeeze some acrylic paint from the tube onto the palette. Try applying undiluted paint with different brushes to canvas or watercolor paper. strokes should be bright and embossed. Feel the difference in strokes with different brushes. Add some water and apply the strokes again. The average consistency of the paint has the same color intensity as undiluted, but its texture is smoothed out. And do this exercise again with a weak paint solution. Note how quickly the paints dry the first, second, and third times.

Illustration from the book

Try to apply paint with different brushes - oval soft, synthetic thin, bristly flat. Try each brush until you're sure you know which brush to use to complete your design.

Illustration from the book

3. Useful palette tricks

The colors in the paintings that we see are usually obtained by mixing: the pure color from the tube is usually too intense. These tricks will make it easier for you to get the right color.

1. 1Squeeze out the paint from the tube to the edge of the palette, leaving a space between the colors. Use the center of the palette for blending. Keep batches far apart to prevent unwanted mixing.
2. Pick up a pure color on the brush from the edge of the palette, and not from above and not from the middle of the extruded “sausage”.
3. Intense dark colors such as black (although not scientifically considered a color) should be added with care: even a small amount can significantly change the color being blended.
4. You need to mix the colors with each other until the batch becomes completely homogeneous.
5. Don't skimp on the paint. Squeeze out as much as you need - usually this is a circle the size of a ruble coin (for white - with a five-ruble coin). Paint consumption is an integral part of the painting process. If you save too much, you will never learn how to use paint.

4. Learn to get neutral colors

In any picture there are neutral colors - "visually gray". Due to their low intensity, they are invisible at first glance, but this is the most useful tool for creating a harmonious color composition. Let's see how to achieve this.

Mix blue and orange in any proportion. Now let's try to change the color temperature due to the proportional ratio of warm and cold colors in the mixture. If the result is more purple, try making it rusty by adding more orange paint and then white for a lighter peach color. If a rusty color is formed in the first step, add blue to make a cool color close to purple, and then white to make a light purple-gray.

Repeat the previous steps for another pair of complementary colors - yellow and purple, red and green.

Pairs of complementary colors are connected by short vertical strokes. The colors of each pair are mixed together to produce two neutral colors, each dominated by one of the parent colors, located to the right of the respective parent. Illustration from the book

5. Primary, secondary and tertiary colors

Draw a circle, then break it into three identical sectors. Paint the upper sector with medium cadmium yellow, the lower right sector with ultramarine blue, and then mix the main red from raspberry naphthol and light cadmium red and paint over the lower left sector with it.

On the color wheel from the primary colors, draw semicircles centered at the intersection of the sector boundaries with the outer contour of the color wheel. Fill in these semicircles with secondary colors, positioned above the "parents": cadmium red light above the border between red and yellow, violet dioxazine above the border between red and blue. Add yellow to the green FC and paint a green semicircle over the border between yellow and blue.

The main color, when mixed with the adjacent secondary, gives the tertiary. Add one triangle on each side of the semicircle, for a total of six. Color each triangle based on the labels.

Primary, secondary and tertiary colors. Illustration from the book

Part 2. Drawing

6. Start with abstractions

Abstraction is a fun and easy way to prepare for a realistic piece. It is important to choose 3-4 colors that you like in order to feel an emotional connection with the painting. Draw a continuous, angular or rounded line over the entire surface of the sheet with a simple pencil. It may overlap several times.

Paint over the shapes in the drawing with the colors and shades, paint consistency and brush that you like. Listen to your inner voice. The main task is to do as you like, forgetting about everything else.

Illustration from the book

7. Smears scheme

Beginners are often unsure how to apply strokes. In the figure, the arrows show the direction that will help to achieve a good depth of the depicted space using the example of a mug.

The scheme of strokes and the result. Illustration from the book

8. How to apply shadow

Shadows play a key role in creating a three-dimensional image: they must first be learned to see and write. There are four types of shadows in total:

• Own shadows located on objects. These are areas of dark tone that contrast with the illuminated parts of the depicted form. They usually have a sharp border on the outer contour and a smooth transition on the border with areas of light tone of the object. They play a major role in creating volume.
• Halftone areas- narrow, with a soft contour, located on the border between its own shadow and the illuminated area of ​​the object. These shadows are the middle tone between the contrasting dark and light tones of the subject.
• Falling shadows- the silhouettes of the object, "fallen" or thrown by it on any surface, except for itself. They give the impression that the object is on some surface.
• T eni at the point of contact- the darkest area of ​​the drop shadow lying next to the object. They are responsible for the "stability" and mass of the object. These shadows are also called accent - the darkest area among the dark tones. The accent is the dark counterpart of the highlight, the lightest area of ​​the highlights.

To draw a shadow, put black paint or a paint that is darker than the main color. And in the second step, cover this darkened area with the main color. The black color in the halftone should show through under the new layer of paint, creating a colored shadow. If you want to make the shadow darker, apply more black from the sharp edge of the shadow and blend with the color at the midtone.

Shadow on the example of a cylinder. Illustration from the book

9. How to apply highlights

To create a realistic highlight, use a dry brush with white to mark the lightest area on the subject as many times as necessary for sufficient brightness. In the middle of the highlight, put a small smear of thick paint for more brightness.

Two examples of overlay highlights. Illustration from the book

10. Paint pictures in your mind

As you go about your daily activities, paint pictures in your mind. Mentally look for a match between the surfaces and textures you see around you and the way you work with the brush and apply paint.