Mar 24, 20216 min read

Creative Art - Learning to Draw

Updated: Jun 24, 2021

Gary Dutton—Creative Skills Tutor, Adult Skills & Community Learning  Ten Reasons why drawing is good for you.

Drawing is more than just doodling on a piece of paper. It's an exercise for the hands, eyes and mind.

Find out more here link

"Learning to draw can be fun let's have a look at some different projects to get going. These have been kindly shared by Gary Dutton Art Tutor from the classes attended in learning to draw a few years ago" - Debbie

Round objects.

Start off by drawing a symmetrical object like a bottle or a glass.

Please see attached  link

Debbie's Creative Corner Here is an examples of my own work  when learning to draw a few years ago.

It's all about practice drawing shapes getting a sketchbook and practicing drawing what you see around you was a great way for me to learn how to draw.

Give yourself permission to learn and draw.

Drawing Grapes

Learning to draw starting with simple things you have around the home for example a bunch of grapes.  Or simply use the picture below.

Please see attached worksheet link

Debbie's Creative Corner Here is an example of my own work  when learning to draw a few years ago.

Drawing Patterns

Why not have a go at drawing patterns it's great for everyone from complete beginners to those who are reasonably competent in drawing.

Great for hand and eye working together.

Debbie's Creative Corner Here is an example of my own work  when learning to draw a few years ago.

It's a great way to practice holding a pencil, letting your hands free flow and get used to drawing and relaxing.

Draw a Cartoon Head

The basic cartoon head starts with a circle check out the attached worksheet with easy step by step instructions link

Why not have a go I would love to see what you have drawn?

Zentangle Feather

To create your own feather take a look at the worksheet link

Debbie's Creative Corner Here is an examples of my own work  when learning to draw a few years ago.

I would love to see what you have drawn or painted? 

Here is a picture drawn by Margaret following the Zen Feather design with beautiful pastel colours.

Another example drawn by Heather with a painted splash background and black and white fineliners for the feather.

Sketching a Bird

Starting with a selection of basic shapes will give you a good idea of size and perspective.

To draw the bird from start to finish follow the instruction in the worksheet link

Debbie's Creative Corner Here is an examples of my own work  when learning to draw a few years ago.

Here is an examples of my own work my first ever bird drawing using only HB pencils just to show it doesn't have to be perfect just have a go.

Taking this to another level I combined the Zen patterns and the bird to create a different Zen design by Debbie.

Splash water colour paint with black liner Zen designs by Debbie.

Bird of Prey with Fineliner

Here’s a short drawing exercise for you. 

You can attempt it with a fine liner or any kind of drawing pen. 

Build the drawing up gradually, suggesting the groups of feathers, rather than trying to draw every single feather on the bird. 

Try to get the shape of the head right by thinking about the skeleton underneath the feathers.  Don’t overdo the pen work. 

Remember that, with pen and ink, what you leave out is just as important as what you put in. 

Too much shading will result in a messy, cluttered drawing.

When you’re drawing a bird, it’s not necessary or advisable to try and draw every single feather.

Instead, look at the blocks of feathers and think about their function.

There are the strong, primary feathers that the bird uses for flying and the softer, more pliable secondary feathers around the head and chest.

Here is the worksheet link

Debbie's Creative Corner Here is an examples of my own work  when learning to draw.

The bird was drawn using fine liner pens just to show it doesn't have to be perfect find your own style and remember you dont need to draw every individual feather.

Portraits.

Portraits can sometimes be a little bit daunting. This is maybe because people think that they need to produce an exact, photo-realistic likeness (you don’t) and, expecting this to be too difficult, don’t attempt to do it.

It’s true that portraits can be a little tricky, but learning a few simple guidelines will make the task much easier.

It’s also important to relax and not worry too much about the final outcome. Remember that you’re practising, and so you will make a few mistakes. So what? That’s how you learn.

Start by drawing a face straight on, as I’ve done in my handout, as this will make it easier to get the proportions right. Build up gradually from the rough outline of a skull and don’t worry about fine detail (in particular avoid trying to draw detailed hair).

When you come to putting on your tonal value think in terms of dark tones, midtones and highlights, and keep it simple.

Draw from a photograph, as it’s much easier than having someone sit for you, or copy the drawing in the handout. Give it your best shot, relax and enjoy it.

Please see examples in attached link Debbie's Creative Corner Here is a go at my first portrait drawn in an hour.

Not too bad for my first attempt though I changed the smile as found the teeth a little tricky for first drawing.

However, my friend Heather drew a superb portrait of the beautiful Audrey Hepburn.

Stunning Heather this is one of my favourites drawings you did in lockdown - Debbie

Drawing An Arm

Here’s another exercise aimed at simplifying something that might be considered a little tricky.

If you’ve ever done a figure drawing course with me, you’ll know that one of the trickiest bits can be drawing the limbs. Hands and feet can often cause problems for beginners.

Here’s a straightforward view of the arm for you to have a go at. The intention is to use ‘landmarks’ to work out the proportions of the different parts and use simple shapes to indicate them. 

Don’t try to put in too much detail, and any detail you do put in can be left till last. 

Look at the fingers collectively as a single shape (it will probably a rectangle with tapering sides) before trying to draw them individually. 

Use tonal value to indicate the form of the arm, showing it’s roundness and muscle structure. 

Keep it simple and you shouldn’t have too much difficulty.

You could maybe use the attached handout as a starting point and then attempt to draw an arm in a different position from a magazine photo or an online picture.

Follow the worksheet link

The Garden Shed

How about getting your pencils out and having a go at some more drawing concentrating on – two point perspective.

When you start, keep your horizon line perfectly horizontal (the clue is in the name) and place it just around half way up your shed. 

Remember that all horizontal parallel  lines converge and meet on a vanishing point on the horizon. link

 When you’ve had a go at doing the shed in this exercise, you could try something a little more challenging – your house or the building across the road perhaps. 

Heather's Drawing

Superb representation of a shed love this drawing - Debbie

Lockdown Fun - Toilet Roll

One thing I like about Gary is his great sense of humor starting with a toilet roll – soft paper drawing. - Debbie

It's a fairly simple drawing to do with differently graded pencils.

The subject matter is straightforward and, given the current climate, fairly appropriate.

Try to draw it from real life (set up a look roll on a table) and concentrate on the subtleties of the tonal areas.

Or you can use the picture in the guide. link

Debbie's Creative Corner Here is an examples of my own work  when learning to draw.

Debbie Learning to Draw

Take a look at a short video to show some of the creative drawing projects I learned in class with Gary.

Debbie's Creative Corner

During lockdown I have been able to practice drawing at home in different styles using new techniques and many different mediums. In keeping all my work in journals or displayed in my gallery allows me to clearly see how I have grown and improved over the last year.

As well as being relaxing, keeping me sane and a fabulous hobby its good for my confidence and wellbeing.