7 Drawing Tips for Beginners

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A child’s first scribbling is something which it tries to express if you give a pencil in his hand. Drawing is relatively very simple and an easy skill and is something with which you can have great fun. It is also relatively not a very expensive hobby and can start with paper and a pencil. It can go on till acquiring costly pen and tablets – a computer hardware through which you can draw on your computer. It is very costly; however the precision for perfection is very high.

Unlike earlier days, getting information on drawing and sketching is very easy and inexpensive. You can search information on Google and get various sites which teach drawing. Also, nowadays this art form is liked by many youngsters. Like all other art forms, with constant and systematic practice one can become a great artist.

Listed below are few drawing tips which can help anyone improve their skill and become an artist. Reading and practicing these in your daily routine will improve your skill.

1. If you are drawing and you are right handed person, ensure that the light is from your left side. This will prevent your hand shadow falling on your paper.

2. First step when you practice drawing – you should practice drawing line, straight line, curved line, scribbled lines, and your hand should obey the command of your thoughts and visions. You should control your hand and you should be able to bring out what you want.

3. You should further develop drawing circles, oval shapes, crossed lines and bold and thick lines. Just like how a baby develops from crawling stage to walking stage, your art should also develop step by step.

4. These lines and curves are like pillars to a building. The foundation should be strong enough to have a good building; similarly these initial small lines and curves will go a long way in your career. You should also start controlling the stress on your pencil. You should be able to bring the correct darkness and thickness in the lines what you draw.

5. Initially you will not be able to draw a circle or an oval shape correctly, nevertheless don’t get discouraged. You should practice and practice until you get perfection. You should also keep all your drawings carefully from the start to know how you are improving. You could also date your sketches and preserve it for the future.

6. You should concentrate in the area where you feel you are weak. If you are not able to shade properly then learn more to do that. You can try out your own style of shading. Build your own individuality, never copy from another artist.

7. Last but not the least, use good quality materials. 4B and 6B pencils and good chart paper or note book with good quality paper should be sufficient to start with. Quality definitely matters hence never compromise on quality.

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Watercolor techniques improve as time passes

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The following are the most popular watercolor techniques that have been developed by the artist themselves:

1. Wash Technique
It was developed by Albrecht Durer, a German artist. It permits overlapping layers of highly diluted pigments to a more refined level. It started in the early 16th century. In the 18th century, wash became the vehicle for color and the whiteness of the paper is reserved for highlight purposes.

2. Aquarelle Technique
It was mastered and developed by John Cotman and J.M.V Turner, both English artists. Aquarelle technique is more concentrated on thin washes.

3. Watercolor Technique with oil and acrylic based paint
It started at around 19th and 20th century. It dilutes oil paint with solvent to give a washy thinness. It is the newest watercolor technique that is used nowadays by some artists around the world. It also allows the paint to flow freely over the painting surface. Most schools around the world are more concentrated on teaching this technique to their students. Pablo Picasso and John Miro mastered this technique.

Watercolor techniques are combined with reiteration of the themes and styles developed. Many artists never stop to experiment on new2 materials and forms of expression. The watercolor technique will be chosen by the artists themselves. It is important because they are the ones who know what technique is applicable for their masterpiece. Amateur artists may also attend workshops in order to learn more about these techniques.

Watercolor techniques improve as time passes. Several ways are used in order to create a new set of development. With the help of these new improvements, several artists nowadays are getting more inspired to create watercolor paintings. Even the younger children try it out for themselves.

Watercolor brings a different vibrant to paintings creating a surreal approach to the eyes of its audience. Using the watercolor techniques, paintings became more interesting and relaxing to see. It shows the creativity of the artists in the whole world. It gives a new dimension for the artists to showcase their talent. With their watercolor paintings, many people are filled with joy and inspiration.

Watercolor techniques are ways to create a masterpiece. It’s in the hands of the artist to use it evenly on the paper with its chosen theme. If effectively done, the artist will surely create a majestic piece of art that can be enjoyed by its audience. Indeed, using the watercolors, such artists can create and express themselves better with their paintings. It is a medium that can easily be used by everyone that enjoys and loves painting.

