Today, I’m sharing 4 drawing methods tips. I currently have no major pieces in progress, but it’s time for a drawing methods post. So, I thought, why not share a few random tips and thoughts instead?
Let’s get started.
4 Drawing Methods Tips
The following tips are arranged in no particular order. Basically, I just started writing and didn’t do much re-organizing afterward.
Tip #1: There is No One Right Way to Draw
It may seem like there is a limited number of drawing methods, but every artist’s method is unique. I’ve described the three main methods I have used. While they are basic, there are quite a few variations. There is also no clear line of separation between them, even for me.
So the first tip for you today is to find the method that works best for you and use it for all it’s worth. Try other methods if you want because there’s no better way to find the one that suits you best. But don’t fret if your favorite artist uses a different method than you use.
Tip #2: The Right Pressure is Almost Always Light Pressure
There is a little less wiggle room with this tip. That’s because it’s so difficult to correct mistakes with colored pencil even on the most forgiving paper. If you use heavy pressure to apply all your color, you will find it next to impossible to remove color or even lighten color satisfactorily.
You will also be very limited in the number of layers you can add, and that will keep you from mixing colors to create new colors. Even with less waxy pencils, heavily applied color fills the tooth of the paper quickly.
On this scale, the pressure I begin with is toward the “Light” end of the scale. In very areas with very light values, I used the lightest possible pressure (at the left end of the scale). For most other areas, “light pressure” is just to the right of the word “Light”.
So Tip #2 is to use light pressure from the start and for as long as possible. When you need to increase pressure, increase it only as much as needed to continue adding color.
Tip #3: Draw Slowly and Carefully to Get Smooth Color
Smooth color is one of the most important qualities of great art. Scribbled color can be effective in small quantities, but if an entire drawing is created with carelessly applied color, it will be less than the best it can be.
This sample was made with quick, scribbling strokes. The resulting color is uneven, with a lot of paper showing through. It’s next to impossible to blend this out into smooth color, even with watercolor pencils.
The best way to layer smooth color is by being mindful of the way you make strokes, and working slowly. Trust me on this. Every time I get lazy or careless, I live to regret it. It takes more time to cover up or fix those kinds of mistakes than it takes to work slowly and carefully.
Tip # 3: If you find yourself getting careless in how you make marks, stop and take a break. You will not regret it.
Tip #4: Blend Carefully
What applies to layering color also applies to blending color. A careless blending job can do more harm than good. So what does careful blending look like?
Make sure you have enough color on the paper to blend. How much is enough? For me, with light pressure, it’s somewhere between five and ten layers.
Tip #4 comes in two parts.
Part 1: If you use solvent, use a damp brush, not a sopping wet brush. You don’t need to soak the paper. Just dampen it enough to dissolve the binding agent in the pigment. Each time you blend, use a little less solvent.
Part 2: If you prefer not to use solvent, try blending with a light, neutral color. I like Cool Grey I for blending cool colors and Warm Grey I for blending warm colors. For earth tones, Cream or Ivory works very well. Use these colors just like you would use a burnishing or blending pencil.
Those are 4 Drawing Methods Tips
If I had the time, I could double the length of this post (or more). It might be fun for me to write because once I begin, it’s sometimes difficult to stop. But it probably wouldn’t be much fun for you to read such a long post!
So I’m stopping now.
Keep in mind that these are just basic suggestions. You may or may not be able to use them all, but I do hope you find something useful in the list above.
I also hope these tips help you make better art and/or get more enjoyment out of it.
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