The Power of Line, The Foundation of Basic Drawing

We explore the common handholds we will use for this and other drawing classes.

Grab a pencil and start your drawing adventure! Fill a page on both the front side and backside with lines. Take 10 to 15 minutes to draw lines, repeat this at least 3 times a week, over the next 3 weeks. You will learn to draw much better lines! Which will make your drawings of 2D and 3D shapes much stronger. Every skill we learn strengthens our ability to draw the next drawing step more effectively.

Fun with Triangles, Circles and Rectangles!

Start your drawing adventure by grabbing your supplies and using your best lines to create triangles, circles, and rectangles. Practice these for 10 minutes at least 3 to 5 times a week. Continue this for the next 3 to 4 weeks and it will have an incredible impact on your drawing!

We explore the mystery of drawing an ellipse by understanding what they are and how to use a "major" and "minor" axis to create ellipses.

Drawing Ellipses using the Major and Minor Axis

Using your understanding of drawing ellipses using the major/minor axis, Draw 6 ellipses that lean right and left draw freehand ellipses and then find the major and minor axis on each one of these ellipses. Then draw 3 ellipses formally first by drawing the major/minor axis and then develop the ellipse from there. Practice these ellipses to get comfortable with drawing them. This will strengthen your drawing immensely!

Now It's Your Turn!

Using what you have learned try drawing an ellipse by creating a template based on the major/minor axis you have drawn. Then find at least 12 points around the ellipse and finish your drawing using these points.

Introduction into taking flat shapes and turning them into solid forms with volume and depth, that is to say, 3D!

Templates Hooray!

I have enclosed templates to help you practice your ellipses, circles, rectangles, and triangles. Use these as a warm-up 5 to 10 minutes 5 times a weeks for the next 3 weeks. It will take your drawing to the next level!

Start your Box Drawing Adventures!

After watching the video go ahead and grab a piece of paper and start your box drawing adventure. Draw at least 3 boxes. The more the better!

Corner View and Front Views, Get to Know Them

This is such an important concept. Make sure you can rise to the challenge by grabbing your pencils and starting to draw! I would like you to draw at least 3 front view boxes and 3 corner view boxes. Good luck!!

Get a Little Perspective, Use you Line of Sight!

Get out some boxes, cereal boxes, or whatever kind you can find, set them out, and by being more aware of your line of sight identify whether you are seeing them as front views or corner views?

Enjoy Drawing the Cylinder!

Grab some paper and a pencil and draw a few cylinders. The more you draw the better! This fundamental shape is one you will be using over and over again.

Draw Some Cones, Eat Some Ice Cream

I can't think of cones without remembering my youth and how much I loved ice cream cones. So if it helps to inspire or to motivate you to draw. Then draw some cones and then eat a little ice cream. Either way, it's a great skill that will improve your drawing!

Don't Forget to Draw the Pyramids

Grab a piece of paper and draw at least 3 to 6 pyramids. The more the better! Make them long and thin or short and stout. Have fun with them. Enjoy!

Warm Up Really Matters

If someone asked you to go running without warming up you might tell them, that was just asking for an injury. The truth is our muscles perform better when they are warmed up. The same applies to drawing. Take at least 10 to 15 minutes to practice warm-ups at least 3 times a week. The impact on your drawing over 6 months will be amazing!

Join me as we begin to explore how to create accurate proportions in our drawings. I will teach you time honored techniques for accurate drawing.

Do a Little Measuring

Take some time and measure objects around you. I have also included a reference photo of a bottle. Take the width of the bottle and divide it into its height. Get used to measuring objects by sighting or measuring with your pencil.

Unleash the Power of Center Lines!

Find an object you would like to use to practice mirroring. Grab you pencils and paper, maybe even a straight edge and try your hand at "mirroring technique."

Start Your Sketching Adventure!

Grabs some objects and try a little rough sketching. Use some measuring and center lines in your sketching.

Start Your Sketching Adventure!

Grabs some objects and try a little rough sketching. Use some measuring and center lines in your sketching. Try the handholds, draw with the whole arm. Stay looser in the beginning and more controlled as you go. Enjoy the adventure!

Still Life Reference Photo

To get started on your drawing adventure. Download and print out the photo to use it for reference to create your own drawing of the still life. Use the concepts taught in this section to create accurate proportions. Don't forget to do some warm-ups of the basic 3D shapes it will really help! Enjoy drawing!!

Additional Reference Photos!

I have included unobstructed views of the objects used in the still life. Use them to make your drawing clearer or use them to practice and improve your drawing. Either way, take care and keep drawing!!

Stay Strong and Keep Drawing

The Finish Line is Just Ahead!

Setup Your Own Still Life

Now that you have drawn a still life with me. Practice, practice, and oh yes, practice! So set up your own still life and using the concepts we discussed and start your very own drawing adventures!

We discuss one of the most powerful and widely used methods of drawing "Construction Drawing" or "Schematic Drawing." This is one of the best ways to develop your drawing quickly and efficiently. I hope you enjoy it!

Start Constructing Today

Grab the nearest pencil and start practicing using construction in your drawing. After taking 15 minutes to warm up using lines and shapes, try drawing at lest 4 simple objects using the concepts of construction. Continue using this in your drawing over a few months and you will make great strides in your ability to draw!

Sketching is a Powerful Tool!

Using the concepts of proportional measuring. Take an hour and create at least 2 sketches of small still life arrangements, have at least 3 objects in each still life. The more you can incorporate these concepts into your sketching the quicker your drawing will improve.

Another Still Life Adventure!

On this journey, we will bring together all the concepts we have learned proportional measuring, construction, centerlines, and mirroring techniques. Using all these powerful concepts together we will construct a powerful still life drawing! Download the photo and grab your drawing board and drawing supplies to start your drawing adventure!

Now the End is Near, The Still Life Part 2

We continue working on the still life. Practice your line and shapes for 15 minutes to prepare to finish off the still life. We continue developing the individual rectangles for the objects and constructing the objects with basic shapes. Then we lighten the construction lines and then draw the darker finished lines. I have included photos of the individual still life objects, you can use them as reference to understand any objects that might be obscured by other objects in the arrangement.

Stay Strong and Keep Going!

We continue to develop the Drawing and things become more clear. Keep pushing forward with your drawing!

You Can See the Light At The End!

This is the final part of drawing the still life. I hope you have enjoyed it and learned the wonderful concepts of construction drawing! Keep using this in your drawing and you will be surprised how quickly your drawing improves! Keep on Drawing!!

Congratulations on making it through the class!

We have come a long way in learning some of the fundamental drawing concepts for contour or line drawing. You should be very proud of yourself. Congratulations!!

Remember to practice, practice, and practice some more. It's how we learn and drawing is no different. So I wish you for best as you continue your drawing adventures! I will have more classes coming soon where we explore intermediate drawing, perspective, rendering details, and value for volume. All of these upcoming classes will use the concepts you learned in this class and expound on them. Take care!!