15
Mar
Learning to Sketch – Day 1
I wrote earlier about how I made the decision to start sketching. I’ve probably only spent a couple hours on the hobby off-and-on today, but I’m already well-pleased with what I’ve learned.
What I Needed and What I Bought:
On my trip to Michaels, I bought three things: Drawing for the Absolute Beginner: A Clear & Easy Guide to Successful Drawing
I chose the drawing pencil kit and the sketch book without any knowledge of what I actually needed. I had flipped through the book, but didn’t see an exact list of what I needed until I got home and started reading. Then I found the list on page 12: 4H, HB, and 4B graphite pencils; pencil sharpener; sketch pad; 11″x14″ medium-tooth drawing paper; drawing board; kneaded eraser; white vinyl eraser. The kit I bought contained 21 items, but only 3 of them were what I needed: the HB graphite pencil, pencil sharpener, and kneaded eraser. I had to pick up a few groceries at Wal-Mart tonight, so I swung by the arts and craft section and picked up some other graphite pencils and a vinyl eraser. I don’t have everything on the list, but I think I have enough to get started with the book.
About the Book
I don’t know that I would call this a book for the absolute beginner or not. Because I’m an autodidact, I generally don’t need a lot of instruction. Since this is a totally new area for me, I was expecting some baby step exercises. The authors may consider the exercises simple, but I don’t. I would really like more direction. I’m a highly creative person, but when I’m learning something from someone else, I would like some definite instruction. On page 14 I was told to using lines as guides and even told to get a friend to pose for me and use guide lines to draw their profile. On the next page, I’m told about how to hold the pencil. Talk about getting the cart before the horse!
Holding the Pencil
Page 15 was a great revelation to me. I guess that I was always taught to hold a pencil for writing–the classic tripod grip. (Note that the book doesn’t name the particular pencil grips. I found names for them at How to Hold a Pencil – Drawing and Sketching Pencil Grips on About.com.) I used the first few pages of my sketchbook just experimenting with the different pencils, applying different amounts of pressure, and using different grips. This was very similar to how I might experiment with different tools in a software program.
Structural Sketching
Pages 16 and 17 shows examples of structural sketches. I played around with the two examples from book a little and then I decided to do something on my own using these techniques. I also decided to apply a little of what I discovered in my experiments with the different pencils. I was sitting on the couch and noticed that my wax paper cup from lunch at Stamey’s Barbecue was on the end table next to me. I decided to sketch the cup.
My First Real Sketch
The sketch isn’t great by any means, but for a first ever sketch, I’m well pleased.
Wildlife Artist Greg Farrell is a good friend of mine. We first met back in 2000. At thee time, he was doing graphic arts work for the credit union where I worked as the webmaster. He was asked to design a web site for one of our subsidiaries. He knew about art and design, but I developed his design into a functional web site. When we met in his studio for the first time, I was amazed at his talent and the beautiful art he created. He had seen some of the web sites I had designed, and he seemed to be equally amazed at my computer talents. I made the comment, “I’m not an artist by any means.” He told me then, “You’re an artist, you just don’t realize it.” Although I seemed to have an eye for design and layout with web sites, I never considered it art. I thought that since I couldn’t draw or paint that I wasn’t an artist. As turns out, Greg may have been right after all.
I think I may get quite a bit out of this little hobby.
Nicely done, Ricky.
I’d recommend reading Danny Gregory’s blog, but that doesn’t help keep you away from the screen. He has a couple of good books out, though – well worth picking up. They’re not tutorials – they’re more about *why* to draw than *how*.
March 16th, 2008 at 12:36 pmMichael – Thanks for the compliment! I just subscribed to Danny’s blog–thanks for suggesting it. I’ll be reading some about sketching and drawing, but I plan to invest most of my hobby time actually DOING it. That will get me away from the computer.
