Michael started painting seriously when he was 16 years old and still at school. At that time there were only a few artists who specialized in Steam Trains (like all boys he wanted to be a train driver). The best train painters were David Shepherd and Terence Cuneo... he wanted to paint like them. It took many years to achieve this artistic ambition. What was amazing was that there was a whole lot more to learning to paint than just steam engines. There is a whole lot of other stuff that needs to be done to make each painting interesting and lifelike. In the process of learning to paint with oils Michael realized that he had to understand landscape painting. Around the world trains cross through countryside that changes by the mile… from open fields to dark hills… from deserts to mountain ranges. The weather changes colors and texture. There are people and animals that need to be painted. There was so much more to learn… As time went by Michael discovered he could draw and paint many different subjects. It has been a great adventure that allowed him to draw with charcoal, pencil and inks. Also, there have been the thrills of painting in oils, watercolor, acrylics and pastels. Michael wants to share his painting and drawing knowledge with you and introduce you to other great artists who are enthusiastic about Art... Artists who are keen to help you become the artist you want to be.
"What is going wrong with my drawing?" and "Why Can't I draw?"
These are 2 questions that are asked by many people who think they aren't able to draw.
Do you know something... "Yes, you can draw"
And, what's more you will be able to draw anything you want... Landscapes, Portraits, Cars, Cats and Dogs. It is easy enough when you know how... But first you should learn to draw. You need to learn how to draw 'simple' before you try drawing complicated stuff.
When you see a top artist draw a landscape...
An artist sketches in the simple outline to begin with with light pencil marks. Then the artist looks again at the subject in front to ensure that everything is okay. Then, only if the artist is satisfied, they move on towards finishing the drawing.
A professional artist is careful in preparing properly before working towards a finished drawing...
"How can you expect to learn to draw without equal care?"
An artist makes simple marks to learn about their subject matter... To get the idea of form. To comprehend the purpose of the object. To feel the quality of texture.
"How do you think you can learn to draw expertly without keeping it simple first?"
Now imagine that there is a bowl of fruit in front of you... 2 Apples, 1 Pear, a Banana and a Bunch of Grapes. You feel like drawing a picture. It is only a simple still-life. However, you will make a complete mess of it unless you can see...
* That the Apples are almost spherical
* That the Pear is 'Pear-shaped'
* That the Grapes are round but smaller than the apple
* That the Banana is long and curved
* The top rim of the circular bowl looks like an oval (a squashed circle)
* That the the edges of the table sides show as straight lines seeming to want to join somewhere in at a distant point
Of course all of that is plain to you...
However, unless you can see the essential words in the list above you aren't going to start drawing well. The key words are... Circular, Pear-shaped, Round, Curved, Oval and Straight lines.
Here is a 3- part challenge for you before you attempt to draw anything...
1. Learn how to draw lines
2. Practice drawing some circles
3. Sketch some free-hand curves.
This way, even if your lines aren't perfectly true your drawing standards will get better. So, if your circles don't appear exactly round your drawings will become better. And, when your curves are drawn loosely and freely your individual drawing style will be unloosed.
Transform your drawing skills...
Learn to draw simple things at the start... just draw!
Michael Dale is the author of 1- Color Is Best (the quick and easy way to learn to paint watercolor) and 3- Colors Are All You Need (mix any color you want fast using only 3 colors). Contact www.Paint-And-Draw.com to find out more.
You can also discover a long lost, easy to draw and paint course edited by Michael Dale at http://www.DrawingFoundations.com
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