Darren Chow is the founder and developer of MyArtPassion.com, an online website that offers free drawing lessons, home study courses, and other drawing related resources.
For more free resources like the one you've just read, please visit MyArtPassion.com for free online drawing lessons.
First, let's talk a little bit about what makes a good pencil sketching exercise.
Well, I don't know about you but I personally find shading squares and basic shapes to be the most boring pencil sketch exercises in the world. But you still find them around.
Some pencil sketch tutorials will ask you to shade squares just to get some blending practice. But I find that ineffective and exceedingly boring. And I tell myself there must be a better way to learn pencil sketching.
The problem with shading squares is that squares have no meaning. They don't represent still life, and they don't represent a living thing. Therefore, such exercises don't really stretch the muscles of the artist.
And anything that's not a real challenge isn't going to help anyone become a world class artist. If you're a beginner, you may want to consider some alternative exercises.
What you can do is that you may want to pick just one simple subject that you would like to draw. Don't be too overly ambitious if you're just starting out. Just one good one will do. I suggest choosing something like a soft toy or a plant. These subjects have simple basic forms and shapes and are perfect for sketching exercises.
Next, when you proceed with your drawing, keep in mind that this is just an exercise. So your primary goal is not to create the perfect sketch. Instead, you should constantly remind yourself that since this is just an exercise, you should try as much as you can to experiment. Be adventurous! This is just an exercise, so there's no need to be timid.
Draw all kinds of lines if you can. Experiment with all the different shades of pencils. Use different types of drawing paper and observe what happens.
This will keep you busy for hours, and in my opinion, even though the approach is a little hap-hazard, it's still much better than just shading squares. No boring squares for you and me. Geez
Well, I don't know about you but I personally find shading squares and basic shapes to be the most boring pencil sketch exercises in the world. But you still find them around.
Some pencil sketch tutorials will ask you to shade squares just to get some blending practice. But I find that ineffective and exceedingly boring. And I tell myself there must be a better way to learn pencil sketching.
The problem with shading squares is that squares have no meaning. They don't represent still life, and they don't represent a living thing. Therefore, such exercises don't really stretch the muscles of the artist.
And anything that's not a real challenge isn't going to help anyone become a world class artist. If you're a beginner, you may want to consider some alternative exercises.
What you can do is that you may want to pick just one simple subject that you would like to draw. Don't be too overly ambitious if you're just starting out. Just one good one will do. I suggest choosing something like a soft toy or a plant. These subjects have simple basic forms and shapes and are perfect for sketching exercises.
Next, when you proceed with your drawing, keep in mind that this is just an exercise. So your primary goal is not to create the perfect sketch. Instead, you should constantly remind yourself that since this is just an exercise, you should try as much as you can to experiment. Be adventurous! This is just an exercise, so there's no need to be timid.
Draw all kinds of lines if you can. Experiment with all the different shades of pencils. Use different types of drawing paper and observe what happens.
This will keep you busy for hours, and in my opinion, even though the approach is a little hap-hazard, it's still much better than just shading squares. No boring squares for you and me. Geez
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
Chinese Traditional Folk Art-Shadow Puppet
By: Venturiwang | 07/01/2010Shadow puppet, as one of the Chinese traditional folk art, has a long history in China. This article aims to help you know more about it.
Custom Canvas Art and Transformational Definitional
By: Conrad McKee | 07/01/2010Today, it is quite easy to define your photo, picture or artwork through transforming it into canvas art through customized canvas printing.
Canvas Art and Acrylic Prints in Contemporary Use
By: Conrad McKee | 07/01/2010With acrylic prints, you are promised a refreshing contemporary alternative in a modern package
Ugliest Buildings (I)
By: Tinny | 07/01/2010Ok, now enjoy this weird, odd, bizarre and incredible looking architectures! These buildings will bring you visual impact, may good or bad!!!
Ugliest Buildings (I)
By: Tinny | 07/01/2010Ok, now enjoy this weird, odd, bizarre and incredible looking architectures! These buildings will bring you visual impact, may good or bad!!!
Get Artistic In San Diego
By: Paul Buchanan | 06/01/2010Do you love paintings and other forms of expression? If you do you’ll love the number of art museums San Diego has in store for you.
Online Search Guide for All
By: Garry Muga | 06/01/2010Another name for shared web hosting service is virtual hosting service. It basically makes reference to a web hosting service, where many websites are placed on the same server. Each site is placed on its own portion to keep it separate from other websites. Shared hosting is thought to be the cheapest service as the cost of upkeep of the server is shared by different folks. Like coin has 2 sides, Shared website hosting Service has got advantages and drawbacks both. Below discussed...
Easy Way to Create an Online Photo Album
By: Ori Guttin | 05/01/2010Photo sharing has changed dramatically with the creation of online photo albums. Now, friends and family can see your photos from the confort of their homes and almost instantly. Creating an online phot album is also fun and easy to do!
Taking Care Of Ac Parts Means Taking Care Of Your Car
By: Gen Wright | 06/01/2010 | CarsAuto ac parts or auto air conditioning parts are perhaps some of the most taken for granted car parts. This is because, even though they are ubiquitous and frequently used, they are hidden from the driver's line of sight.
Promotional Items- Raising Your Company Profile
By: Gen Wright | 06/01/2010 | International MarketingUsing promotional products effectively can open up many new marketing opportunities for your company. Promotional products attract new customers as well as reactivate old ones. Name recognition is an important factor in marketing. A useful item with your company's logo will keep that brand recognition alive in the minds of potential customers.
Using The Right Promotional Products
By: Gen Wright | 06/01/2010 | International MarketingMany companies have seen the value of using promotional products in a successful marketing campaign. A small, thoughtful item with a company logo will keep the company's name on the forefront of people's minds. The more they use the item, the more frequently the company will be remembered. The use of promotional items can win new customers and promote loyalty in existing ones.
The Power Of Promotional Products
By: Gen Wright | 06/01/2010 | International MarketingIn today's market, it is important for a company to stand out and be noticed. One of the most effective and proven ways for a company to attract customers and increase sales is the use of free promotional products. When potential customers are using your free product with your company's name and logo embedded on it, they remember how they received the product in the first place. Every time a person drinks coffee from one of your mugs, he or she is reminded of your company.
3 Powerful Ways To Increase Online Visibility For Your Dental Website
By: Gen Wright | 06/01/2010 | Affiliate ProgramsIf you want to compete in the dental industry today, you'll want to build an online presence for your practice on the World Wide Web. But just having a website won't be enough to generate new traffic to your practice. The following article offers three powerful strategies for increasing your online visibility.
Attract More Attention And New Customers With Promotional Savvy
By: Gen Wright | 06/01/2010 | International MarketingThe old adage about using word of mouth to attract new customers is still true - a word or two on a promotional product does even more. Your potential new customer will have your contact information at hand.
Four Dangers Of Testing Your Luck In Online Casinos
By: Gen Wright | 06/01/2010 | CollectingEveryone knows that winning big can happen to anyone. But the ones who win big are the ones who think about their choices. They have a system, and they do not deviate from it.
Eight Rules To Playing Casinos Online
By: Gen Wright | 06/01/2010 | CollectingWhere do you get started playing casinos online? How do you know if you can trust the people with whom you are placing your money? Is there any way of being able to tell whether playing casinos online is right for you before making big risks?