Step 1. Basic materials
Step 2. Drawing out with line drawing
Using just the 3B pencil I’m trying to get the basic lines of the form. I’m not concerned with shading, but am concerned with shadows. Look at the negative spaces between objects to help you to draw the subject accurately.
Step 3. Drawing the shadow line (5.00min)
If you squint your eyes at the subject it will help in simplifying the forms and showing you the shadow line.
Step 4. Negative shapes (5.48min)
Again assess the negative shapes in your drawing to see how the drawing is progressing.
Pro tip: If you are having difficulty ‘seeing’ the shapes turn your image and painting upside down and compare the shape. This will help you to see more abstractly, and to disassociate your left brain from the drawing process.
Step 5. Rubbing back the lines (6.07min)
Using the eraser, I rub back the lines to try and keep them as thin as possible. This helps to keep the minimum amount of graphite in the pencil mixing with your paint.
Leave A Reply (6 comments So Far)
Tatjana
14 years ago
Stephen Gibbings
14 years agoWill, I’ve previously been taught not to use graphite for underdrawing. What’s your opinion on this and is it less of an issue with acrylic than oil paints? Is charcoal less troublesome?
Nancy Fusco
13 years agoI painted the white canvas with the “chocolate” base and was drawing in things with my pencil and putty eraser but I must have erased too much because some of the background chocolate cover is erased away. Any suggestions? Am I erasing too hard or is my background too thick, too thin? Also, I don’t know whether to proceed and it will work out on the next layer or do I need to go back in and redo the background. Thanks for your insights. Enjoying the lessons. :)
Linda
13 years agoHi Will, I was having troubles with the drawing. I tried your pro tip “turn it upside down” and it worked really well. I am finally ready to move to the next step!
Thank you!
Sarah Harvey
12 years agoHi Will: getting a slow start here…..are we using a 9 x 12 canvas? I’m using a gessoboard since that’s the only thing I have ‘on hand’. Thanks S
Sarah Harvey
12 years agoOh duh. I now see from the video that you’re canvas is much larger…..
Thank you Will, it was very interesting to follow your drawing lesson. You are making it so easy, I wish I could draw as good as you are. Well, as they say” practice makes perfect”.