5 FOUNDATIONAL Drawing Tips For Beginners ✦ these are game changer!

Summary

In this instructional video, the artist shares five essential tips for creating a pencil portrait. Starting with mapping out an angular silhouette to establish proportions, the artist then focuses on large shapes before refining details. They emphasize the importance of an anchor, such as the nose, for facial feature placement. The artist also advises against over-texturing, especially for softer features, and recommends blending for smoother skin. When drawing hair, they suggest being selective with lines to maintain a whimsical feel, and prefers blocking in shapes for a three-dimensional effect. The video concludes with the artist's personal approach to adding detail, focusing on the face and allowing other elements to have a more textured fade-out style.

Takeaways

• 📐 Start with an angular silhouette to establish the proportions of the subject's hair, neck, and clothing before drawing facial features.
• 🔍 Avoid exaggerating facial features by sticking to the proper proportions as seen in the reference photo.
• 🎨 Begin detailing with a central feature, often the nose, as it serves as a foundation for placing the rest of the facial features.
• 👁 If you struggle with certain features, like eyes, start with them first to avoid wasting time on the rest of the drawing if they turn out poorly.
• 🖌️ Be cautious of overusing texture in graphite portraits, especially for smoother, softer faces, and use blending tools to soften harsh lines.
• 🌀 When drawing hair, be selective with the lines to avoid a time-consuming process and maintain an airy, whimsical feel.
• 👩‍🎨 Use larger blocks and shadows instead of gentle gradients to create a three-dimensional figure and maintain facial dimensions.
• 🔑 Focus on adding the most detail to the face and let the hair and clothes fade out with a rougher, more textured style.
• 📝 Learn something new with each portrait to improve your drawing skills and challenge yourself with different angles and features.
• 🎥 Subscribe for more art process videos released on Tuesdays and Thursdays covering both traditional and digital art techniques.
• 🌍 Join the artist's trip to Crete for a chance to draw with them in person using graphite and watercolor.

Q & A

What is the first step the artist takes when starting a portrait drawing?

The first step the artist takes is to map out an angular silhouette of the subject, which includes the hair, neck, and clothing, rather than focusing on the skull and facial features.

Why is creating an angular silhouette important in portrait drawing?

Creating an angular silhouette is important because it allows the artist to place finer details more proportionately and helps to avoid exaggerating features without adhering to the proper proportions.

What does the artist suggest starting with when detailing a portrait?

The artist suggests starting with an anchor of the drawing, such as the nose, as it provides a solid foundation for placing the rest of the facial features.

Why might starting with the nose be beneficial when drawing a portrait?

Starting with the nose is beneficial because it is central to the face and helps in accurately positioning the other facial features. It also allows the artist to put more effort into a difficult part of the face early on, rather than wasting time on easier parts that may need to be redone if the eyes, for example, are harder to draw.

What common mistake does the artist warn against when drawing hair?

The artist warns against the overuse of texture in the hair, especially for a softer female face, as it can make the drawing appear more rigid and harsh than intended.

What technique does the artist recommend to avoid a harsh texture in the drawing?

The artist recommends using a blending stump or a finger to blend out pencil marks if they become too textured and harsh, especially when drawing skin.

How does the artist approach drawing hair with many curls?

The artist suggests being selective with the lines put down on the page, adding details around the mass of the hair and chipping away at the details until satisfied, rather than drawing every individual curl, which can be time-consuming and not necessarily beneficial to the end result.

What method does the artist prefer for adding shadows and depth to the drawing?

The artist prefers to block in larger shapes and fill them in rather than using gentle gradients, which helps to create a faceted, three-dimensional figure and maintain the dimensions and facets of the face.

How does the artist approach the level of detail in different parts of the portrait?

The artist is selective about the detail, adding the most detail to the face and allowing the hair and clothes to fade out in a more rough and textured style.

What is the artist's process for learning and improving in portrait drawing?

The artist aims to learn something new with every portrait drawn, challenging themselves with different angles and features, and focusing on improving proportions and techniques.

How often does the artist release new videos, and what topics do they cover?

The artist releases new videos on Tuesdays and Thursdays, covering both traditional and digital art processes.