In all the researchers for learning to draw I have found all of them have one thing in common, they have patterns for sharpening skills. And a lot of hours practice, and after you finish with practice you start again with practice!
If you are aiming to become great pencil artist like I do, then you probably wonder which exercise is for us. For me, the biggest challenge is to coordinate my eyes and hand or let’s say my left side (eyes) of the brain with the right side (hand). I think that I know what I see, but when my hand is transferring that on a paper outcome is mostly not what I did see.
But luckily that is something that can be improved (books and many artists said that), and I’m ready to put all those tips and tricks from books and videos to the test. In the video below you can understand about drawing with the right side of the brain, it can change your way of looking and approach to drawing.
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So first exercises will be blind contour drawing
And my plan is to use these exercises daily, as something that will become part of my day. Persistence will be a major factor in this, to keep pushing every day. And I must admit that I’m very curious how much those exercises will help me, and if I will see improvement. Another thing which I will do before I start is one pencil portrait with my current skills, and then that same after one year. And I think this will be best view to improvements before and after, what you think?
So let’s start with an exercise that is known as blind contour drawing, which improves coordination between hand and the eyes.
And this exercise you can do anywhere, anytime like during morning coffee. And personally that is my favorite time, it’s better than hanging on the Facebook. I use mostly standard A4 print paper, and HB pencil. And I pick an object which I will draw, but only contours of that object. You can notice on the image below that only outlines of the head are drawn, and that is the goal of this exercise. You must follow the contours of the object, and transfer that with your pencil on the paper. Also, it is important not to look at the paper; the best is turn away from paper. Because eyes sometimes automatically look for drawing, and to avoid this the best thing is to move your paper away from eyesight.
Final work you can call it even artwork, because it will be a big abstract mess.
Sources for blind contour exercise
- Bartel Art – very detailed instruction about blind contour exercise, easy to understand and to follow
- One of the sources is this video, and probably the best example. You will quickly learn all the steps, and what you must do, and what not to do!
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