10 Steps to Improve Your Drawing Skills
Are You Afraid to Put Your Pencil to Paper to Draw; I Was too Until. . .
Hey there, so, no matter how many times I tell people that I can not draw, they do not believe me. I started looking through some of my very first drawings and paintings before and after I suffered a stroke in June 2021; and there wasn’t much improvement. Improvement didn’t come until after I spent hundreds of dollars on a little class here and there, on top of the many books I now have in my art studio. Like I mentioned before in a previous Substack, I wasn’t born an artist; I have had to and continue to take courses and purchase books, hoping they will help me develop my skills further. One book that is staring at me right now, “How to Draw with Photorealism”, by Jasmina Susak. I purchased that book last year and I’m just getting to it. I have a goal in mind to develop my skills as an artist. So, behind the scenes, I’m working diligently, painting, reading, learning, drawing almost everyday. I’m in a class right now that you should check out, it’s called Bold School, and no, I am not getting anything for posting their link, guess I need to reach out to them though to let them know that I’m posting about them https://www.boldschool.com/ If you do sign up with them, please let me know.
Susak (2019) mentioned something that had me shaking my head in agreement, things people often say about them developing their art skills, let’s see if you can identify too: “it’s getting on my nerves, or I can’t sit in one place for so long”. I’ve certainly been there, what about you? I’m in my art studio almost everyday and I can not say that I am happy with everything I create. Some times I just want to throw black paint all over it. But, I don’t. I just walk away and take a break; sometimes when I return, it actually doesn’t look as bad as I thought it did; especially when I put it in a frame. Ever tried putting a not so pretty picture in a frame? Try it.
I’m learning that in order for me to become the type of artist I would love to become, it’s going to take a lot of time, commitment and consistency, along with persistence. So, there you have it; becoming an artist for most of us ain’t easy!!!!! It’s literally a full-time job, actually it’s even more than that; because while most people leave their 9 to 5 at a decent time of day, we artists can be found in our studios past midnight. Our time in the studio is not measured by the length of time as in a normal 9 to 5: we don’t clock our time; we just sit, or stand and do our thang as long as we feel our ‘vibe’ to paint or draw, or write, or do whatever we do to create. It’s fun. It can be stress-free. Exciting. Wonderful. And, I’ll speak for myself, I love creating, I love being right here in my art studio staring at new paints, new canvases, new mediums to use, its freeing!
Here are 10 Steps to Improve Your “Drawing” Skills or Any Skill From My Own Observations, Pain, Agony, And Joy 😁
Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key to improvement. Set aside time daily or weekly to draw. I began using a calendar to block out “creative time” when I first started out. Now it’s just second nature. Every day I’m in the studio. Practice! Practice! Practice! Every cook has thrown out food they were unhappy with and started over until they got it right. Sports is the same way, you practice until you get better.
Study Fundamentals. Learn basic techniques like shading, perspective, and proportions. If you’re like me, you just rolled your eyes. Just stop it. I know, that part right there is, ugly face here; the most challenging part!! I’m taking this class right now and I’m learning how to do shading, what values are and how very important it is to think of values when drawing, especially if you are using graphite or pencils. See! I’m learning something too. Going back to the basics in something that is new to you is absolutely important. Do it. You won’t regret it.
Observation: Observe real-life objects, people, and nature closely to understand details and forms. Recently my family and I were in San Antonio, TX celebrating my mother-in-laws 100th birthday, such an amazing time we had spending with our family. While sitting there in the hotel, I took out my pencil and my sketchbook, that I now carry everywhere I go, and I started drawing what I saw, people, tables, cups, chairs, art hanging, and plants. It was interesting, as people move often and don’t sit for long periods of time in a hotel restaurant. So, knowing this, I took photos first, then finished up at a later time. I do the same thing when I’m home and out for a walk. I take plenty of photos of plants, flowers, trees, buildings, and now I’m starting to add human figures. Every place I go is an opportunity to improve upon my skills, so I take pictures and paint or draw as often as I can. Right now, my drawings suck!! And, I’m okay with that. I’ll get better with practice and time, commitment and consistency.
Use References: Study from photos or real-life references to understand complex shapes and details. This one is a big one for me, because before this class that I’m currently taking; I thought every artist out there had some genius drawing and painting skills, but, using references to aide you in creating your masterpiece is a no-brainer. It helps the creative process go by a little bit smoother. It doesn’t create a masterpiece without your input of course; and chances are your first few attempts might just look like child’s play. However, it’s worth it. Just put in the time and practice.
Experiment: Try different mediums, styles, and subjects to find what resonates with you. When I first started painting in 2021, I purchased a $7.00 watercolors set with paint and a brush; yes, it was cheap, but it was my first watercolors paint set and I enjoyed it. Not long afterwards I purchased some more expensive paints and had fun with them. Friends have given me watercolor pencils, various multimedia papers, crayons, graphite pencils and acrylics paints. I’ve purchased lots of paint brushes for watercolor, acrylics and oil paints: glazing mediums, UV-Resistants’, spray paints, glitters, art boards, canvases, Chalky paints, stencils, paper blocks, art related books, sketchbooks, a nice floor easel, a speaker to play my music and last but certainly not least, aprons to protect my clothes.
Seek Feedback: Join art communities or share your work with peers to receive constructive criticism. I’m giggling as I write this because I’m still working on this one. I still feel like an amateur, so I’m not really ready to put myself out there yet, well, other than here on my own Substack. I’m just saying. I do have a few artist friends now and they are great at giving feedback when I ask for it, I’ll be seeking more feedback once I start creating more art that I feel is ready. Anyhoo, moving on!
Learn from Others: Study artists you admire to understand their techniques and approaches. So, I mentioned books in number 6 above; I’m reading (Susak, 2019) which is all about drawing and learning how to create proper shading, tones, and values. I Love some of the old great artists such as Matisse, of which I have a book of his art and many more. At this point I’ve decided, if you all are interested, I would love to share some of the other art books I have in my collection.
Keep a Sketchbook: Carry a sketchbook and draw regularly to capture ideas and practice on the go. Like I said before, this is an area that has recently become of interest to me. I’m looking at new sketchbooks sitting here on my desk. I keep on a subscription through Amazon, so that I’m never without a new one.
Don't Fear Mistakes: Embrace errors as learning opportunities; they're part of the creative process. You should see this painting I did last week! Ok, maybe you shouldn’t because if you were drinking water, coffee or tea, you would certainly spit it out!!! And then fall on the floor laughing, wondering what in the heck is that!!! Well, I’m proudly displaying this ugly, hideous picture right now on my wall. It’s behind me, so, I don’t have to stare at it, but, he’d definitely staring at me. 🤣
Stay Patient and Persistent: Improvement takes time, so be patient and stay dedicated to your practice. On may wall to remind me when I get frustrated and want to give up is the word, consistency.
CONSISTENCY WILL GET YOU THERE
Remember, the journey of improvement as an artist or anything you are pursuing is as rewarding as the destination!
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Michelle Joy