sketching practice pdf

Rapid Line Sketching Exercises

There are many versions of this type of exercise, below we will cover several. All of them generally include any exercise that combines the rapid movement of the pencil in a systematic pattern.

Rapid Elipse Sketching Exercise

Now that you have practiced sketching in straight lines, let's on circular motion with ellipses. There are several great variations on this exercise as described below. Just make sure you use your entire arm when you do these; you should be able to feel it in your shoulder. Also, practice holding the pencil gently and working with light pressure.

Slalom Sketching Exercises

Derived from the wonderful book "Find the Flow, A Calligraphic Journey, by Gina Jones, the Slalom exercise is a great way to learn to control fluid motion. Draw a straight vertical line about 8 inches long. Then starting at the top, move downward creating a rounded zig-zag pattern that crosses over the vertical line, continuing to the end of the li...

Interlacing Patterns Drawing Exercise

Also in Gina Jone's book, this exercise is best described with a visual (see below). This exercise is not only great in teaching you fluid motion, but it can also result in beautiful patterns. When doing this exercise,create changes in pressure as if playing classical music, going from high to low volume. I highly recommend Gina's bookfor this and ...

Contour Drawing Exercises

This is a time-honored method for learning to draw and has been described in great detail in numerous books such as Kimon Nicolaides classic, The Natural Way to Draw. See my review of this book. Select an object or have a model sit for you. Place your pencil on the paper and begin drawing your subject without looking at your paper. Go slowly over t...

Modeled Drawing Exercises

Similar to the contour drawing, this exercise is great for learning to feel volume and mass in your subject matter. Use a larger sheet of paper. Start in the center of your subject's form. Begin moving your pencil with a fluid rotating motion. Pretend you are filling in the form with your pencil. As you work your way to the outer surfaces of the fo...

Gesture Sketching Exercises

Gesture sketching is another time-honored method that you will never do away with as long as you sketch. Rather than trying to draw precise outlines or form, gesture sketches try to capture the feeling of movement and energy in the subject matter. The goal is to see the whole form at once and capture its essence in a quick manner. While contour dra...

Memory Drawing Exercises

A very important exercise for increasing your powers of observation and your memory. Look carefully at your subject for one minute, then put it out of sight. Begin sketching what you recall about the subject until you have exhausted your memory. Then take the object back out and compare. Bear in mind that unless you are doing contour drawing, most ...

Practice Holding Your Pencil Loosely

While doing these exercises, challenge yourself by holding the pencil in different ways. Most people when they begin drawing hold the pencil as they do when writing. This is fine, but more experienced artists have found that holding the pencil in different ways can help loosen you up even more and prepare you for painting.

How much sketching practice should I do a day?

Just a few minutes of targeted sketching practice a day can help you improve your technique over time, raise your confidence and keep you in shape even on busy days. Home Drawing Exercises Landscapes Portraits and Figure Architecture Still Life Sketching Project

How can i Improve my sketching technique?

Just a few minutes of targeted sketching practice a day can help you improve your technique over time, raise your confidence and keep you in shape even on busy days. Just a few minutes of targeted sketching practice a day can help you improve your technique over time, raise your confidence and keep you in shape even on busy days. Home

What are the benefits of sketching?

Each area is filled in with a different pattern and what you produce at the end of the day is a wonderful illustration, regardless of your artistic ability. Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas decided to experiment with sketching and they found that it had a very therapeutic effect on people.

Are all my drawing worksheets free?

Welcome to the page where I have collected for you all my drawing worksheets with drawing lessons and additional printables. The philosophy of my site is that I try to share my knowledge in art with all people, and therefore, all my PDF worksheets are absolutely free!