Learning To Sketch – 5 Tips For Beginers

by Anton Weiersmuller on November 20, 2011

Here at How To Sketch In Pencil, we understand that learning to sketch is not easy. So remembering where I started out, I put together 5 quick tips to help other who are just starting out on their learning to sketch journey

note, all of these learning to sketch tips came from the official Pencil Portrait Sketching Mastery, click here to got there now

So why is learning to sketch so challenging for the vast majority of people? Even when we can clearly picture the image in our head, or have it as a photo right in front of us. When it comes to sketching it on paper, it just doesn’t seem to come out right.

Have you ever had that experience? You begin drawing someone’s face only to find that when you’re finished it looks nothing like the original person.

The problem comes down to the fact that each face is a combination of different facial features; eyes, ears, nose, mouth and so forth. Each of these features can then be broken down into their own individual aspects an if even one these aspects is not right then the face as a whole will not come together properly.With that in mind:

Here are 5 Tips That Help Me With Learning To Sketch

Learning To Sketch Tip 1: Focus on Each Facial Feature Individually

What many people try to do, when learning to sketch, and what I myself used to is try to sketch the face as a whole, while this technique may work for some, I found it much better to focus on learning to draw each individual facial part. Once you have mastered that then bringing the face together as a whole is much easier.

Learning To Sketch Tip 2: Learn To Draw From Photographs

Another valuable learning to sketch tip I learnt the hard way; is that it is far easier to learn to sketch from a photograph, especially if it is black and white. Not only are the individual lines much clearer, but of course the photograph is not going to move around, which can make sketching far more difficult

Learning To Sketch Tip 3: Organize The Position, Outline And Proportions Of The Features

There is no point in drawing eyes or ears perfectly, if they are out of position with the rest of the face. Therefore it critical to ensure that your properly measure and map out the whole face before you begin drawing anything.

Learning To Sketch Tip 4: Learn To Be Aware Of The Individual Qualities Of Each Face

Drawing adults is much different from drawing children, as we get older our features get more defined, and unfortunately we tend to developed more lines on our faces. Also drawing a woman’s face is different to drawing a man’s, their lips tend to be fuller, noses narrower, eyebrows finer and so forth. In my experience if you are aware of the individual characteristics of each face before you begin sketching, the sketch as a whole will come out much better.

Learning To Sketch Tip 5: Learn To Sketch In Your Own Style

When learning to sketch it is very helpful to follow a step by step course, however don’t try to make your sketches look exactly like someone else’s. Art is about passion, flare and individuality, if you try to become too technical about it, then you take all the fun out of it. Therefore a little of the artist should be reflected in each face that they sketch to bring a real special quality to their work.

There is obviously a lot more to think about when learning how to sketch in pencil, but I hope these tips help you to improve your sketches and awaken the artist within.

All of these techniques and tips I learnt for the great Pencil Portrait Sketching Mastery step by step sketching course. to go directly to the official site click here

Alternatively, to read all about my experiences and thought on Pencil Portrait Sketching Mastery go to my review page:  How To Sketch In Pencil

 

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