Drawing advice for beginners
Return to DiscussionsDoes anyone have any advice on what's the best way to learn how to draw for someone completely inexperienced? I've always felt that drawing is the most beautiful form of art, especially when drawing the nude female or male, shape and size unimportant. Probably my biggest regrets in life is that I never learned how to draw. I Just think it's a beautiful art form and I'd love to learn how. I'd be willing to pay for lessons if they're not to expensive and if there's someone qualified in Chicago...
I'd suggest that you take a few classes in drawing at a local junior or community college. You might have to take some basic drawing classes before you can get into the figure drawing classes. But the basic drawing classes will teach you a lot about form and shape and shading that will come in handy when you get into the figure drawing classes.
I had an instructor for basic drawing who encouraged me to draw door knobs. Yes, you read that correctly, door knobs. He told me that when I got to the point that one of my door knob drawings was so good that it felt like one could grasp and twist the knob to go into the next room that I would be ready to take the next step into figure drawing.
Believe me, there is a lot to be learned from a simple door knob, size, shape, decorative embellishments, reflected light and shadow to name a few points. And mastery of those elements will give you experience to draw what you see, AND see what you draw.
I hope these few words will help you achieve your goals. Good Luck- Happy Drawing and Take Care and Stay Bare!! LOL!!!!
I'd suggest that you take a few classes in drawing at a local junior or community college. You might have to take some basic drawing classes before you can get into the figure drawing classes. But the basic drawing classes will teach you a lot about form and shape and shading that will come in handy when you get into the figure drawing classes.
I had an instructor for basic drawing who encouraged me to draw door knobs. Yes, you read that correctly, door knobs. He told me that when I got to the point that one of my door knob drawings was so good that it felt like one could grasp and twist the knob to go into the next room that I would be ready to take the next step into figure drawing.
Believe me, there is a lot to be learned from a simple door knob, size, shape, decorative embellishments, reflected light and shadow to name a few points. And mastery of those elements will give you experience to draw what you see, AND see what you draw.
I hope these few words will help you achieve your goals. Good Luck- Happy Drawing and Take Care and Stay Bare!! LOL!!!!
Does anyone have any advice on what's the best way to learn how to draw for someone completely inexperienced? I've always felt that drawing is the most beautiful form of art, especially when drawing the nude female or male, shape and size unimportant. Probably my biggest regrets in life is that I never learned how to draw. I Just think it's a beautiful art form and I'd love to learn how. I'd be willing to pay for lessons if they're not to expensive and if there's someone qualified in Chicago...
I subscribed to National Geographic and they are one of the sponsors of The Great Courses www.thegreatcourses.com and sent me a brochure of their regular and discounted courses for new subscribers. They offer an excellent course called How To Draw taught by David Brody M.F.A. University of Washington . I just started it two weeks ago to improve my drawing skills and the courses are easy. This set of lectures and only cost 49.95 plus tax & s/h As a new subcriber. Course contains 36 half hour lectures and training and is an excellent foundational drawing course ... Comes in dvd and digital formats.. If you buy the dvds you get the digital free. I started watching my courses on my cell phone before the dvds came a week ago.. Here's to your success... Respectfully nude not rude.. Alfred
You have received great advice. The way to start is look at things in their simplest forms. Lines, circles, squares, and then build from there. Once you have the shape and proportion sorted then shade to suggest form.
There are a lot of online resources such as youtube and websites. For drawing nudes try OnAirVideo.com the Croquis Cafe.