3 Easy Steps to Get Started Drawing!

Copyright 2006 Todd Harris

To get started in drawing and learning to draw the human figure, the resources you use to draw with are a big key to your success. Let's see what the 3 easy steps to drawing are.

Let’s Get Started!

So…You’re ready to start drawing! Let’s talk tools, right for the job. You need to realize as you read this article that artists are experimenters. They never cease trying new ideas and this applies to materials as well. Different materials and combinations of materials are something you as an artist are going to need to experiment with and see what works best for you. This will be a guide or starting point about materials that will help you on your journey.

Paper

Paper is all around us and serves many different purposes. Paper names give us direction as to their purpose, such as “tracing” paper. Common typewriting paper that is inexpensive can be good practice paper. Pads of newsprint are sold for next to nothing at art supply stores, these are great practice pads.

Paper is a great resource to your drawings. As you experiment with different textures you’ll see different effects come through in your drawings. Textures are rated as rough, medium, smooth, or glossy. Rough paper will hold more graphite or charcoal than smooth paper, so drawings will contrast more between the lights and darks. This also produces a more grainy outcome. On smooth paper, you need to use soft pencils, if you want to develop dark values. But on smooth paper soft pencils smear easily and you’ll want an eraser handy! Another downside to smooth surface is that graphite looks shiny when laid down on smooth paper.

For myself, I like to draw on a medium grain paper that has enough grain to keep me from getting too detailed. It helps me to lay in big strokes and avoid too much detail too fast. I like toned papers to bring out highlights. (I use white chalk or pencils to help with this effect.)

Part of the journey as an artist is finding what works best for you. Experiment with different grains, tones, and weights of paper till you find the desired effect. Listed below are the ones I use and may serve as a good starting point for you.

- Strathmore - Roma

Back to the Drawing Board

While you don’t always need a drawing board, something to support a good firm drawing surface is important. You can work on a light firm board such as; 1/8” plywood, masonite, or foam core. All of these work just fine! You can use masking tape, thumbtacks, pushpins, or clips to hold the paper on the drawing board.

Pencils

Drawing pencils come in many different types of leads. From very soft to very hard, pencils are a tool to get very familiar with. The softer the pencil is, the thicker the lead. The harder the pencil is, the thinner the lead, and also, the grayer the line.

Vine charcoal- is great because it is subtle and erases well. You need to handle these carefully because they tend to break easily. Vine charcoal is ideal for initial lay in of your drawing. Used with a light touch it can be completely erased allowing you the freedom to adjust your drawing and make corrections easily. The vine charcoal allows your drawing to stay fluid so that you can change things simply.

New pastels- Pastels are great to work with. Conte’ brand works best as they are not as oily. New pastels are not as easy to erase. You must be more careful with these because of this. After you do the initial lay in with the vine charcoal and your placement is accurate, new pastel will give you good control and value range.

Graphite pencils are labeled H for hard and B for soft. The higher the number in front of the H, the harder the lead. 9H being the hardest. The higher the number in front of the B…the softer the pencil.

I personally don’t like to draw with graphite pencils because I feel they are too shiny. The exception with this is, of course, rough sketches. I don’t mind using them for these. Use the side of the graphite pencil for line variation. Experiment, experiment, experiment…Find pencils that you feel work well with your drawings and paper. Keep your pencils sharp! My recommendations for pencils are:

- Sanford Ebany Jet black extra smooth - Vine charcoal - New Pastels

Erasers

Kneaded erasers come as small rectangular blocks. Pull off a piece of this block and knead it like dough, so it becomes soft and pliable. Make a point on one end by pressing it between your thumb and forefinger. This is my eraser of choice!

You can also use a medium soft eraser like the pink pearl. If you have a really dark area you want to remove, you can use scotch tape and it will lift most of it off and then use your kneaded eraser to do the rest.

I know this sounds redundant but as mentioned before, part of art is the journey of finding what works for you. This is a good starting point for materials. During my journey to find the right tools, I’ve experimented with different paper tones and colored pens at times. I now know that the vine charcoals and new pastels are my favorite. Good luck on your journey. If you find something that works better for you, great!

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