With the help of these medium, people can divulge themselves to a new innovation in art. With the help of the watercolor, it moves freely in the hands of the artists.

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3D Animation

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animated yellow fish 3 dimensional look
3D animation deals with electronically produced computer-generated 3D imagery used in motion graphics and digital special effects. In this case, the animator creates a design style or concept that tries to visually interpret and convey the required information using both new and traditional animation techniques.

The 3D animator will have to be well-acquainted with 3D animation applications and software, film and video production techniques, production processes, digital special effects, art and design movements and methodology, typography, styles of performance and dramatization, film and broadcast genres, technical scripting, health and safety regulations for the film and broadcast industry, and an understanding of budgeting and scheduling processes.

The job of the 3D animator is to design and realize original concepts, character and content creation. The animator, therefore, is responsible for devising and communicating creative ideas and accurate technical information. They have to provide the client with detailed estimates of costs, and work within the budget and schedule.

Each assignment will have different demands. So it is imperative that the animator should have a good knowledge and experience of animation software and broadcast processes, as well as a broad knowledge of technical scripting and digital technology used in broadcasting. The designer must be able to respond with innovative concepts and practical solutions for each assignment. The assignments may be of any kind, from designing a spinning top to re-creating mythical weapons.

To succeed in 3D animation, one must have a thorough understanding of computer-generated processes and applications to be able to achieve creative responses to design briefs within the restrictions of budget and deadline. He/she will be required to possess a passion for design, good communication skills and a good understanding of broadcast, special effects and character animation. Last but not least, he or she must enjoy working as a team member under pressure.

In addition to being able to demonstrate high standards of computer-generated imagery and animation techniques you will need to have a good knowledge of art and design movements and imagery, creative problem solving and innovation, and the understanding of how to deliver design concepts and processes.

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Watercolour is a Challenging Medium

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Watercolor painting can pose challenges different from other mediums.

watercolour pour

For example, watercolor is a transparent medium making it unique when compared to other mediums that are opaque. To address this, the following are the watercolor basic painting techniques developed and used over the years and which no watercolor artist can do without.

 

Dry Brush

the dry brush technique is good for creating textured surfaces. Samples of dry brush technique are often seen in watercolor paintings of tree barks, rocks, twigs, foliage etc. creating a visibly dominant textures. Dry brush painting relies on painting with a brush that is just about moist and often charged with a thick paint. The dominance or the subtlety of the effect will depend also on the grade and quality of the paper used and the angle and stroke applied.

Lifting Wet Watercolor

The tools to use when applying this technique are soft tissue paper, sponges, paper towels, or brushes. Lifting is a negative painting tool where instead of applying color, you diminish the color that is applied. It creates a dreamy effect and is widely used when painting clouds where the paint, while still wet is dubbed with the absorbent tool to create the image desired. Twisting is done to create more texture in the paint that is left on the paper as well as scrubbing. When doing the actions though, especially when scrubbing, care must be observed that the paper underneath is not damaged.

Lifting Dry Watercolor

One of the greatest challenges in watercolor painting is its being a transparent medium which makes it very difficult to remove or blot out. Once it is in the paper and dries, removing the paint is difficult if not impossible. Painting over will hide it partially. Just the same, sometimes a pigment has to be lifted from the artwork and for lifting dry watercolor, what is normally used are acrylic brushes or sponges. To lift the dry pigment, the sponge or the brush is cleaned thoroughly with clean water and applied very carefully to the surface. The process is repeated until manageable tinge of color remains.

