Sharing your art work in a drawing community is a great way to get the feedback you need. It can be a good way to advertise your talent to interested potential customers. Constructive comments about your work may be very helpful. Positive feedback may motivate you to keep drawing. Asking questions in forums may help you become better at drawing. Sometimes the advice of someone else or their approach is exactly what you need.

Recommended Drawing Communities

Drawspace

I joined the Drawspace drawing community about a year ago. I always post my pencil drawings there because I like to see what sort of reaction I will get to my work. Sometimes I recieve a lot of comments, and other times hardly any. What I like about this web site is that it has a great gallery of pencil drawings, members who are experienced and just starting out, a forum for your questions, and a number of great pencil drawing tutorials that I am sure you will enjoy.

Sign up, and create your profile. Feel free to send me a note.

Posted: February 4 /10

Fine Art America

Fine Art America has a great community of drawing artists. Artists close to you will be able to find your work. This makes it easy for you to comment on the work of people nearby the place where you reside. The more contacts you have the better.

You are able to sell your work there. If you would like to sell your original art, many people visit Fine Art America every day. It may be the place where you sell your first peice of art work!

Posted: February 4 /10

Taltopia

I have recently joined another drawing community called Taltopia. I have added a number of my drawings there. Click on the link below to view my portfolio. Or, click on the link above to sign up and upload your own photos to Taltopia!

Posted: February 4 /10

Every photo uses up space, which artists and photographers refer to as positive and negative space.

Positive space is the space that the object uses.

Negative Space is the space that surrounds the object.

When we draw, we focus on the object. It is our central focus because it is what we want our audience to notice. Therefore, I don’t think I need to write anything about how to use this space. The space that is easier to forget about, is the negative space. We do not want our audience to critique or evaluate this space. After all, it is only the space surrounding the object. Right?

Although this space may seem unimportant, we must not forget about it. Using it has some great advantages. Our eyes need this space because they are the “rest areas”.

If you think about it, our eyes travel all over a drawing within seconds. A drawing that contains a good balance of both spaces will be appealing because right away it is easy to focus on the subject. However, if there is not enough negative space, there will be too much to take in all at once. It will look busy and unappealing, even though the drawing is well done.

It is important to maintain a proper balance.

This does not mean that there has to be exactly the same amount of detailed and open areas. Use your own judgment. Just remember not to fill up the entire page with detail, or draw a photo in which the subject is too far away.

Let’s take the image to the left as an example. What I like about this drawing, is that it contains a lot of negative space. It is so simple, and yet I find it is appealing. The eyes stand out because there are hardly any other details drawing your attention away from them.

Sometimes the simplest drawings are the most appealing simply because there is a great balance between positive and negative space.

What is there to be learned from this? Keep it simple. Capture the important details and leave out all the distracting ones. When you do, there is a much greater chance that your drawing will grab attention!

Physical texture or actual texture refers to the actual texture you create when drawing. For example charcoal has a totally different texture than something like pastel. You may also be able to create different texture by using different drawing pencils. A 2H pencil will be much finer and smoother than a 9B pencil. So, you may be able to play around with the actual texture, although I myself have never done this. Instead I work with visual texture.

Visual texture is texture you create when you draw something to look rough or smooth. It is an optical illusion because the graphite, charcoal, or whatever medium you are using does not actually have the texture you are creating.

When drawing visual texture it is important to think about how the light is hitting the object. If the object is smooth like glass, light easily bounces of the object. That is why if you look into smooth water you can see your reflection, however when the wind comes along and rough waves begin to form you no longer are able to see your reflection because it is all bent and twisted in the rough texture.

Texture can have an effect on the feeling an artwork conveys. For example, when you have a lot of rough areas in a drawing, the drawing may be visually active and restless. Or, if you have a lot of smooth areas, the drawing may be visually calm and peaceful.

Further Reading

Wikipedia – Texture(visual arts)

When drawing, shape is very important because it defines certain spaces and organizes your drawing and gives it structure. When drawing, you may organize your shapes or objects so that they are visually appealing. Photographers often refer to the rule of thirds. There are different meanings given to different shapes. For example, triangles are often used to create something that strong, visually appealing, and united. Designers will often use triangles in the placement of their pages.

Further Reading

Digital Web | Elements of Design – Shape

Drawing Pencils

The graphite in most of the pencils that you buy from the store are HB. This graphite works well for writing, and for some of the lighter areas in your drawings. However, it is handy to have softer graphite as well to get the darker areas which make your drawing stand out.

Before I used to use only the HB pencil and all the darker areas in my drawing were quite shiny. Take for example “Amish Girl” in the 2bdrawing gallery. Especially around the mouth you may notice it is quite shiny.

In your regular HB pencil, the H stands for hardness and the B for blackness. The higher the number of hardness (for example 9H) the lighter the marking. And, the higher the number of blackness (for example 9B) the darker the marking. It may be easier to understand when put into a graph.

