How to Draw What You See
Get comfortable., Use a pencil to draw., Don't use an eraser at first., Look carefully at the scene or object you want to draw., Remember the general rule: objects higher up on the plane (closer to the sky) are generally smaller and farther away...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Get comfortable.
You can't draw well if you are sitting cross-legged on a pile of sharp rocks! -
Step 2: Use a pencil to draw.
Do not use a mechanical pencil.
It may seem easier, but it's better if you use a graphite pencil (not only is it easier to control, it also doesn't limit your range of motion,and it doesn't leave dents in the paper). , You won't need it for the original sketching because it is meant to be quick and very light.
The lines you create at first will be barely visible! , Visually take a picture of it.
Try to absorb every detail into your brain.
Spend about 3-4 minutes doing this. , Objects that are far away are less clear and have softer edges as though they are foggy. ,, Move your thumb to take a measurement from the end of the pencil to your thumb.
If a person in your scene measures 1/2 the length of your pencil, and the height of a park bench measures 1/4, then make the bench in your drawing half the height of the person. , Sketch so lightly that you can barely see the pencil marks, and only spend about 5 minutes drawing the entire scene. , This is why you drew lightly. , Draw everything at once
- otherwise, every part of the drawing will look like it's the wrong size in relation to everything else. , You can use these lines to be more careful and correct the first lines.
If you mess up, erase the first line.
Don't get too dark, or you won't be able to completely erase the lines! , Trees are all different
- but careful not to make all the trunks and limbs perfectly straight.
Even the limbs of a pine tree swoop down slightly and then curve back out to match the horizon line. , (See the list below) , If anything is white or yellow in your scene, don't draw it! Let the paper be the lightest areas. , Colored pencils or markers will make this worse.
Painting, however, is an option
- you can completely paint over your drawing and use the drawing as a template.
Although it is best to photo-copy it first so you can still see your original drawing. -
Step 3: Don't use an eraser at first.
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Step 4: Look carefully at the scene or object you want to draw.
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Step 5: Remember the general rule: objects higher up on the plane (closer to the sky) are generally smaller and farther away than objects lower
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Step 6: which are closer to you.
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Step 7: You'll notice some artists stick their pencil out in the air between their eye and their subject - this is to measure objects.
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Step 8: Hold your arm out straight with pencil in hand.
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Step 9: Sketch the entire scene lightly
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Step 10: keeping the above rules in mind.
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Step 11: Don't worry if everything doesn't look right the first time.
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Step 12: Don't start drawing a tiny portion of your scene and work on that part for a long time.
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Step 13: Once you are happy with the general scene you sketched even though it is not perfect
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Step 14: fill in slightly darker lines.
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Step 15: Sketch general shapes; a person's head is an oval
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Step 16: a rock that is resting on the ground should have a flattened bottom
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Step 17: an animal can be drawn with a series of ovals
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Step 18: circles
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Step 19: and hot-dog shapes.
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Step 20: If you are drawing geometric shapes like buildings or mechanical objects
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Step 21: you will want a ruler and some templates.
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Step 22: Shade what is not completely drenched in light: use soft line
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Step 23: or crisscrosses
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Step 24: or whatever way you feel comfortable making darker areas.
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Step 25: Color should be used sparingly with pencil drawings
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Step 26: because the lead is sensitive and will smear easily across the page.
Detailed Guide
You can't draw well if you are sitting cross-legged on a pile of sharp rocks!
Do not use a mechanical pencil.
It may seem easier, but it's better if you use a graphite pencil (not only is it easier to control, it also doesn't limit your range of motion,and it doesn't leave dents in the paper). , You won't need it for the original sketching because it is meant to be quick and very light.
The lines you create at first will be barely visible! , Visually take a picture of it.
Try to absorb every detail into your brain.
Spend about 3-4 minutes doing this. , Objects that are far away are less clear and have softer edges as though they are foggy. ,, Move your thumb to take a measurement from the end of the pencil to your thumb.
If a person in your scene measures 1/2 the length of your pencil, and the height of a park bench measures 1/4, then make the bench in your drawing half the height of the person. , Sketch so lightly that you can barely see the pencil marks, and only spend about 5 minutes drawing the entire scene. , This is why you drew lightly. , Draw everything at once
- otherwise, every part of the drawing will look like it's the wrong size in relation to everything else. , You can use these lines to be more careful and correct the first lines.
If you mess up, erase the first line.
Don't get too dark, or you won't be able to completely erase the lines! , Trees are all different
- but careful not to make all the trunks and limbs perfectly straight.
Even the limbs of a pine tree swoop down slightly and then curve back out to match the horizon line. , (See the list below) , If anything is white or yellow in your scene, don't draw it! Let the paper be the lightest areas. , Colored pencils or markers will make this worse.
Painting, however, is an option
- you can completely paint over your drawing and use the drawing as a template.
Although it is best to photo-copy it first so you can still see your original drawing.
About the Author
Douglas White
Writer and educator with a focus on practical pet care knowledge.
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