Drawing basics

 Drawing & the Sketchbook

Sketchbook thumbnail of trees in the backyard

Why a sketchbook

Drawing is an important concept to understand. No, drawing doesn't need to be exact in your future painting process and may represent such areas like painting abstract, impressionistic or Amine etc. But, you do need to understand form, spacial aspects of your subject and perspective. Especially if your goal is drawing or painting 3D on a 2D diminutional surface. You can dive very deeply into this subject and start producing phenomenal pieces of art. You can also understand these basics to produce paintings that may be similar to artists like Picasso, Piet Mondrain, Edgar Payne, Monet and others. Its up to you how far to go. This blog is not meant to replace the classroom, but will help to guide you in your journey to produce better paintings.

My suggestion is to start drawing in a sketchbook and make it a habit. If you do this and dedicate just 15 min a day you will improve your drawings and paintings 10 fold. 

Tools

Sketchbook 5x7 or a square 8x8. Binding method of your choice. I like the spiral bounds the best, but I have both. Carry these with you everyday. They make pocket sketchbooks too. Draw everything you see. I know I use to spend time telling myself  "I don't see anything to draw". Everything even as simple as your dinner plate and glass to a more complicated piece like a tree. I have seen very unique subject matter drawn and it looks really good, maybe not always a painting but lots of fun. 

Pencils -  HB and a B to start. 

• The differences for these are the HB is a harder lead and B is softer for shading. I use the HB for getting in the shapes I want and B for pulling out the form. You can also use an everyday ink pen and achieve the same results.
• 3 shades of Tombow markers (found in most art stores) I use browns and grays. I like them because you can suggest form in your sketchbook studies without the marker bleeding through to the back side of the paper. I'm huge on savings, art has the potential to be very expensive.
• Browns I use are numbers: 879,977 and 990
• Grays I use are numbers: N15, N55, N75
• A plastic box to hold your supplies
• kneaded eraser and a white eraser
• 3" ruler metal
• X-ACTO knife for sharpening
• Value scale tool. Dan Rankin has one with a built in view finder that can be helpful in the beginning. Certainly can make your own by taking a mat frame (from any framing area in a hobby store) and cutting t
• 2 opposite corners to make L shapes. You can make the L's from any size mat you want. I suggest smallest. 

Now lets start drawing! 😊