If you have never tried pencil drawing before, you may be wondering how to get started. The truth is that pencils are a great way to create a wide variety of images. Whether you’re looking to create a simple picture of your dog or a detailed portrait, a pencil is an excellent tool. You can use it to create contour lines, scumbling, Optical illusions and more.
Contour lines
One of the easiest ways to improve your drawing skills is to try a few simple contour line exercises. Using contour lines as a guide, you’ll learn how to break down objects into their basic shapes. Seeing objects in their simplest form will simplify your work, and you’ll be able to create more artistic drawings.
You may already have a pencil, paper, and a little creativity on your side. For the most part, you’ll be able to complete a few contour lines in 5 to 20 minutes, depending on your subject matter. Depending on your ability, you’ll be able to get creative with some unconventional tools, such as string.
In fact, you can even use a dry erase marker. However, you should avoid pressing too hard with your H-grade pencil. This will result in a scoring of your paper, which isn’t pretty.
While you’re at it, try using a fine-tip marker. Having a light touch is the key to a successful contour line drawing. Also, pay attention to the negative space of your subject. A line drawn between two points will convey more information than a line spanning the whole of your subject.
Another way to draw the best contour line is to draw your subject from the back. This is particularly helpful for people with vision issues. Often, contour lines can be a bit tricky to draw on the front. Nevertheless, they can produce interesting results.
Another useful tip is to practice your contour line art on a larger canvas. When you do this, you’ll find that the results are much more interesting. Moreover, it helps to reduce the amount of time you spend looking at your sketchpad.
Layering pencil marks
If you’re interested in colored pencils, you might have heard about the various techniques you can use to blend and combine colors. Some techniques include hatching, circling shading and blotting.
The right technique for a particular piece of art will depend on the subject. For example, a sketch of anatomical organs would need to incorporate burnishing, a technique that allows you to layer colors. Another trick is combining a colored pencil and a Prismacolor.
When working on a smooth paper, a wax pencil works best. They are softer and don’t smear as easily as other pencils. However, you might want to get a workable fixative to seal in the pencil layers. This will help you to get the most out of your work.
When layering color, the order of application matters. Lighter colors over dark ones will give you a brighter effect. You can also use a white pencil to create highlights.
If you’re using a soft pencil, you will want to start with a light pressure. Using too much pressure can flatten the paper’s texture. But that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve dense coverage.
You can also create a nice texture by scumbling. Scumbling is a technique where you make tiny circular marks. This is similar to cross hatching.
Burnishing is another useful technique. It produces a thicker layer, which can be used to blend color. Unlike hatching, this technique is not as effective on rough or uneven papers.
Besides the aforementioned techniques, you can use an X-ACTO knife to create a distinct texture. And don’t forget to wipe away excess colored pencil. That way, you won’t end up with a muddy mess.
Scumbling
When drawing with a pencil or color pencil, you can use the technique of scumbling. This can add depth and texture to your artwork.
Scumbling is a type of shading that involves making continuous circular marks on the paper. It’s a fun effect to use. You can use it to make smoother transitions in your artwork, or to add highlights to darker areas of your drawings.
The scumbling technique is best used with a pencil or coloured pencil. It’s not very common to use pastels or brush pens in this technique. However, you can substitute a stylus for the pencil.
Pencil scumbling uses a series of circular or looping marks. Smaller circles produce a more controlled effect, while larger circles make for freeform work. In addition, the size of the circles will determine the texture of your scumbling.
Claude Monet and Turner both used the scumbling technique in their works. Turner used the technique to create atmospheric seascapes. He also used scumbling to create the effects of light and dark in his paintings.
You can use scumbling paints, but make sure you’re using a dry brush. Wet paint will ruin the scumbling effect. Also, try to avoid mixing scumbling paint with other mediums.
Another scumbling painting technique you can try is cross hatching. This technique creates an illusion of depth by layering tiny circular marks. There are two types of cross hatching: concave and convex. Concave scumbling produces a natural, organic looking surface, while convex scumbling produces a random, chaotic effect.
The scumbling technique is also used in charcoal drawing to create the illusion of depth. Typically, dark areas are shaded with parallel lines, while lighter areas are made with looser marks.
Perspective technique
When drawing with pencil, the technique of perspective is important for enhancing your work. It adds depth and realism to your drawings, and gives a sense of three-dimensionality to objects on two-dimensional surfaces. In addition, it helps you understand your designs and understand the light in a scene.
The perspective technique involves the use of vanishing points. These are lines that are placed on the horizon to give the illusion that an object has depth. For example, a tall building will have a third vanishing point above it.
You can also use one or two vanishing points to give a sense of distance. To determine where to place your vanishing points, you’ll want to look at the object in question. If you’re looking at it from an angle, it’ll have two vanishing points on the horizon.
The first step is to identify the horizon line. This is the line that separates the sky from the land. Depending on how close the subject is to the horizon, you can place your vanishing points anywhere from halfway up to the horizon.
Once you’ve determined where to place your vanishing points, the next step is to draw a grid with perspective lines. You can do this by using a ruler. Make sure to run your lines through each vanishing point.
Eventually, you’ll be able to draw a simple one-point perspective grid. This is great for drawing simple landscapes and cityscapes.
However, if you’re interested in adding depth to your work, you might want to try the Two Point Perspective technique. Unlike One Point Perspective, the two-point perspective grid has two vanishing points.
By understanding how the vanishing point works, you’ll be able to create more realistic and interesting pieces of art. And, because it’s a technique, you can change your elements and information as you go.
Optical illusions
The art of optical art was a long and a half before modern day digital art reigned supreme. The art of optical art can be viewed in a variety of contexts from a drab old school to a plethora of computer controlled toy designs. It’s all about the right amount of light, right amount of airflow and the right balance of color to form. In the hands of a mastermind it can yield stunning results. Optical art is also the epitome of simplicity, if you follow the rules.
There are several aforementioned examples of the art of optical art but you need not break the bank to enjoy it. The main drawback is that it takes some time and patience to produce the resulting masterpieces. To help you on your quest, a few reputable sources have stepped up to the challenge. A quick browse through their portfolios will show you that they are no ordinary artists. Some of them even make an art of their own. Among the aforementioned names, I was particularly impressed by Howard Lee. He is a hyper realist when it comes to capturing the imagination with his pen and paper creations. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine that the man behind the october sat on his lapels for much of the past year or so.