Drawing Basics for Beginners
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About this ebook
Drawing Basics for Beginners is an e-book based on the reputable art course aimed specifically at absolute beginners that the author has been offering at her studio since 2011.
Drawing Basics for Beginners is written in an easy to read style with lots of illustrative images, step-by-step illustrated demonstrations, and exercises to help you unlock and develop your artistic talent.
The e-book covers important topics for learning to draw and includes: what drawing materials to use; learning new muscle memory for drawing; how to utilize the creative part of your brain; how to develop your artistic observational skills; how to create realistic perspective, proportions, shading and compositions; and how to draw from life versus how to draw from reference pictures.
If you follow the instructions, do not skip steps and practice often, you will never doubt your artistic competence ever again.
See Charcoal Basics for Beginners (free for a limited time only) and Colored Pencil Basics for Beginners.
Sulet Hofmeyr
Sulet attended a graphics design course at the Art Director’s Workshop in Cape Town in 1988 after which she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of South Africa.In 2011 Sulet decided to combine her natural talent for teaching with her love for helping people and creating art. She recognized the shortage of art instruction available to people who lack confidence in their artistic capabilities and she answered this need by developing an art course specifically aimed at teaching absolute beginners the basic art skills and creative confidence they need to get started. This art course for beginners expanded to instructional art e-books for beginners.Sulet is currently trying her hand at authoring and illustrating e-books for children – an art style new to her. She is also in the process of expanding her art course for beginners even further in the form of online art courses for beginners soon.
Read more from Sulet Hofmeyr
Colored Pencil Basics for Beginners Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Charcoal Basics for Beginners Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
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Book preview
Drawing Basics for Beginners - Sulet Hofmeyr
At the Tip of a Pencil: Realistic Drawing Basics for Beginners
Second Edition
By Sulet Hofmeyr
Copyright © 2015 Sulet Hofmeyr
Smashwords Edition
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
ISBN: 9781370694822
Disclaimer
The information contained in this book is for general information purposes only and while we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to this book or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on this book for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever.
Every artist was first an amateur.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson -
Contents
Preface
Introduction
Drawing tools
Paper
Pencils
Ruler
Erasers
Sharpening tools
Blending tools
Other tools
Before sketches
Pencil control
Pencil grip
Pressure control
Making the switch from logical to creative
Hourglass faces
Three-dimensional drawings on a flat surface
Develop your artistic observational skills
Upside down
Blind contour drawing
Pure contour drawing
Negative spaces
Achieve realistic perspective
Foreshortening
Ellipses
Kinds of perspective
Linear perspective
Informal perspective
Aerial/atmospheric perspective
Proportions
Grid
Reference pictures and copyright
Shading
Light sources
Identify and use value
Basic shapes
Different ways of shading
Hatching and cross-hatching
Blending
Texture
Sharp, soft and lost edges
Contrast
Draw from life
Structural sketches
Good composition
Primary focal point
Rule of thirds
Flow
Arrangement of objects
Use value to create flow
Line
Space
Planes
Glossary
Bibliography
About the Author
Preface
I used to be one of the many people who wished I could draw beautifully realistic pictures, but try as I might, my attempts always left me frustrated and on the verge of giving up. I started believing everyone, including myself, who told me that I didn’t have the talent. Fear of failure set in, but I do love a challenge.
In 1988, I enrolled for a graphic arts course in my rebellion against becoming a teacher as my family tradition dictated. During that year I was introduced to Betty Edward’s book, Drawing on the right side of the brain, and I discovered that one doesn’t have to be born brilliantly talented - in fact few are so lucky - and that the ability to make art, is a skill that can be learned. Some of the exercises in this book was inspired by, and modeled to, Betty Edward’s teachings.
After the graphic arts course, I enrolled for an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree in Human Sciences with Psychology as my major. There I learned how the brain works and how one learns new skills. The path for my life was paved… I didn’t want to go into psychoanalysis or art therapy. I wanted to make a difference by teaching art. Teaching, right? Did you catch the irony?
So, here is a bit of background information and your first lesson: Inside your brain, there are billions of neurons forming trillions of neural pathways. They are the hallways along which information travels around in your brain and to your body. When you learn a new skill, new neural pathways are established that disappear when not used often and improve when used often and frequently. Frequently used neural pathways become so strong over time that the actions become second nature.
For example, when you practice holding your pencil correctly for drawing and shading it will feel uncomfortable at first (it is new), but you will get used to it and soon it will be second nature.
In his book, Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell examines the 10, 0000-hour rule to success. Gladwell quotes John Lennon in an interview about the eight hours per day, seven days per week The Beatles performed at a strip club in Hamburg: We got better and got more confidence. We couldn’t help it with all the experience playing all night long.
(p49) With all the hours of performing they strengthened neural pathways for performing their songs and in the process, it became second nature and they became a very successful band.
When you struggle with the techniques in this book, remind yourself of the 10, 000-hour rule of success and keep trying.
I hope I can help you establish new neural pathways in your quest for artistic success. I hope I can keep you inspired to strengthen those pathways until the art process becomes second nature to you. I hope I can lead you through your fear of failure to artistic confidence.
Introduction
If you wish you could draw, but you have always been too scared to try, I want to