Drawing Tutorial 33 - How to draw ear

In today's tutorial we will  learn to draw ear as seen from front. The shape of ear is similar to half heart with some sharp bends.

1. draw the outer periphery of the ear. Note the curves of the top helix and the lobule in the bottom.

Drawing tutorial 032 - Drawing hands

Drawing hands is probably considered as one of the most difficult anatomical features for any artist. That is partially because of the complex anatomy of the hands and partially because of so many different shapes that a hand can take each of which can look different from different angles thus taking the variation to challengingly difficult numbers. It is hard to remember so many shapes and render it accurately.

But here is good news !! With some good method to draw and some practice, hand drawing can be breeze. Here we shall learn to draw hands by knowing basic shapes that are its building blocks and then adding features to the basic building blocks.

Palm of the hand is almost a flat rectangle. The side towards the little finger is bulging outward a  little. Also, the base of the thumb is outside the base rectangle. The top is also not straight. It curves upward, the base of middle finger being top point of the curve. The dorsal side is little bulging outside and the anterior side is little concave.These are shown in the following illustration.

Drawing tutorial 031 - How to draw hair

Drawing hair at first look may look unchallenging that require no serious observation and practice. But in reality it is not so. To draw hair that looks convincing requires the knowledge of statics and dynamics of hair.

By statics we mean the volume of hair and how that volume covers the head along with flow or direction of hair flow. To know the dynamics means how the hair moves when head turns or there is wind blowing or the person is moving fast.

Hair being flexible can be given so many shapes. But lets first see how much of head it covers because the coverage has less variance.

Drawing tutorial 030 - Three point perspective

Three point perspective uses three vanishing points. If you have not gone through single point and two point perspective then please read them. Two of the vanishing points can be set on the horizon line. The third vanishing point can be above or below the horizon line depending on the position of the observer. Once the three points are set, it will look somewhat like the figure below:

Drawing tutorial 029 - Two point perspective

Vanishing points and single point perspective has  been discussed in earlier post. Single point perspective renders the three dimensional world on paper in a way that the object that are distant tends to vanish to one point which is called as vanishing point. Single point is good to describe scenes that has straight tracks like road or rail track that is tends to disappear in a distant horizon towards the line of sight.

However, for wide scene where the objects and elements in the frame are so far in both left and right of the viewer that they appear to vanish at a distance both side of the viewer it is necessary to apply two point perspective. This is useful while rendering objects like city view that spread both sides to long distances.

Drawing Tutorial 028 - Single point perspective

Single point uses the very basic technique of rendering the depth of three dimensional world on  ২ dimensional surface such as paper. As discussed in the earlier tutorial, perspective drawing uses two main terminology. One is horizon line and other is vanishing point.

In case of single point perspective, there is one horizon line and one vanishing point. This is the simplest way of depicting the three dimensional world in two dimensional drawing surface. The idea behind the single point perspective is that distortion is rendered in only one axis.

Horizon line is chosen depending on the height of the observers eye level in respect to the frame being rendered. The point on the horizon line where everything would be so small that they would seem to disappear is the vanishing point.

Drawing tutorial 027 - Basics(Part 5) - Perspective

When we start to draw things from memory as beginner we tend to draw them in a way we perceived the object in our brain rather than how we saw it. A good example is to draw hair - we are tempted  to draw hair by hair. We know that individual hairs make the whole volume of the so called 'hair' on the head. But do we generally see individual hair?

In a similar way, we as a beginner, tend to miss how we see dimensions such as length, breadth and height of objects around us. As a result, we draw a rectangular building as a rectangle. It may sound crazy, but we do not see it as a rectangle but our brain perceives it that way.

How big an object appears to us depends on the angle that is created by the object in our eye. We have experienced it. It is for this reason, things appear smaller when its away. Our brain can still perceive, in most cases, the actual size of the object by comparing other parameters such as how far the object is, known objects around it, Colour variation etc.