March 16th, 2008 at 3:19 pmHi Ricky, Greg Farrell here,
March 17th, 2008 at 11:52 amFirst of all let me say thank you for the compliments on my work. Being that I am my worst critic, I will take a compliment whenever I can get it. I was very pleased to read that you have decided to try your hand at sketching to help distract yourself from the computer screen. Believe it or not I have the same problem. Since I hold a degree in commercial art and have been working in that arena for over 28 years. I too get caught up in projects that keep me staring into the ole’ flat screen for hours on end. I have to admit that lately the computer gets my attention more than the easel, although, I do plan to finish up a couple of long overdue paintings this year. As far as your sketching goes I have to admit your first effort of “Stamey’s Cup” is quite good. In my opinion “drawing” is the foundation of any artist’s training. If the beginner skips basic drawing principles early in his career the visual mistakes will haunt his or her work for the rest of their life. I see it all the time at the wildlife shows I exhibit at. The “drawing” is the foundation of any great painting. Although I do not teach art I have had many amateur artist approached me over the years to show me there paintings and ask for advice on how to get better. 99% of the time the painting itself is fine, but the drawing underneath needs work. My advice to them is quit painting and learn to draw first, then everything else will fall into place later. Foremost, the lack of knowledge about perspective in a drawing is the biggest mistake an artist can make. Some like to leave out this step and head straight to the canvas. Since paintings or drawings are two dimensional knowing how to draw in perspective will help turn your creation into a three-dimensional image as well as teach you to view your subjects in a whole new “perspective”, no pun intended. Understanding the principles may be hard at first but through practice you will immediately begin to see your drawings improve. You will amaze yourself at how you will begin to spot a bad painting from a good one and become quite the art critic. Off hand I can’t remember the books I used back in college on perspective (I’m an old guy you know) but I am sure there are some great choices out there for the beginner. I wouldn’t waste too much time and money on products either. Art supply shops can get the beginner very excited in the beginning and create the illusion that the more you buy the better you will become. Not true. Practice is the key. Early in my career I went through 4 different easels and two drawing boards before I realized none of them made me a better artist. Now I use a combination of three different devices designed around comfort not looks. Five basic items are all I would suggest you need for a while. A decent drawing pad with a textured surface (which will help create the occasional good mistake), a medium to soft graphite pencil (find one you like through trial), a white eraser (the kneaded eraser holds graphite and will soon make for a mess), the trusty pencil sharpener, and last but not least, your imagination. Start each piece by first thinking about composition and how you imagine the finished piece looking. I’m big on doing thumbnail ideas on cheaper paper which will help you arrive at a good concept before wasting time and materials. Don’t be afraid to use photos or magazine clippings in the beginning, it will help with understanding perspective on a flat surface and is an inexpensive source for subject matter. Don’t worry about plagiarism. As long as you are just using the material for practice and not for selling your work you will be fine. One suggestion may be to start out with still life images instead of moving subjects or action. It will allow you to work up to the more complicated pieces and gain more confidence. Also, remember to take your time and be patient and you will soon see your work improve. In closing let me share my philosophy on art and the creative process. I regularly compete in a national art competition where hundreds of professional artist from around the USA submit their paintings to be judged and hopefully selected to be featured on a national stamp. The three day competition takes place annually in Washington, DC and is open to the public. The committee selects the subject matter so all artist are required to included it as the focal point of their creations. One year I decided to attend the competition to see what I was up against. The one thing I will never forget is how, out of over 400 paintings entered, no two were even remotely alike. That day was an eye opener for me and helped me form my philosophy for how art is like a fingerprint. It is as unique as we are. No two people can be identical so no two paintings can be identical, even if we are painting the same subject. When we create something we can’t help but attach our identities to it making it unique and original, and that’s what makes it art. I try to remember that every time I stare at a blank board before starting a new painting. Whatever happens between the first brush stroke and the finished product will without a doubt have my fingerprint on it forever, and that is what makes it an original piece of art. You are a very creative individual so I have no doubt you will become quite the fine artist. Keep me posted on your progress and let me know if you need any advice.
Greg – Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments! I’ll keep these in mind as I move forward with this.
March 21st, 2008 at 9:47 amRicky, I found your blog while searching for a template for a 32-page mini-booklet, in order to set up a picturebook dummy in a hurry.
I’ve cut and folded and numbered little mini-dummies a hundred times (and discarded them when the project was done) and this time I thought, there *must* be a sample template on the web that would save me a few minutes. I was right — you had what I needed (adaptable) and I am grateful! So, thank you for posting that a couple years ago.
On your drawing — nice job! You even put the shadows in the right place. Many wouldn’t. I agree with all Greg says, above. He gives a lot of good tips for sketching and art (and Michael’s right about Danny Gregory’s work).
April 17th, 2008 at 1:02 amAnd I add this: Betty Edwards’ Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is a pretty good art book for beginners, if you want to methodically follow drawing exercises and get measurably more skillful in a few weeks. I see you’re not necessarily an instructions-reading sort of person so you may or may not get a lot out of her book. It’s worth checking out, though.
One more thing — don’t worry about pencil grip. Do whatever feels comfortable. I’ve been making a living at design and illustration for 30 years (holy cow. Where’d the time go?) and I hold the pencil funny. Whatever works.
Ruth – I’m glad that you found my booklet templates useful! Thanks also for the comments on my drawing.
I actually follow instructions really well. It sounds like Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is the kind of book I was initially looking for. I’ll have to check it out. It sounds like just what I need.
Thanks for stopping by!
April 17th, 2008 at 9:30 pm