Q&A for How to Draw

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  • Question
    How can I become proficient at drawing within a month and develop a passion for arts?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    You can definitely make a ton of progress in a month, but proficient might be a bit of a tough goal to achieve. So far as the passion goes, visit museums. Go to art gallery openings and talk to artists. Watch movies about famous artists. The more you can do to surround yourself with the culture, the more your interest will grow.
  • Question
    What if you draw something and then get one part wrong? Won't it look sloppy for the rest of the drawing?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This is why most artists start by lightly sketching in pencil. Even if you want to outline the final version in ink, start in pencil! That way you can erase whatever you don't get right first time.
  • Question
    So it doesn't matter what age I am? I used to love drawing and I was good at it, but now I can't get anything right, I've lost my talent.
    Community Answer
    You can draw at any age. You just have to have the right mindset about it. Keep working. Don't tell yourself you can't do it. A little effort and creativity and I'm sure you can reunite with your talent.
  • Question
    What can I practice drawing?
    Community Answer
    There are lots of things you can draw! You can start with sketching your favorite animal, or drawing an object that means a lot to you, like a ring or old book. If you're really stuck for things to draw, set a timer for 2–5 minutes, look around the room for a still object to draw (it could be a pen, a lightbulb, etc.) and draw it until the timer goes. As you practice drawing, learn how to draw new things! Have you tried drawing penguins yet? Or an expressive human eye? How about a kitten? Or your favorite book/movie characters? There are many things to draw, and trying new subjects will prevent you from getting bored.
  • Question
    What if you don't have any materials?
    Community Answer
    You can practice and improve your drawing skills without any fancy materials! Feel free to just use normal pencils and lined paper or printer paper to practice with.
  • Question
    What if I'm not good at drawing?
    Community Answer
    Practice makes perfect, and you shouldn't just give up because you don't think you good.
  • Question
    How do you draw neatly?
    Community Answer
    Sketch with light lines using a hard pencil (3H or H). Once you've got the shape, erase every stray line and smudge. Go over the final drawing with a finely-pointed, sharp pencil (HB, or a 2B or 4B for bolder lines).
  • Question
    How do I find inspiration to keep on drawing when I'm not that good?
    Community Answer
    Many artists have the desire but not the talent to begin with; this is normal. The fact that you acknowledge your limitations is good because it shows you're willing to improve. Choose to draw the things or beings you care about or that interest you the most. Then, ready plenty of books on how to draw those things or beings, picking up the techniques they suggest. After this, the best thing you can do is practice, over and over again, until something good begins to form. It will take a long while but once you cotton on to your own technique, you'll never look back and your unique style will help you to stand out from the less humble and those who cannot be bothered practicing.
  • Question
    What if one drawing comes out stupid?
    Community Answer
    This is a natural and expected part of learning to draw well. Nobody draws perfectly the first time, otherwise everyone would be drawing. Good drawing comes with practice and from going over bad drawings to learn about why it didn't work and how to make changes to that to improve. Beginners have to start somewhere, so don't be upset, just use the "stupid" to inform all improvements in future drawings.
  • Question
    How long should you practice drawing?
    Community Answer
    The more you draw, the more you'll improve. Try to do at least one drawing a day, even if it's just a tiny sketch. Invite your friends to do the "Drawing a Day" challenge with you.
  • Question
    How can I improve my drawings, especially of faces?
    Community Answer
    Get familiar with the shape and guidelines of the face. Then start to learn the steps to draw the parts of the face, starting from the eye to the lips and mouth. Then learn to assemble them in the face using the guidelines.
  • Question
    How do I get to draw something I like, but there is nothing I like around me?
    Community Answer
    Try taking a walk outside, and finding something you like to draw. You can also look up photographs on the internet, and draw from them.
  • Question
    How do I make my drawing even and not messy?
    Community Answer
    Try not to erase so much and think before you do.
  • Question
    What's the best way to draw if you aren't very focused?
    Community Answer
    If it's hard for you to concentrate on one thing for very long, the key to improving is to draw for short amounts of time, very often. Set a timer for 2 minutes every day and draw until the timer beeps. If you get bored a little later on, set the timer and again draw for 2 minutes. Once your mind gets used to this, set the timer for a longer time. It also helps to try drawing new things instead of the same one over and over.
