ART!*

Just A Few Tips in Drawing (..and some things)

I’m bored so I’m having this list for you guys out there wanting to improve their drawing skills or those of you who wants to start drawing but are afraid to. I’m saying these things out of experience. Here goes:

1. STUDY ANATOMY 

Studying anatomy is like the backbone of drawing. Whichever field you are in drawing, anatomy is important. Before you actually make distortions (long necks, gargantuan bodies, boney arms, etc.) you should first know what you’re distorting. Know what you’re dealing with before you actually deal with it.  

     2.  OBSERVE

Look at people around you. Look at yourself in the mirror. Observe the details on your face. Draw yourself inside your head. (or at least other people if you don’t like drawing yourself, like my case.) Look at the shape of your nose, your eyes, your mouth, the shape of your head, the curves of your jaw, look at both ends of your lips, the space between your upper lip and the base of your nose, etc. Observe how the hands work, how your arms twist, how the bones inside you support your movements, the gap between your thighs, etc. Breakdown everything in its basic shape. 

     3.  DON’T TRACE YOUR SUBJECT

While some believe that tracing is actually a good practice, it isn’t. It takes away the challenge of observing details and it removes the essence of drawing. Use guidelines instead. Scaling is okay because it at least gives the artist ‘challenge’ in observing the shapes inside the boxes. But you shouldn’t get yourself used to scaling because you’re going to have a hard time drawing freely without the use of lines. 

     4.  MAKE MISTAKES

Drawing is sometimes experimental. Making mistakes is okay because you learn from it. Don’t be afraid to try something you haven’t tried, and make something new. Make something and never be afraid of failing. It’s better to try and fail than failing without even trying. 

     5.  DRAW EVERYDAY

A drawing a day makes a good artist. Always bring a sketchpad/book and your pencil/pen with you. Draw whenever you’re waiting in a cafe for your friend, draw when you’re in a park, draw when you’re not listening to your boring Math professor, draw when you feel like drawing, draw your thoughts, draw your crush’s face, draw buildings, draw your pet dog, draw random things on your sketch pad, whatever it is, just draw and check your progress every now and then. You’ll be surprised. 

     6. SHARE YOUR DRAWINGS

Sharing is now as easy ascounting 1 to 3 (thank you, Internet.) Share your works because they’re made for people to see. Don’t be afraid of the criticisms that you might (and will surely) get because they will help you grow. 

     7.   ART OR FART

Stop caring what people think and just do your stuff. Art or not, just draw what you want to draw. Whatever it is that you’re doing, do it because you want it and do it because you love it. 

(Source: vinquilop)