Q&A for How to Get Good at Drawing

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  • Question
    How can I get good at sketching?
    Kelly Medford
    Professional Artist
    Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art.
    Professional Artist
    Expert Answer
    Practice drawing every day and you'll start seeing improvements. When you draw something, really pay attention to what you're seeing rather than what you think the object looks like so you can add more accurate details.
  • Question
    How do I gain inspiration to draw something amazing?
    Community Answer
    Just use your imagination. Try looking up art, photographs and movies to get your imagination running. Maybe base some of your drawings on something you see in your surroundings, and spice it up in your head to your liking.
  • Question
    How do I color realistic skin with colored pencils?
    Community Answer
    Color the center lightly, and apply a little more pressure as you get closer to the shadow. (opposite of light source). This will create subtle shading for the skin. Try blending different colors to achieve a realistic skin tone.
  • Question
    How can I draw daily?
    Community Answer
    Set aside just 10 minutes per day to sketch a little bit, even if that's all you do. 10 minutes should be pretty easy to find in your schedule.
  • Question
    How can I improve my ability to draw the shapes of eyes, noses, and mouths?
    Community Answer
    You just have to practice and observe facial features closely. You can find books on drawing human anatomy at the library to help you.
  • Question
    I need to go from stick figures to something amazing in less than one year. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    Try joining art clubs, buying art books, looking up tutorials. These will all help towards drawing well but if you have no experience of drawing something semi-professional, you will not be able to accomplish drawing professionally within a time span of only a year. It takes years to learn to draw well however there are some exceptions with quick learners. Things to learn: Shading, accurate shapes and drawing using references.
  • Question
    What are good things for a beginner to practice drawing?
    Community Answer
    Draw things you think are beautiful! It could be an animal, a person, a place or an object.
  • Question
    How can I improve my human and environment drawings for comic books?
    Community Answer
    Look around at your surroundings. See how the lighting hits the walls, how the corners of the room or hall lead to a point in the center, how those windows on that building form a grid, how a man's shirt wrinkles accordingly to his movements. Think of your real life surroundings and your book's setting like this.
  • Question
    How do I stop being depressed and draw well?
    Community Answer
    Perseverance is the art of keeping after a goal despite how you feel. Practice it. Try doing your best every time you draw.
  • Question
    How can I draw hands?
    Community Answer
    Hands are very hard to draw. You should practice by studying your own hands, watching tutorials on YouTube, and tracing your hands.
  • Question
    What can I use for shading?
    Community Answer
    Take a pencil no lighter than an HB and rub it on a scrap piece of paper until there is a very dark spot. Rub your finger on the spot, and then you can rub your finger on the desired area (the longer you rub the darker the shade). You can also use your pencil. Just angle it so that the side of the lead is touching the paper, and lightly sweep it back and forth in soft, smooth strokes.
  • Question
    How can I improve the proportions of my drawings?
    Community Answer
    The entire body is eight heads tall, there's one eye space between the eyes et cetera. Look these up and jot them down if needed. Build skeletons and remember to keep focusing on the entire body, and not just one part at a time.
  • Question
    What is a suggestion for drawing better?
    Community Answer
    Lots of practice!
  • Question
    What can I do to be better at drawing realistically?
    Community Answer
    Well, just study references or photos. Good drawers are good observers. Practice a lot and make sure you draw what you're really seeing, not how you think it should be.
  • Question
    Is possible for me to good at sketching within a year to two years?
    Community Answer
    Of course! Just keep practicing every day and watch tutorials to help you with problem areas.
  • Question
    At what age do most people get professional at drawing?
    Community Answer
    Many professionals start young or in their teens, and after practicing daily, most have a steady stream of commissions or a solid foothold in the industry by the time they hit their late twenties. But it's never too late to start!
  • Question
    What do I do if my drawing skills aren't improving?
    Community Answer
    Just keep practicing. Watch tutorials on YouTube and practice. I know it's frustrating when you're not seeing any improvement, but getting good at something takes a long time. You might also want to consider taking a drawing class.
  • Question
    What should I do if I want to draw multiple styles but can't retain the memory?
    Community Answer
    Write all of them down and if you forget some, consult your notes.
  • Question
    I sometimes have art block. What should I do at that time?
    Logophile
    Community Answer
    Don't focus on the art block. Try to relax or do something else for a few minutes before becoming frustrated. I find that listening to music (especially classical) can restart my creativity. Looking up trending art can also help prompt an idea.
  • Question
    What is the key idea or hint for drawing a cartoon better?
    Community Answer
    Use a grid for proportions and light pencil strokes so you can erase easily.
  • Question
    Is it optional to take art class?
    Community Answer
    It depends on your school's curriculum.
  • Question
    I'm really good at drawing women, but not men. I want to learn how, but my drawing style is really different. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    Men have a more, should I say, "blocky chin". Try drawing a rectangle, and making it into a head, but leave the bottom for the chin.
  • Question
    How can I improve visual point while drawing, and how can I keep focus while drawing anything?
    Community Answer
    It just takes practice, practice and more practice. Regarding any other questions that you may have, anything done repeatedly will soon become second nature. Consider walking as an example.
  • Question
    What are the easiest things to start with? Objects, or people?
    Community Answer
    Objects are probably the easiest things you start with. Drawing people is difficult, but once you learn to draw objects and get an understanding of basic shapes, drawing people will be easier.
  • Question
    I can't draw eyes, noses, ears, or necks. I just stick to stickpeople, but I want to improve.
    BJ Bertin Irie
    Community Answer
    Search up drawing tutorials they will help you a lot and be more specific if you are learning to draw eyes, mouths, noses, etc.
  • Question
    Is it possible for me to draw well at the age of 10?
    Mike Chandler-Smith
    Community Answer
    Yes, all it takes is practice and more practice.
  • Question
    I never know what to draw. What do I draw?
    Artem1s YT
    Community Answer
    Draw things related to your other interests. You're more likely to finish a drawing if the subject interests you. Looking up color palettes can be good inspiration for making a landscape. Look on Pinterest for photo references that may prompt you, or use a written prompt generator online. You can draw portraits of family members/friends or create your own original characters. You can also participate in social media challenges started by other artists, such as the "draw this in your style" challenge; this will also help you meet other artists who can inspire you.
  • Question
    How do you draw a lot of detail in one small spot?
    Patriotictumbleweed
    Community Answer
    Try layering, pay attention to all the colors if you have a reference. If it is fur, try to layer the lightest color on first, then continue darker with making fur-like strokes. If it is skin or another smooth feature, draw carefully and delicately.
  • Question
    What if you don't have enough money for classes?
    Patriotictumbleweed
    Community Answer
    Many good drawing artists were self taught-ers! Do you think Leonardo Da Vinci had a nice little art class he could hop into? No! Practice every day, use YouTube tutorials and you will improve.
  • Question
    I try to draw but no matter what, it turns out bad. What should I do?
    Patriotictumbleweed
    Community Answer
    Are you practicing enough? Do you have proper tools? Do you look for any criticism/do you accept it? If you cannot answer yes to these questions, then maybe try improving on some of these things. Also, study different styles, anatomy, shading, etc.
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