What Are the Guiding Principles for Learning Drawing?
The practice of drawing is one of the oldest and greatest forms of artistic expression. For centuries, people have used drawings – both representational and abstract – to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. But in recent years, the art form of drawing has experienced resurgence in both popularity and importance, as more people turn to drawing as a way to impact their communities, businesses, and everyday lives.
For those who are looking to develop their skills in drawing, there are several guiding principles to help create a foundation for learning and progressing. Here are the top ten guiding principles for learning drawing.
- Understand the Basics
As with all art forms, drawing starts with understanding the basics. This means familiarizing yourself with the materials and tools used in drawing, such as pens and paper, as well as different techniques like shading with pencils and creating texture with ink. Understanding the basics is also important when it comes to conventional art theory, such as color theory, geometric principles, composition, perspective, and figure-ground relationships.
- Develop a Reference Library
A reference library can be a great way for beginner and experienced drawers to further their skills and build upon existing knowledge. This library could include both traditional and contemporary books, magazines, and websites that containing information on various materials, techniques, and art styles. It is also beneficial to use life references from personal experiences to add a layer of realism to drawings.
- Reference Popular Art Movements
Popular art movements, such as Impressionism, Cubism, and Surrealism, offer great insight into how art is created and the ideas behind each movement. This can help inform a budding artist’s style, as well as provide a unique perspective on creating art. Take some time to learn more about different art movements and their defining characteristics, and use what you learn as a source of inspiration.
- Get Creative With Mediums
Drawing is not just about pencils and pens. There are plenty of other types of mediums to explore in the art of drawing, including digital tools like Photoshop and Illustrator, as well as other materials like charcoal, ink, pastels, and even various mediums beyond the traditional. Experimenting with different mediums will not only help you expand upon your artistic style, but also develop new techniques in the process.
- Study Widely
Drawing isn’t just about art, but also about the study of mediums, techniques, and styles. Take some time to research different artists, both historical and modern. Discover how they used different mediums to express their ideas and experiment with what you have learned to create your own unique pieces.
- Work Your Way Up
When first starting out, it is important to begin with some basic drawings and work your way up to more complex pieces. Start with a few simple sketches of shapes and images, then move on to more complicated representations. This is especially true for newcomers, as developing a diverse portfolio that features a variety of drawing styles and difficulty levels can help you get perspective on your artistic evolution.
- Practice, Practice, Practice
Nothing can replace practice when it comes to drawing, so try to cultivate a habit of drawing on a regular basis. Taking the time to draw each day helps increase your skills and proficiency. This doesn’t mean strictly reproducing images, but rather exploring and experimenting with various mediums to unlock your creativity.
- Create Skill-Specific Exercises
Creating skill-specific exercises is a great way to develop different aspects of drawing technique, such as color, composition, and perspective. These exercises can vary depending on the individual, but often include drawing grid blocks, copies of popular art, collages, and figure studies.
- Join Art Communities
Joining art communities and organizations can be an invaluable resource when learning to draw. Not only do these offer a chance to connect with other artists, but they often host workshops, presentations, and lectures that aspiring drawers can attend in order to further their knowledge and gain valuable experience in the process.
- Reflect and Analyze
Finally, it is important to take the time to reflect and analyze your work. This can help gain an understanding of your artistic style, by recognizing and understanding what did and did not work with each piece. Through constructive criticism, you can better gauge your progress and improve upon your techniques as you move forward.
Drawing is an art form like any other, and it is important to have a set of guiding principles that can help inform and guide your practice. By understanding the basics of drawing, creating a personal reference library, studying widely, and joining art communities, you can further your knowledge and expertise. And by experimenting with different mediums, practicing regularly, creating skill-specific exercises, and reflecting and analyzing work, you can improve your knowledge and become a better artist.