Drawing tutorial 026 - Basics(Part 4) - Drawings forms

In drawing sketching or painting form is a term that is used to depict the actual volume and shape of an object. Visual representation of an object is made on a surface which is 2D whereas in reality things have volume. In line drawing, this volume can not be depicted but as we have discussed in our tutorial on tonal values, by using tonal variation the illusion of volume can be created successfully.

Basic shapes that are building block of all complex drawings, are sphere, cube or cuboid and cylinder. Cone can also be treated as a fundamental building block. When tonal values are added to these basic shapes we create form of different shapes and volume.

Drawing Tutorial 025 - Basics(Part - 3) - Tonal values

Tone, as a drawing term, is the degree of lightness or darkness in an area of the drawing. When light falls on any object, light is reflected by the object depending on its surface. Depending upon the position of observer and light source, some areas of the object shall be bright and some will be in shadow. Also, there will be some area which will seem to be balanced i.e. not too bright and not too dark. Taking in terms of tone, a bright area will be referred as highlight, balanced lighting will be referred to as mid-tone and dark area as shadow.

Drawing Tutorial 024 - Basics(Part - 2) - Hatching and tones

Hatching is one simple technique used for tonal variation in sketching. Though in realistic graphite drawings this technique is seldom used, but in quick sketches it is used frequently. Also, in finished drawings, hatching is used specially with ink drawings and it gives a unique look and feel to the drawing.

Hatching, in its primary types, can be divided in three groups.

1) Simple hatching

2) Cross hatching 

3) Contour hatching

Drawing Tutorial 023 - Basics(Part - 1) - The line

The basics staff will be chiefly for those young kids who wants to take up drawing as a hobby or wish they could draw like a pro and are yet to set foot on the track of learning. Today we will be discussing the very basics of drawing that are fundamental and building blocks to a finished drawing.

The line
When you sit to draw something with a pencil and a paper(the most popular drawing kit for a beginner), the first marks are always in the shape of a line. The novice eye tends to see and define everything by some lines. A children would probably draw a human eye something like the one below:

Drawing Tutorial 022 - Drawing materials(part 2)

In our last tutorial on drawing materials we covered paper, pencil, eraser and sharpener, the basic tools with which one can start drawing and sketching.

Today we will look into one fantastic sketching and drawing tool and medium. PEN and INK. Pen and ink is considered one of the most bold drawing instrument/medium. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that unlike most of the drawing mediums it cannot be erased once applied and that limits the wrong strokes by deliberately being more careful with each stroke. Though it may seem to restrict the creative freedom, on the contrary it bolsters confidence by eradicating use of erasers or other masking layer to cover up errors. It helps learning the importance of strokes and therefore leads to minimizing unnecessary strokes creating a wonderful story.

Having said so, pen and ink can be used over light pencil drawings for a controlled and intricate drawings. But it still holds true that marks cannot be erased in most cases although white inks can be used to add some make up over erred ink lines.

Pens can be used to draw line drawing, drawings with hatching of different styles or with brushes similar to watercolour. Different application styles give distinction in the final result and is appealing in their own merits.

Drawing Tutorial 021 - Figure drawing(Gesture)

In last 10 weeks or so we have drawn face its elements and basic head shape and human body proportions. Here comes the stage which we all want to jump into straight away and create something believable and fluid. But, without the basics gone through (majority of us cannot perfect the basics before we try advanced) its not possible to create realistic human figure drawing. It takes practice, years practice to hone the skill so that the muscles draw what we want them to draw.

Its hard not to be impatient with the learning process any new but fascinating skill. Any skill that help excel creativity is so much overwhelming in every step of the learning process that it comes with overwhelming flow. At that time it feels like breaking all barriers to create anything without any bounds. Unfortunately, the flow gets obstructed by the skill.

There are systematic ways that can lessen the agony in the path of learning but never without pain. It takes enormous amount of time and energy to develop the skill to draw without hesitation and true to life figures.

