Help with drawing (pencils only, preferably)?

Question

I've always enjoyed drawing, but i'm not too good. I enjoy to draw little scenes of various things that are happening, most often with people, but i'm not too good at drawing people. I don't wish to learn about complex portraits with a bunch of detail, but I do want to get away from stick figures, however complex they might be. Also, i'm not too great at drawing living things like animals. Any answer is great, about any drawing or little tips too make it look better. Thanks!

P.S i'm not experienced, as in I don't sit down with a bunch of tools and draw a big meaningful picture. I jsut like drawing things to show little jokes or goofy scenarios, or doodling little things that don't take much time but show alot. Basiclly, i'm looking for ways to help show a more detailed person then a stick figure or a little polygon-person.

Answer 1

The easy way to draw people with correct proportions is to sketch them in a pose as a stick figure, then draw in ovals or other shapes for each part of their body - ie their upper arm, their lower arm, their hand. Then try going around that with their clothing, which is now in the correct proportions, and erasing the middle. You could do a similar technique with animals - think about the position their limbs and bones are in, then sketch that stick-figure style, and then outline it with more realistic shapes.

And of course - practice makes perfect. Or at least, practice makes you improve over time, bit it doesn't have the same ring to it.

Answer 2

Two things
To get skills at drawing shapes, instead of stick figures, find shapes and draw them with special emphasis on shadows that vary with the shape. If you don't understand, pick up a basic drawing book that shows the effect of light on a cylinder, a sphere, a cube, etc., and shows what shading effects are available with the point, line, and side of a pencil.
Then observe a statue with good lighting - and by good I mean side or diagonal lighting, not even office lighting. If you can't get to a museum or park, buy a bust or head several inches tall and put it near a window in your home. To begin with just try to draw the shape of the eye socket and cheek bone or lips and chin - just enough reverse curves and vertical and horizontal curves to make the light and shade interesting. It can be useful to find drawings or etchings and copy the strokes used to draw parts of the body.
And I point I learned long ago in an engineering sketching class: feel free to turn the paper to get the best line. Drawing a line straight up and down on the paper is hard. Turning the paper 45° right allows a right handed person to sweep a line up the paper, keeping it straight with slight adjustments. Drawing opposite sides of a vase the same may require turning the paper completely over.

Answer 3

I was an art teacher for 30 years. When I read the book "Drawing On the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards, I learned a lot about people don't see what I, as a artist see. We both look at the same thing, but we see it in 2 distinctly different ways. They/you see a seat, a back rest, 4 legs, and 2 arms. I see it as a combination of shapes both positive and negative, I see the relatonships between the parts and their relative sizes. It's kind of like drawing a map of were the parts are without thinking about the chair. That is why people are amazed when they try to copy a picture upside down. It forces them to see as an artist. Once you learn to think and see you will be able to draw!

Answer 4

I have a lot of experience with drawing and I can give you a few general tips, but the best way to learn is to have someone to critique your work! Go ahead and email me one of your drawings and ill help you out as much as I can. I have 200+ hours of college level classes from a summer art program and I know a thing or two about drawing ; ] Not that I couldn't draw without that, Im still very good without them on my own, The techniques I learned I consider just another tool for me.

Answer 5

I love to draw also. I draw cartoon things fast and easy, but real things are a bit difficult for me too, but when I take my time and go slow, I can do it. I find that my drawing look so much better just by shading everything. You can get lots of shades in one drawing and it makes a big difference. I use the side of my lead, and scribble in the area I want shaded, just alittle not the whole area, and rub it with the tip of my finger. Also, outlineing everything dark makes things look nice too. Hope this helps. Have fun.

Answer 6

all you need is a pencil, an eraser, and a pencil sharpener. try searching drawing tenchniqes. depending on what you want to draw , (anime, cartoons, portraits) you can add that in there. but you can get some great help from those sights, hope i help

Answer 7

Get a drawing book. The easiest way to draw people is to think of them in pieces. Don't draw one big body (like a stick figure), but draw one circular area for the chest, stomach, hips, thighs, knees, calves, etc. But drawing books can help, also classes with a knowledgeable teacher.

Answer 8

I say take your time. I've been drawing my whole entire life without taking art classes. I'm one of those people born with the talent. Although its hard to get better and learn how to use new stuff since i dont take any classes to challenge me so i challenge myself. Look online for portraits and sit down and try your best to draw it.
Dont try too hard or think about what people will think about, when i do that i end up messing up.
Take your time on details, some people are so eager to see the results they rush and want to finish right away.

Try the outlineing first. outlining the shape of your target on paper with light tracing or shading to work with helps me alot then i work in with that

Answer 9

Hmm... Im not the best either, but, I have found that pencils with a differnt harndess can have an interesting effect. ^^ But I only draw anime. xD

Answer 10

Sanford Prismacolor Thick Lead Art Pencils. My brother went to art school for animation and he uses these all the time. They're really strong and the colors are very vibrant.