I use the pencils ranging from F (Fine point) to 9B. However, what pencils you will use is all a matter of preference.

My favorite pencil is a 2B pencil. I have a tendency to draw too lightly if I use other pencils and I find it erases a lot better than a HB pencil. The 2B is great for lightly outlining your subject and for drawing in the important details before you use a softer (darker) pencil. When it comes to pupils of eyes or dark backgrounds I love the 7B-9B range.

I use the softer pencils to smudge. For example I will take a 9B pencil and mark a section of a scrap piece of paper. Then, I rub my tortillon over the marked area. Now use it to smudge various parts of your drawing. If you find it too dark use a harder pencil.

Drawing Erasers

There are two different types drawing erasers you can use. There are the harder white and kneaded erasers. I like using both types when I draw. The harder white erasers are great for removing unwanted outlines and general construction lines. I use this eraser mostly during the beginning stages of my drawing and for the hair. If you pull off a little piece of the eraser and rub it over the hair it creates nice texture.

Kneaded Eraser
The kneaded eraser is the most commonly used eraser for pencil drawings. It’s soft, sticky surface works well for lifting off graphite from heavily shaded areas without smudging the rest of the drawing. Because it lifts the graphite, you will get better erasing results than with a regular eraser which pushes it further into the paper.

It is handy because, when warmed in the hands, it is very easy to shape. This makes it easier to erase smaller areas or make white lines in your drawing. If you find the one side of the eraser is full of graphite, knead it as needed:)

Drawing Tortillon

For shading and smudging I recommend that you use a drawing tortillon. I suggest using them because the oil on your hands can, in the long run, damage your drawing. What also works, and some artist use them all the time, is cotton swabs, or Q-tips. Occasionally I use Q-tips, but I still prefer the tortillon. Try both and see what works well for you.

Drawing Paper

If you want to draw professionally, why not use the right paper. Getting the right paper does make a difference. Although the paper that comes in bulk is quite cheap, it is not really meant for drawing. Most of it is too thin. The paper the comes in sketchbooks is usually heavier and works better.

There are many different kinds of drawing paper that work quite well. Choosing the right kind is mainly a matter of preference. Some people like rough toothy paper, while others prefer smoother paper with a very little grain.

I recommend using vellum paper because it is quite heavy and with a nice grain. I find a light grain makes it easier to shade. It seems to absorb the graphite better and it adds a little texture.
Other labels to look for:

• Acid Free.(Most are acid free after they are manufactured, however will become acidic again over time.)
• Buffered. (It is a bonus if it has been buffered, which means that it has undergone some chemical treatments so that it will stay acid free).
• Lignin free. If it is lignin free, that means that it has been made from something free of lignin, such as cotton, or has undergone some treatment to make it safe.

Keep trying different name brands until you find one you like. Right now I am using paper that I find is a little too toothy. So, the next time I look of paper I will look for something a little smoother.

Finishing

If you are using a sketch book and would like to keep your work in good condition it is a good idea to purchase a clear spray to protect your work. It prevents the drawings from smudging.

Make Your Own Tortillon

Note: If you can, spray your drawing outside because it has very strong smell! It is quite easy to make your own tortillon. You can also buy them from craft stores or on the web. A tortillon is a fancy word used by artists for a tool used to soften edges and shade in harsh lines.

Follow the steps below to make your own.

• Take a normal sheet of A4 paper, place it landscape on a table, and mark it at about 1″ down on the left side and 1″ up on the right side. Then draw a line connecting the marks.
• Cut the paper on the line and start rolling the paper starting from the shorter end and working towards the taller end. Try to roll it as tightly as possible.
• Now cut the roll in half. Take a nail, piece of wire, knitting needle, or something with a similar shape and push the inside out. Tape the middle. Trim the top as desired.

Feel free to follow this tutorial using another image. Just make sure your image contains a lot of lines and not a lot of shading. Here is my finished work beside my reference photo:

Begin by drawing the outline of the image. Just make sure your lines are quite dark. If you do not like your outline the first time, try again on a new sheet of paper. Use a ruler if you can not get the proportions right, or draw the outline upside down. When you are finished the rough outline, and are happy with it, go over it again.

Next, look for all the darkest areas and fill them in with your pen. Always work from the darkest areas to the lightest areas. The reason why is because the more times you go over a line the darker the area will become. You will want to blend all your dark areas into your light areas. If the area changes from very dark to light quickly you will have to use very small short pen strokes. As you get closer to the light area you will use a lot less pen strokes. If you are not sure what I mean, take out a separate sheet of paper and experiment on it.

If you want breaks in your drawing, for example, see where the foot meets the body, angle your strokes a slightly different way. Or, if you want it to look shaded, pen your strokes multiple ways.

You can use the enlarged photo below as a reference, or make up your own style.

When did drawing become a popular form of art?