 

Other tools used are razors, sandpapers, penknives, and sometimes X-acto blades. All of which are destructive. Blades are used but then the texture of the artwork is altered. In skilled hands highlights will be created when using a blade but as mentioned it is a risky process.

flow watercolor

Wet in Wet

It is another watercolor basic painting technique where the paper is brushed wet before applying pigments. This technique produces a very different texture and appearance that is unique only to watercolor paintings. For more watercolour tips, go to https://artisgreat.ca/watercolour-tips-for-painters

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Watercolour Tips for Painters

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Following are some tips to improve your Watercolour painting which you may or may not have thought of as you develop your watercolour skills.

paper
  1. Paper quality

There are different kinds and grades of watercolor and watercolor paper, each has its own consistency and behaves differently. The quality of the watercolor painting is heavily influenced by the grade of paper that the painting is on. This is more pronounced when applying the techniques such as wet in wet and dry color lifting. Texture grade are also important consideration when applying a dry brush technique. The rule of the thumb when choosing a watercolor paper is that the more expensive and popular the brand used, the easier the work becomes for the artist because of the consistency and the high quality of materials that are used.

 

flow watercolor

 

2. Working fast

There are a variety of effects that could be taken advantage when working fast. First, to regulate the paint flow will not allow the artist to rest until a particular aspect of the work is finished. The effects that are obtainable in working fast allows for better blending and mixing of colors that could never be done when the paint is allowed to thicken let alone dry. The same goes for color dominance, and the production of feathery, rugged edged and dreamy textures that only a watercolor could produce. Watercolor is not an easy medium to work on. But for those who will or have learned to regulate the flow of the paint, the wetness inherent to watercolor painting is actually a good control device.

 

3. Light fastness

Light fastness is also a major consideration when you want the painting preserved. Watercolor pigments have acquired a reputation for impermanence because unlike oil and acrylic that has protective binders, watercolors are painted directly on paper and is exposed. Because of this, that pigments do not retain its color and its brilliance overtime. Today though, major improvements have been done to retain lightfast watercolors which is indicated by a manufacturers numerical rating printed in the tube or the packaging.

The main reason that excellent watercolor paintings are considered less in value than oil or acrylic is its previous inability to hold its color. Today though, technological improvements are achieved for watercolor pigments that in fact, watercolor paintings with high light fastness rating painted on archival paper holds it colors and brilliance longer than oils and acrylics.

4. Tube or Pan

Choose tube. It is more difficult to achieve very dense color when you use a dry watercolor from a pan. It is also easier to keep raw colors in tubes. Minor difference but it counts for coming with very good, well preserved and well-defined colors. Other than that, there is no visible difference between a tube color and those that comes from pans.

 

5. Scumbling

While the preceding watercolor painting tips are relatively new, scumbling dates back to the practice of watercolor application in the 19th century. Otherwise known as dragging or crumbling the color, scumbling is loading a moist brush with large amounts of color and dragging the tuft lightly along the paper to produce different textures and are typically used by watercolorists with more advanced brush handling skills.

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Pastel – my discovery of my medium

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pylon sign in the snow pastel

Pastel

I have painted and drawn all my life. When I started exploring what medium I wanted to use – I picked the hardest one ! – Watercolour!

It was an adventure to get the control of colour and water into a painting I was pleased with!  I’ll show some of the watercolour work I have done.

In 2010, I took a pastel workshop where Gaye Adams painted in pastels and her rich colours and textures of a forested scene blew me away. I decided to commit to painting with pastels from then on.

What is so special about pastel? Well, there are pros to Pastel.

Pastel is pure colour pigment with a chalk binder or other binder. Pastel is pressed into sticks. Pastels have to be used on t00thed paper which has a rough surface that pulls pastel from the stick. So, you are painting by drawing or stippling a stick of colour on the paper.

The Impressionist painters like Toulouse Lautrec and Monet used pastel for painting on scene and outside as it can capture the expressive line and immediate colours of the scene.

What is the cons of Pastel.

As each pastel is pure pigment then you have to buy a lot of pastel in order to capture the various shades of brown stick or blue stick. Any pastelist has boxes of pastel with “just the right colour.”  There are ways to cross hatch and layer colour to create illusion of a new colour. But pastel requires the commitment of purchasing a great variation of colours to create.

However, pastels do glow!

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