Drawing Techniques and Methodology

561design · #1 08-06-2008, 08:13 AM

I've been asked by a few people to show them some techniques. I've been really busy lately so I haven't been able to meet with them. But I thought I might attempt to post a how-to section so anyone that may be interested can try this stuff out themselves. I'll attempt to explain some details of core drawing fundamentals, space analysis, and a way to "cheat" when it comes to color composition.

If you have any questions about some stuff post it up and I'll try to explain it. I'll be away traveling the next few days. But I plan to update these posts with various techniques I learned back in school.

561design · #2 08-06-2008, 08:13 AM

PLACE HOLDER SPACE ANALYSIS.

561design · #3 08-06-2008, 08:13 AM

PLACE HOLDER COLOR COMPOSITION.

Deran · #4 10-25-2008, 10:31 AM

I would like to see this thread utilized. There's a lot of potential here. I'm a portrait artist. I still learn something new with every portrait I draw and would love to be able to bounce ideas off people.

One thing, for me, I hate blending with my finger or any other object. I much prefer to do it all with a pencil. I just hate the muddy look you get with blending any other way. Some people are excellent at it though. To each his own, I suppose.

I would also like to see some drawings from other people. And I'd love some constructive criticism for my own work. Like I said, there's a lot of potential for this thread.

Deran · #5 10-28-2008, 07:47 AM

Well... I reckon I'll get it started. Here's the great Mr. Ron Burgandy! Most noticeable problem is that I SUCK at backgrounds. Anybody got any advice there?? Also I need more dark contrast in the right side of his face I think.

561design · #6 10-28-2008, 08:10 AM

Backgrounds can just be a wash of color. Also to get a darker level of shading, you could "dust" the area with a softer lead or charcoal. So basically, you take a cotton ball and rub it on charcoal or you may need to shave some dust of the charcoal and then pick it up with the cotton ball. Then use the cotton ball to apply the charcoal to your drawing. Go back with an eraser to pull out highlights or areas you don't want to shade. I also use this method just to add "surface" quickly to a sketch.

Here's a quick sketch in which I used this method. I shaved off some color pastels and applied with cotton.

You could also cross hatch the area you want darker with a softer lead and use a burnishing tool (or tightly rolled toilet paper) to blend it in.

As for backgrounds you can always do a wash of color or abstract pattern like this.

*not my work*

Deran · #7 10-28-2008, 08:24 AM

Thanks man. I'm really not a fan of "smudging" though. I like all of my lines and shading to be done by the pencil itself.

561design · #8 10-28-2008, 09:43 AM

That's cool. Then I would suggest this technique then. Get a couple different hardness of charcoal. They usually come in long square sticks. Or if that's too messy for you then use Conte crayons. Anyhow, lay the sticks down on their sides and use it as if it were brush strokes. Another thing that will help is to use paper that has a rougher tooth or rougher surface. This will help to grab more of the material you're trying to apply. Below is an example of the technique I'm talking about.

This is the work of Nathan Fowkes.

Dog Star · #9 10-28-2008, 12:32 PM

Okay I'm raising my hand... I would love to know what I can do to speed up when drawing.

Thanks so much for sharing this info, I know many of you paid alot of money to learn this stuff in school.

561design · #10 10-28-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dog Star

Okay I'm raising my hand... I would love to know what I can do to speed up when drawing.

Thanks so much for sharing this info, I know many of you paid alot of money to learn this stuff in school.

Stick with one type of drawing medium and get really good with controling it. Learn your perspectives, line weight and how to draw a straight/curved line with it. Once you get that done, then focus on fleshing out your drawing loosely/lightly and as you add more definition of lines get darker/ heavier with your tool. Get used to the idea that nothing is going to be perfect, just focus on getting close. You're mind will make up the differences.

This will take a long time to learn, but you should be able to bust out a reasonably decent drawing in a few minutes. In the example below you can see how they sketched out the framework lightly and then got heaiver with the lines they wanted to keep.

Here's an example of what a quick sketch would look like.

*Not my work*