Since the world was created, man has been given the ability to express himself through the art of drawing. Although there are not many old drawings around today, some of the oldest drawings, preserved on the insides of caves, depict what life was like many years ago. Drawing then was different. It’s primary purpose was not to express the ideas of the artist, but rather to tell a story, or to remind later generations of some important event. It was not until the 1400′s, when paper became more commonly available, that drawing became a popular form of art. Leonardo da Vinci, Albrecht Durer, and Michelangelo are the first well known drawing artists. Da Vinci used his drawing sto draw out his inventions and the human autonomy, which were remarkably accurate and still interest many today.

Famous Drawing Artists

Below is information about famous drawing artists. Although it would be nice to have their drawings on this site, because of copyright law, that is not possible.

Direct Links to the Famous Drawings

Below are links to galleries on other websites. I encourage you to look through some of them, find a style you like, and try drawing a photo in that particular style. (Each link opens in a new window)

Da Vinci | Durer | Michelangelo | Raphael | Claude | Rembrant | Rubens | Fragonard | Goya | Tiepolo | Watteau | Cezanne | Louis David | Degas | Gericault | Ingres | Lautrec | Van Gogh | Dubuffet | Gorky | Klee | Kokoschka | Mattise | Pascin | Picasso | Pollock |

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The focus of this drawing is line, one of the elements of design.

What are the Elements of Design?

The elements of design are the tools artists use when creating any piece of art. These tools are given names which are used and understood by other artists. They are:

line, shape, color, texture, value, form, and space.

Why We Need to Understand the Language of Art

We use the word hammer to describe a tool that is used to put nails into a board and, I am sure, in many other ways. Some, more complicated than others. If you do not know what the tool was designed for, you can still use the tool, only you may not use in the correct way (Pick it up by it’s head and start using it as a pool cue).

The same applies to the tools of art, which are the elements of design. These tools have hundreds of books written on how to use them. I have taught students out of such books. They start with the basic ways in which you can use the tools. As the child matures and learns the basics the lessons become harder and harder. Eventually some students start mastering the tools and create their own style and method of using the tools.

That is why it is important that you learn to understand what these words mean so you can:

1. Create better art.
2. Describe your ideas to others.
3. Develop new ways of looking at your own art.
4. Pick out the elements and understand how they are used effectively in other forms of art.
5. Develop a greater appreciation for the work of other famous artists

Let’s begin learning about these important tools.

Further Reading

About.com – elements of design.
John Lovett – elements of design

Line is used to show movement, define shapes, determine the size of shapes, suggest a certain mood or feeling and give direction.

Every mark you put on your page is made up of many of them. Although you can not see them all with the naked eye, if you would examine your mark under a microscope you would see that hundreds of them that make up every dot on the page.

To illustrate this, you could take your graphite pencil start drawing dots all over the page that connect to each other. Eventually you will end up with lines all over your page.

Drawing Tutorials That Help You Think About Line

How to Draw a Bee

Learn how to draw a bee in this tutorial. Use a pen so that you are force to draw only lines. It is fun and not too difficult.

Line Can be Used to Express a Mood or Feeling

When you are drawing, your lines convey a certain mood or feeling.

If you want to create a scene that is peaceful, calm, or happy you would use a lot of curved lines because curved lines give a calming feel to your drawing. These lines are usually light and flowing.

However, if you are drawing a scene of unrest, you would use jagged angry lines. If you are angry and you want to scratch out a mistake you made, I highly doubt that you would use nice curvy lines. Instead, you will use multiple jagged ones. The darker or bolder they are, usually means the angrier you are.

The Expressive Quality of Line

Bold lines – strength, power, stability, and might

Branched lines – unity, strength and focus.

Circular lines – busy and active

Curved lines – happiness, harmony, peace, and tranquility

Dark, slashing lines – aggression, anger, and rage

Dark, heavy lines – confidence and boldness

Diagonal lines – rhythm, movement, and harmony

Fuzzy lines – soft, gentle, and relaxed

Vertical lines – stability, strength, and power

Line is the simplest way we can convey to others our mood or feelings. What mood you are in and type of person you are is often reflected in how you draw, which is why people draw in so many different ways.

So, the next time you choose something to draw, think about what types of lines you want to use. What idea, mood, and feeling is going to be reflecting in your work.

Activities that help you think about line

1. Look around you. What objects could you draw that would best represent line.

2. Grab a camera and take closeups of lines. They can turn out to be great for drawing.

3. Look at famous drawing from well know artists. What types of lines did they use?

4. Experiment with your drawing pencils and create a drawing using a certain range of pencils. For example, use only the 5B-9B range.

5.Draw a picture on top of some texture to create a different look and feel.

6. Use different media. Crack out the oil pastels, pencil crayons, charcoal, or find some pens. Return from Line to Elements of Design

Further Reading

Art Design and Visual Thinking – Line.
Usask- The elements of design: Line