Member-only story

How to Draw: A Stroke-by-Stroke Guide for Beginners

Shane Blair

·11.9k Followers· Follow

Published in How To Draw Stroke By Stroke: Simple Step By Step Lessons For Drawing Animals People And Everyday Objects

4 min read

442 View Claps

48 Respond

Save

Listen

How to Draw Stroke-by-Stroke: Simple, Step-by-Step Lessons for Drawing Animals, People, and Everyday Objects

by Brian Kulick

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	239509 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	524 pages

Drawing is a skill that can be learned by anyone with patience and practice. This guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to drawing, starting with the basics of line, shape, and form and progressing onto more advanced techniques such as shading, blending, and perspective.

Materials

Paper
Pencils
Erasers
Sharpener
Ruler (optional)
Compass (optional)

Getting Started

The first step to drawing is to become familiar with your materials. Pencils come in a variety of grades, from soft (B) to hard (H). Softer pencils produce darker lines, while harder pencils produce lighter lines. Erasers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some erasers are soft and pliable, while others are hard and abrasive. Choose an eraser that is appropriate for the type of paper you are using.

Once you have your materials, you can begin by practicing drawing simple lines. Start by drawing straight lines, then curved lines, and then circles and ovals. As you practice, pay attention to the pressure you are applying to the pencil and the speed at which you are moving your hand. The pressure you apply will affect the thickness of the line, while the speed at which you move your hand will affect the smoothness of the line.

Shape and Form

Once you have mastered the basics of line drawing, you can begin to draw shapes and forms. A shape is a two-dimensional figure that has a defined outline, such as a circle, square, or triangle. A form is a three-dimensional figure that has both length and width, such as a cube, sphere, or pyramid.

To draw a shape, start by sketching the outline of the shape. Then, use shading to add depth and dimension to the shape. To draw a form, start by sketching the basic shape of the form. Then, use shading and perspective to create the illusion of three-dimensionality.

Shading and Blending

Shading is a technique that is used to create depth and dimension in a drawing. Shading can be used to add highlights, shadows, and textures to a drawing. To shade, use a pencil to apply light, even strokes to the paper. The closer the strokes are together, the darker the shade will be. Blending is a technique that is used to smooth out the transitions between different shades. To blend, use a tortillon or a blending stump to gently rub the shaded areas together.

Perspective

Perspective is a technique that is used to create the illusion of depth in a drawing. Perspective makes objects appear to be closer or further away from the viewer. To create perspective, use a vanishing point to draw the lines of the object. The vanishing point is the point on the horizon where the lines of the object converge.

Drawing is a skill that can be learned by anyone with patience and practice. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can learn the basics of drawing and begin to create your own works of art.