  • Question
    What kind of pencil I should use for sketching and for shading?
    Community Answer
    For sketching, it's up to you. If you know your subject quite well, opt for a softer pencil (like an HB or 2B). If you aren't sure what you want to draw, go with a harder pencil so the lines will be easier to erase (try an H or 3H). For shading, use soft pencils. The darker and more expressive the shading, the softer the pencil (for ultra deep shading, use from a 6B to a 9B). However, the softer pencils also have more range of tone, so if you want a light shadow that you can smudge to blend well, use a 4B or 6B, pressing lightly. To blend, carefully smudge the shadow around with your fingertip.
  • Question
    What is the best paper to use for drawing?
    Community Answer
    If you are going to use markers and wet things for your drawings then use bristol board. It sucks up all the ink and doesn't bleed or go through the page. Bristol board also works excellently with pencil.
  • Question
    Why is it necessary for me to have a sketchbook?
    Community Answer
    Always having a sketchbook handy will allow you to capture any scene that caught your eye. If you don't have a fancy handbag to carry your sketchbook in, you could download a suitable app onto your phone instead, if you don't mind digital drawing.
  • Question
    How do I make money by drawing?
    Community Answer
    When you are brilliant at drawing and you know it's pitch perfect (by asking others if they'd buy it if it were for sale), you could try to sell some drawings your neighbourhood, in the streets, in your local park or anywhere where there is sure to be lots of people around. Set up a small stall on the sidewalk or somewhere, being sure to have checked local regulations on sales for that place (it is illegal without a permit or just plain illegal in some places to set up selling operations). Art fairs and street markets are another option. Use reasonable prices, be ready to talk about your work (be interesting and passionate) and interested people may just buy your artwork.
  • Question
    What if I can't get some things right?
    Community Answer
    Keep practicing and use references. You can also trace the references for practice.
  • Question
    What happens if my painting gets unexpectedly strange and cannot be undone?
    Community Answer
    Keep it strange! Sometimes changing up the style a little bit helps improve your skills overall. Plus, you can look back on it to see your improvements!
  • Question
    How do I draw backgrounds?
    Community Answer
    Backgrounds are usually smaller, depending on which part of the drawing you are talking about. The foreground is the bottom of the drawing, the middle ground is in the middle, and background is at the top. Foreground is usually bigger, and the subject of the painting. Middle ground is typically a little smaller than foreground. Background is usually the sky in a painting; the smallest of all of them.
  • Question
    How can I learn to draw people?
    Community Answer
    You can start out with babies whose features are much softer and easy to sketch and proportion. Then move on to harder stuff. You can also watch YouTube videos on the subject.
  • Question
    How do I know what kind of pencil I have?
    Community Answer
    Usually that is mentioned on the pencil itself (the ingraved or ink printed phrases), or it is on the packaging of the pencils.
  • Question
    What can I do if I get annoyed when my drawing didn't turn out good?
    Community Answer
    Don't be annoyed. Just keep on practicing and drawing. You will soon realize that your skills of drawing are improving.
  • Question
    What is the easiest thing to draw for beginners?
    Community Answer
    A balloon or a book.
  • Question
    How do I teach little kids art?
    Community Answer
    Try starting them off just drawing the basic shapes of things with very few details. Make things as simplified as possible for them, so they are easy to draw. Once they get a little older and more experienced, have them slowly start putting more and more details into their art.
  • Question
    What if I don't have the right materials?
    Community Answer
    Do the best you can with what you have. Art isn't about having fancy materials, but about putting effort into something you can be proud of.
  • Question
    What is the best pencil to use?
    Community Answer
    It is completely up to your personal preference.
  • Question
    What if I can't do a good circle?
    Community Answer
    You can try sketching it out lightly in pencil, and get darker as you get closer to your desired image.
  • Question
    How can I do my drawings faster?
    Community Answer
    Practice. When you start drawing, you aren't going to be drawing lightning fast. No one starts drawing fast. The more you start drawing, you will get into a routine and will start drawing faster.
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