Not only beginners, but also professional artists cannot do without it in their creativity. pencil sketchesThis technique is considered a method of artistic search and training of the eye.
Types of Pencil Sketches
Working with a pencil is the main component of the drawing process. Some artists create works of art using only a pencil. The main advantages of a sketch are the lack of unnecessary details and the ease of execution. You can draw on a train, bus or in the fresh air while walking around the city.
To work you will need:
- paper;
- several simple pencils;
- eraser;
- free time.
Pencil sketches for beginners can be of the following types:
| Type | Description |
| Sketch | Such a sketch cannot be considered as a finished work of art. Its advantage is the ease of execution. For work you will need a small notepad sheet and a pencil, marker or pen. |
| Tone sketch | The work begins with the creation of constructive outlines. Then the remaining surfaces gradually gain tone: the areas where light falls and shadows are cast are carefully drawn. Thanks to this technique, the sketch turns out to be picturesque, expressive and emotional. |
| Linear sketch | The essence of the technique is to create one line. First, the general outlines are outlined, and then the elements are drawn in detail. Where there should be a shadow in the drawing, the pencil is pressed harder. Linear sketching is not easy to do: the artist must be able to position his hand correctly and have a “keen eye”. |
| Line sketch with tone | In this case, first the general outlines are created, then individual elements of the drawing are identified. At the final stage, tone is included in the work to clarify the form. |
| Sketch with constructive construction | This sketch is conditional. It is simple and schematic. It lacks small elements and does not have a clearly expressed individuality. If the artist, for example, decided to constructively analyze a person's pose, then first it is necessary to draw 1 line, which will indicate the general movement of the body. Then the main forms of the body are outlined. Small elements such as the face, fingers, hair are not drawn. |
What type of pencil is suitable for the job
Any writing instrument can be used to create a sketch. Preference is usually given to a pencil, due to the convenience of removing unnecessary lines with an eraser. In addition, a pencil helps to create lines of different thickness and brightness.
To make the work successful, you need to choose the right pencil and pay attention to its softness. The tone of the drawing will depend on how soft the pencil is. You can use both options: use a hard one to create thin lines, and use a soft one to draw dark and clear outlines.
If you need to choose 1 pencil, an experienced artist will prefer a soft one. It has the following advantages - ease of shading and replacing the role of a hard pencil: for this, it is enough to sharpen it well.
The hardness is indicated on the pencil by certain letters. If the pencil is made in Russia, you can see the letters "M" and "T" on it.
The first indicates that the lead is soft, and the second indicates that it is hard. The combination "TM" is present on pencils with medium-hard lead.
If the pencil is made in Europe, there will be different letters - "H" indicates hardness, and "B" indicates softness.
Medium pencils are designated by the combination "HB" and the letter "F". In addition to letters, pencils are marked with numbers - from 2 to 9. The higher the number, the higher the degree of hardness or softness.
For example, if a pencil is marked:
- "5H", This means it is made in Europe and is solid;
- «9H» - the hardest;
- "9B" - the softest.
To create a light tone, it is better to choose hard pencils, for a dark tone - soft ones, for example:
- If you need to depict snow, it is better to use an “8H” pencil;
- For darker tones such as the nose, eye contours, and paws of the animal, it is better to use soft pencils marked “2B”, “3B” or “4B”.
Some artists use a mechanical pencil when creating a sketch. It can be used to draw the finest lines. But the main advantage of this tool is that it does not need sharpening.
The disadvantages include:
- impossibility of sharpening to a certain thickness;
- small range of softness.
This complicates the artist's work, so preference is often given to simple classic pencils made of graphite and wood.
How to do pencil sketches correctly
Beginning artists should know the algorithm for creating a pencil sketch. To do this, you need to study the shape of the object you plan to depict. Walk around it from all sides and try to find the best point of view that emphasizes the features of the composition.
Proportions
Proportions are the first thing to pay attention to when you need to depict a person. It is recommended to draw a line on the canvas and divide it into several equal parts.
If a person is standing, you can divide the line into 7-8 parts; if he is sitting, make it a couple of parts less.
Form
The shape of an object and its volume are best revealed by light, so this aspect must be taken into account when choosing a subject. It should be remembered that the angle of incidence of the sun's rays changes throughout the day, so the shape will be read differently.
Drawing the form
At the stage of drawing the shape of the figure, they are connected by a smooth line. First, the outline is indicated by strokes, without pressing on the pencil. After completing the compositional placement on the canvas, you can refine the shape by drawing along the stroke lines with stronger pressure.
The result should be a confident and precise line.
Detailing
The level of detail depends on the idea behind the drawing. The most important elements should be highlighted, leaving out of the spotlight those that are less important.
Peculiarities of Different Sketches. Master classes for beginner artists
Each object has its own structure, shape and size. Soft fabric, such as clothes or pillows, cannot be drawn with straight lines.
Items
When depicting objects, it is necessary to add a shadow, otherwise they will look like simple geometric figures. You can specially turn on a lighting device and point it at the object you plan to draw from different sides - this way you will be able to see where the shadow falls.
Vase
The vase can be drawn as follows:
- Draw the center line.
- Mark the bottom and top of the vase. Divide the line into 3 equal parts.
- Having determined the widest and narrowest parts of the vase, draw horizontal lines.
- Draw ovals that will show the openings of the vase. Their elongation depends on the location of the horizon: the further the oval is from the horizon line, the wider it should be.
