TECHNIQUES YOU NEED TO IMPROVE YOUR DRAWING

Are you looking for advice that will help you improve your drawing technique? Whether you’re just starting out or a more accomplished artist, some techniques will help you better understand perspective, hone your observation skills and make your sketches more interesting. Shading, gradients and colour mixing add realism and depth to your work. Here are 5 drawing techniques that will make all the difference, as well as some practical exercises that will take you out of your comfort zone and develop the artist within you.

Shading turns a simple sketch into a realistic picture. It provides perspective and a sense of relief to shapes and allows the eye to perceive depth. A sphere without a shadow is just a circle, but with carefully placed shadows it becomes a three-dimensional object.
 

• Hatching: trace lines that are more-or-less close together to suggest darker areas.

• Smooth shading: blend the graphite or charcoal with your finger, tissue paper or a blending stump for a soft and smooth gradient.

• Cross hatching: Superimpose several layers of hatching for a richer texture.

🖍️ Supplies you’ll need when learning to draw.

A good gradient allows you to soften contrasts and make shadows and colours look more natural. With this technique you add relief and depth to your drawings and create harmonious and realistic transitions, whether you’re working in black and white or colour.
 

• Work in circular motions (with coloured pencils) and add layers progressively for a soft fade.

• Choose the right paper: paper that has a very smooth texture will prevent colours from adhering properly, while a rough paper can make them difficult to blend.

• Work from light to dark by gradually superimposing layers for a natural look.

• Use water-soluble coloured pencils or dry pastels for soft and more fluid transitions.

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Being familiar with the chromatic wheel and knowing how to select the right colours is a necessary skill for all aspiring artists and painters. Mixing colours isn’t random: some hues complement each other; others cancel each other out.
 

• Layer colours to create new shades and expand your palette.

• Vary the pressure you exert on your pencil to modulate the intensity.

• Use a blending stump to merge the pigments gently together.

• Combine various techniques such as coloured pencils, watercolour and pastel.

🖍️ Our guide to blending colours using coloured pencils.

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Made popular by artists such as Caravaggio, chiaroscuro which comes from the Italian meaning “light-dark”, rests on the principle of having very strong contrasts between the areas of light and shade. This gives relief and depth to shapes, adds drama to the scene and guides the viewer’s eyes to the areas of interest.
 

• Draw an object lit with a single light source to identify where you need to place the shadows.

• Start with preliminary black and white sketches to determine the contrasts.

• Use a well-sharpened graphite pencil for the bright details and use charcoal or a soft graphite pencil for the shadows.

🖍️ Our guide to drawing with graphite pencils.

Gesture drawing, inspired from architectural designs and quick sketches by artists such as Degas, helps you improve the fluidity of your pencil stroke. It puts the focus on spontaneity and expression rather than precision and details. This is the perfect technique to try if you’re looking to learn to convey movement in your drawings as well as understand anatomy, poses and shapes.
 

• Start with timed sketches: 30 seconds, one minute, 5 minutes. The aim is to get straight to the essential strokes without focussing on the details.

• Use broad and sweeping strokes, without pressing down too much on your pencil.

• Use models that are moving: observe passers-by to capture the way they move and their gestures.

• Vary your drawing instruments by using charcoal or felt-tipped pens.

🖍️ Boost your creativity with doodling!

Be observant and improve your drawing

A good artist doesn’t just copy what they see, they observe their subject. Perspective, light and proportions must all be considered before they start. Observe the world around you: an object’s shadow, the texture of a material, the way light reflects off a face… Everything can be a source of inspiration.

Practice exercise: draw the same object several times, only from different angles and with varying lights.
 

Practice makes perfect

Improving your drawing skills depends first and foremost on regular practice. The more you draw, the more refined your lines will be and the more confident you’ll be.

• Introduce a creative break into your daily routine, even if only for a few minutes a day. This will help maintain your skills and inspiration.

• Take art classes to bring some structure to your learning. How about signing up to a Caran d’Ache Creative Class, online art classes which allow you to practise wherever and whenever you want.

• Head to a museum to reproduce famous works of art and understand artists’ techniques.

Tip: keep a sketchbook to jot down ideas, try out techniques and observe your progress.

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Dare to leave your comfort zone

Don’t be afraid to try things and make mistakes: making mistakes is part of the learning process. Trying out new techniques and media will help you to improve more quickly.

A week-long challenge: try a new technique every day (hatching, point shading, chiaroscuro…).

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Drawing requires observation, technical knowledge and practice. Whether you draw for pleasure or for an applied arts or architecture degree, there are always exercises to help you improve and develop your own distinctive style.

So, get your pencil, your sketchbook and let’s start!