The power of line
The power of line is huge. Simple sketches in pencil or pen look impressive and artistically interesting. We are born with the ability to draw, but we just lose it as we grow up and get older. In order to simply look at something and draw it, one must practice. It will not happen right away, it will not happen on its own. One also needs to know what they have to look for and what they need to notice.
Perfection or discovery
Cravings for perfection can be irresistible, therefore, many people take credits for a drawing which they have created by tracing a photo or reproducing it on a larger scale using grid, display on a wall. Some artists edit the photo to obtain parts of printer paper size, so that it is possible to put them together in a line drawing. The question is: is that really a drawing or a copy of photography? To me, the latter is true. I do assume anything a drawing when we look at our subject and then manually draw it on paper.
Our eyes get it right
Is drawing difficult? In fact, it isn’t, but it takes time and practice, and anything which is somewhat time-consuming isn’t loved much these days. The general opinion is usually that camera gets our subject right and we might not get the right proportions when drawing. That is true to some extent only. If the distance between camera and subject is small, or the distance within the view is huge, camera will produce wrong proportions.
How camera distorts image
Camera draws closer the front part of the view or subject. It widens the middle portion and creates much more distant background part. This is very easy to notice in case of water reflections or shadows. When artist follows a photo closely, not the actual view in nature, the reflections will be stretched out for miles which would never be the case with reflection in nature.
Don’t take a picture
Many instructions start with: take a picture. I would like to say: don’t do that if you ever want to learn drawing. We have to trust our eyes and ability to recreate the same proportion, edge and line relationship and color transitions without additional tools. However, to get to the level when one can do the so-called “blind drawing” (you do not persistently look at paper or canvas but rather at your subject), you have to practice. That means making decisions and allowing the eye-brain signals to be transmitted to our hand with pencil or brush.
We can do it
That also means trusting ourselves more than a camera or grid. It also takes practicing daily or weekly and, at the end, this activity improves the brain functionality, memory and flexibility to an incredibly high level. When we sometimes look at a drawing, it seems it didn’t take time or efforts. It is due to the fact, that good art shouldn’t exhibit artistic struggles and technical difficulties, but mood and atmosphere of the painted subject. When we get past these struggles, the real creation takes place.
The principles and methods of drawing
There is an interesting thing: people, who cannot draw anything yet, believe they have to practice drawing a particular subject: portrait, landscape, still life or flower. That is definitely not true because once you can draw, you can draw absolutely anything. The principles and methods are actually the same regardless of what we draw. You cannot skip understanding values, shadows, highlights, proportions, relationships, contrast, perspective and negative parts. That is what makes drawing a drawing and eventually painting a painting.
Functions of drawing
Drawing has very different functions in the creative process. If it is an independent work of art, it will go through many stages until it contains all the above mentioned elements. If it is a sketch for use later, we will include only the most important lines. If it is a value sketch for painting, we will pay special attention to values, contrast and shadows. If it is an outline drawing for watercolor, we will have only slightly visible lines.
Not what you draw, but how you do it
Therefore, it is not that important what you draw, but how you do it. Trust the power of line. It is rewarding. Sketches must help you in the painting process later, there is no need to overwork them and prepare for framing. Technique matters, but doesn’t mean it is the most important part of drawing.
Get rid of eraser
How to get rid of eraser? If your intention is to draw, do it. Erasing everything and starting over for numerous times isn’t helpful. You simply have to forget the eraser at home, so that you do not have it with you. When something does not come out correct, start from scratch, not from adjusted lines. Use focusing ability instead of eraser.
Go reasonably large
Draw reasonably large subjects. Tiny things cannot show any shadows, values or important details. Drawing large isn’t more difficult, it is just a strange assumption and belief that handling a bigger subject is more complex. If the drawing is for creation of painting, large is much better. Unless you want to use magnifying glass, avoid details which are hardly visible because they don’t get noticed anyway. Keep details under control.
Manual drawing for artistic freedom
Drawing is a wonderful thing. It allows one not to use any additional devices. You won’t even need a camera if you have learned capturing the most important features of the subject. It also gives one a complete artistic freedom: skip whatever part does not improve your scene or subject or add whatever it seems to be missing. There are no restrictions. It is visible right away whether one was drawing from reality or they are modestly describing their perfected copy of a photo as a sketch from nature.
Sketch in actual size
I create pencil sketches in the actual size of painting: this time it was 20 x 24 inches or 61 x 51 cm. This drawing serves as a reference. Colors are all in my head and everything else what I need is in the sketch. I transfer it onto watercolor paper and then apply washes which get defined with every layer.
I take numerous pictures: with iPhone and with camera using different settings. However, I do not ever get the colors which are in the actual painting. Therefore, I’m trying to also take some pictures with background by placing something around the painting.
To learn sketching and drawing, please apply for April classes: Art classes