- 1). Gather your drawing tools. You will need a pad of white drawing paper, drawing pencils in which the graphite is softer than a regular pencil, an eraser, and a drawing board. If your drawing board does not have clips for the paper, then tape your paper down to the board. Prop the board against a table so you are drawing at an angle.
- 2). Practice contour drawing. Set up a still life, such as a tennis shoe. Begin to draw the lines in and around the shoe without looking at your paper. Don't be concerned with the outcome of the drawing. Focus on replicating the lines you see in the object. This will teach you eye to see the actual lines you need to draw.
- 3). Practice shading. Place an egg in a direct light, such as in front of a window. Take time to look at the different levels of shading the light produces. There will be bright spots, called highlights, and low shadows. Draw the egg and shade in the tones you see with a pencil.
- 4). Practice gesture drawing. Use a drawing tool such as charcoal, which will give you a large soft line. Gesture drawing is done quickly and helps you capture expression in your drawing. It is good for drawing things in motion. Have a friend stand in a position like he is throwing a baseball. Use the charcoal to quickly capture the large shapes in his body, not stopping to draw small lines.
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