Art of Basic Drawing

Discover simple step-by-step techniques for drawing a wide variety of subjects in pencil

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• Publisher: Walter Foster Publishing
• Year: 2005
• Print ISBN: 9781560109136
• eBook ISBN: 9781610598194
• Topic: Art
• Subtopic: Art Techniques

This compilation of some of our most popular How to Draw and Paint and Artist's Library series titles gives artists the perfect introduction to the basics of drawing. The Art of Basic Drawing contains fundamental information about tools and techniques, as well as a number of inspiring step-by-step lessons. With instruction and advice from five different accomplished artists, this book showcases a range of styles for beginners to imitate. And with simple, easy-to-follow lessons that cover a variety of subject matter-from engaging still lifes and beautiful landscapes to realistic people and adorable animals-there is something for everyone inside. With the inspiring material in this comprehensive reference book, you’ll soon discover how exciting the world of drawing can be!

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION TO
BASIC DRAWING

Although the age-old art of pencil drawing is the basic foundation of all the visual arts, its elemental beauty allows it to stand on its own. And pencil art is amazingly versatile—it can range from simple, unshaded contour line drawings to complex, fully rendered compositions with a complete range of tonal values. The projects in this book are taken from some of the most popular drawing books in Walter Foster’s How to Draw and Paint Series. And because all the successful artists featured in this book have developed their own special approach to drawing, there are countless lessons to be learned from their individual and distinct perspectives. You’ll find all the inspiration you need as you follow a diverse presentation of subject matter and instruction. So grab a pencil and start making your mark!

TOOLS AND MATERIALS

Drawing is not only fun, it is also an important art form in itself. Even when you write or print your name, you are actually drawing! If you organize the lines, you can make shapes; and when you carry that a bit further and add dark and light shading, your drawings begin to take on a three-dimensional form and look more realistic. One of the great things about drawing is that you can do it anywhere, and the materials are very inexpensive. You do get what you pay for, though, so purchase the best you can afford at the time, and upgrade your supplies whenever possible. Although anything that will make a mark can be used for some type of drawing, you’ll want to make certain your magnificent efforts will last and not fade over time. Here are some of the materials that will get you off to a good start.

Sketch Pads Conveniently bound drawing pads come in a wide variety of sizes, textures, weights, and bindings. They are particularly handy for making quick sketches and when drawing outdoors. You can use a large sketchbook in the studio for laying out a painting, or take a small one with you for recording quick impressions when you travel. Smooth- to medium-grain paper texture (which is called the “tooth”) is often an ideal choice.

Drawing Papers For finished works of art, using single sheets of drawing paper is best. They are available in a range of surface textures: smooth grain (plate and hot pressed), medium grain (cold pressed), and rough to very rough. The cold-pressed surface is the most versatile. It is of medium texture but it’s not totally smooth, so it makes a good surface for a variety of different drawing techniques.

Charcoal Papers Charcoal paper and tablets are also available in a variety of textures. Some of the surface finishes are quite pronounced, and you can use them to enhance the texture in your drawings. These papers also come in a variety of colors, which can add depth and visual interest to your drawings.

Work Station It is a good idea to set up a work area that has good lighting and enough room for you to work and lay out your tools. Of course, an entire room with track lighting, easel, and drawing table is ideal. But all you really need is a place by a window for natural lighting. When drawing at night, you can use a soft white light bulb and a cool white fluorescent light so that you have both warm (yellowish) and cool (bluish) light.

Artist’s Erasers A kneaded eraser is a must. It can be formed into small wedges and points to remove marks in very tiny areas. Vinyl erasers are good for larger areas; they remove pencil marks completely. Neither eraser will damage the paper surface unless scrubbed too hard.

Tortillons These paper “stumps” can be used to blend and soften small areas where your finger or a cloth is too large. You can also use the sides to quickly blend large areas. Once the tortillons become dirty, simply rub them on a cloth, and they’re ready to go again.

Utility Knives Utility knives (also called “craft” knives) are great for cleanly cutting drawing papers and mat board. You can also use them for sharpening pencils. (See the box on page 7.) Blades come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are easily interchanged. But be careful; the blades are as sharp as scalpels!

GATHERING THE BASICS

You don’t need a lot of supplies to start; you can begin enjoying drawing with just a #2 or an HB pencil, a sharpener, a vinyl eraser, and any piece of paper. You can always add more pencils, charcoal, tortillons, and such later. When shopping for pencils, notice that they are labeled with letters and numbers; these indicate the degree of lead softness. Pencils with B leads are softer than ones with H l...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Chapter 1: Introduction to Basic Drawing
• Chapter 2: Introduction to Still Lifes
• Chapter 3: Introduction to Animals
• Chapter 4: Introduction to Landscapes
• Chapter 5: Introduction to People
• Index
• About the Artists
• Copyright Page