- When all the ovals are drawn, connect them with a pencil.
- If the vase has handles, draw them.
- Remove all unnecessary lines.
- Without pressing hard on the pencil, mark the areas where the shadow will pass. The line should be curved in accordance with the shape of the vase.
- Shade the shaded area. The shadow also falls on the surface on which the vase stands.
Wooden spoon
To get a spoon lying on the table, you need to:
- Determine its proportions and transfer it to the canvas. The lines should be light, you don't need to press hard on the pencil.
- Draw the shape. The position of the shadow depends on how far away the light source is and where the rays are directed.
- Add tone to the drawing. It is necessary to observe how the tonality changes.
Flowers
Most flowers have the same structure, but they differ in details. For example, each flower has leaves, but their shape varies.
Pencil sketches for beginners in this subject can be done as follows:
| Flower | Drawing Basics |
| Tulip | The famous Dutch flower consists of a stem, leaves and petals. The number of the latter is usually 3. In order for the sketch to be three-dimensional, the shadow should be taken into account. First, it is necessary to depict the main elements, after determining the proportions, proceed to drawing the details. It is difficult for beginners to determine which areas are in shadow, so it is better to follow these recommendations:
|
| Narcissus | It is better to start the image of this flower with a circle. A narcissus can have 6-7 round petals. The center is shaped like a dome, it should be depicted at an angle. An important element is the stripes on the petals. They start from the base and go to the edge, but do not reach it. Once you've finished with the petals, you can move on to drawing the stem and leaves, they are elongated. They can be drawn straight or curved. The final stage of work is the creation of shadows. Here you should follow the same rules as in the case of the tulip |
| Lily | The lily flower has 5 petals. It is recommended to depict them first. They are long and have a curved shape. In order not to make a mistake, it is better to draw looking at the flower from above. First, the areas where the petals should be are marked, then you can connect them and draw the center. Here are the stamens, ending with small grains. The leaves of the lily are also long and thin. They should be shaded, as should the areas where the shadow falls. To add volume to the leaves, strokes are applied |
Animals and birds
An artist who is going to draw animals must know the structure of their body. It is important to take into account the peculiarities of the tail location, the transition of the head to the body.
Dog
Its image is usually drawn in the following stages:
- Draw 2 ovals of different sizes: 1 will be the body, and the 2nd will be the head. The latter should be smaller and located higher.
- Connect these 2 ovals with the help of the 3rd one, which becomes the neck.
- Mark out 4 paws.
- Proceed to drawing the details of the muzzle. The lines should not be straight, the eyes should be round, and the shape of the ears and nose depends on the breed.
- Draw the tail and outlines.
- Use an eraser to remove excess lines and add volume to the fur.
Birds
To draw a bird, you should follow the same rules as for animals.
To do this:
- Draw an oval and a circle, outline the paws and tail.
- Move on to the head details. On the back, draw a few strokes to indicate hard lines.
- Draw the bird feathers with short lines. To add volume, shade them.
- Draw the chest with a curved line.
- Draw a branch where the bird sits.
Cat
To draw a cat you need:
- Draw an oval and a circle slightly above. The oval will be the body, and the circle will be the head.
- Draw 4 paws and a tail.
- Once you've made sure the proportions are correct, move on to the details. Draw the ears, eyes, and toes.
- Erase extra lines and add fur.
People
Pencil sketches for beginners are not recommended to start with the appearance of a person. First, it is better to try to depict the nose, mouth, eyes separately. Do not forget about proportions.
Portrait
When creating a portrait, it is necessary to examine the sitter, paying attention to the height and width of his face.
Drawing takes place in the following stages:
- Draw an oval that will represent the head. From top to bottom, draw a vertical line that matches the shape of the head.
- Draw several lines horizontally: they should separate the main details of the face.
- Using the existing lines, mark the eyes, nose, mouth, ears.
- Outline the areas where the shadow falls. This will give the drawing volume.
- Pay attention to the depth of shadows and the main elements of the face. It is necessary to emphasize or soften their shades.
Seated man
This is the simplest pose in which you can depict a person. Before starting work, it is important to correctly distribute the body, take into account the position of the hands. It is better to make sure that the palms are not hidden behind other parts of the body. The position of the torso and head plays a huge role.
The main thing is to make sure that the head and body are not too curved.
Patterns
Using a simple pencil, you can create sketches of beautiful ornaments and patterns.
For example:
| Plant ornament | Wavy pattern |
| 1. Draw several vertical lines so that the sheet is divided into 8 equal areas. 2. Draw several horizontal lines perpendicular to them. 3. From left to right, draw a couple of wavy lines. This will be a sketch. 4. Work on the details. Add small elements: leaves, vines, flowers. 5. Remove unnecessary lines. | 1. Draw a long wave from left to right. Draw another one above it.
2. Draw a loop from each top point of the top wave. 3. Draw small circles between the loops. 4. Draw a straight horizontal line under the waves. 5. Draw several vertical lines connecting the lower wave with the horizontal line. |
Pencil sketches are an important part of depicting objects, animals and people. Every artist uses them in their work – both beginners and professionals. Such a drawing shows proportions, dynamics of movement, individual features. Sketches not only help to create a beautiful drawing, being its basis, but also contribute to the development of skills.
Video about pencil sketching
How to learn to draw sketches: