Things to Remember as You Draw
Once you’ve got the essentials down, there are a couple of things to keep in mind as you practice these basic drawing techniques.
Start light. When you’re beginning to sketch, make light marks on your paper. That way, if you make a mistake, they are easier to erase (if you’re using pencil). It also allows you to gradually build your tone and shadows.
Artist: Kamwei Fong
Line weight is important. Things that are darker or thicker will be interpreted as having a greater visual weight than a light-colored or thin line. As you draw, consider what area of your subject is shaded or is “anchoring” your composition. You’ll want to focus on making deep shadows or extra thick lines—or both. But if you’re trying to communicate a highlight, however, keep things light and delicate.
Don’t be afraid to mix it up—literally. Variety is the spice of life, so don’t be afraid to mix a couple of the basic techniques into your artwork. One way could be to draw the details of someone’s face in hatching and cross-hatching, while their hair is done using the back-and-forth approach. There’ll be much more visual interest that way.
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