Drawing Tutorial 017 - Drawing lips

Drawing lips for a face which is facing straight and without much expression is comparatively easier. Therefore this week we are not doing step by step instruction. Here is a step by step drawing with tips how to draw lips in front view with how to add tones.

Drawing Tutorial 016 - Drawing a human nose

Last week we have drawn eyes step by step with shading. This week we shall draw a nose in fron tview and break down its anatomy.

1. The nose shape can be considered as a ridge. But top of the nose's ridge is not sharp. its a bit flat. We can draw a rectangle to form the basic shape. The sides of the nose can be imagined as flat surfaces.Height of nose ridge is more towards the tip of nose.

Drawing Tutorial 015 - Drawing a human eye

last few weeks we have drawn some figures and before that we have learn to draw male and female heads. We will now see how to draw the facial elements like eyes, nose, mouth and ears in more details. This week we will draw eyes.

1. The basic shape of eye as we may have drawn is that of a convex lens. 

We will stick to that shape, but start with straight lines. That's because drawing with straight lines and remembering the shape is much easier. Its something like a hexagon with height half its length. A little rectangle is added to its left for eye's inner canthus. See what is canthus here .

Drawing Tutorial 014 - Drawing male figure(part 2)

Last week we have studied the male figure in three quarter standing. This week we will see the figure straight facing us.

1.Lets review the standard proportion-

height - 7 and 1/2 of head
Nipple - 2 head
Naval - 3 and 1/4 of head
Crotch - Middle point(3 and 3/4th of head. here we have drawn at 4 head)
knee - 5 and 1/2 head
Ankle - 7 and 1/3 head

Body width - 2 head(wide)

Drawing Tutorial 013 - Drawing male figure(part 1)

Last few weeks we have drawn female figures. This we are going to draw a male figure. Some general characteristics of a male figure that makes it different from a female figure are - wider shoulder, less heavy hips, flat chest and firm muscles that produces a more solid stance. So lets start.

1. First the stick figure. It is easiest method to frame the figure and have some idea how the figure is posed. Also, if the pose is not what the intended result is, the stick figure can be easily altered. moreover, the proportions of the figure can be made right at the earlier stage and makes life easier in later part of drawing. The figure is approx 7-1/2 head high, crotch at approx 3-3/4 thus maintaining the standard proportions. This has been drawn without the proportion guidelines but just with muscle memory and by judging the proportions visually. With more drawing the necessity of guidelines will be gone.

Drawing Tutorial 012 - Drawing female figure(part 4)

Today we will draw a girl standing straight. We will consider a 7 1/2 head figure.

1. We start with the oval head. Next the stick figure is drawn, The upper torso without any twists and turn looks like a long rectangle. Hands drops straight vertically down from the shoulder. The legs start from the bottom side of the rectangle. Since we are going to draw the lady standing straight and facing us the legs of the stick figure is also drawn straight.

Drawing Tutorial 011 - Drawing female figure(part 3)

Today we are going to draw a full female figure with some strain and stretches on the body, however keeping the overall proportions more or less same. Stick figure is one of the easiest method to start drawing a figure. Stick figure can be really helpful in putting the proportions and the pose of the figure, angle of torso and position of limbs(hands and legs).

1. Here we draw the oval head. The rectangular torso is bent, in left side it is compressed with a ‘bent in’ and on the right side it is stressed with ‘bent out’ shape. Therefore in the stick figure, the shoulder line and hip line is not horizontal. The shoulder line rises towards right and hip line lowers towards the right. This tilts also define the legs position. The leg in the left(aligns with the bent in) will take the weight of the body in this position and therefore shall be more or less straight. The right side leg is more free and can have an angle. Also if required it can bend at knee as there is no weight on this leg. The hands are free, and can be placed theoretically in any position. We are positioning them in such a way as if it will hold a microphone stand.