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Drawing Techniques

Composition

It is important that the composition of your drawing provides the balance that you require for the audience's eye. Varying compositions can lead the view focusing on different elements thus changing the feel and the emotion of the drawing. If you are unsure of the composition that will provide the impact that you require you can sketch the options before selecting your final design.

Proportions

When drawing a representation of an item, for example a figure, then the proportions of the figure need to be visually in balance. Take a rough measure of real life proportions and set up your image in the same manner.

See the diagram of an exercise to show proportions on a figure.

Perspective

As your drawing is on a two dimensional medium, it is important to be able to show depth if you wish to provide a realistic view of an object. In order to do this, elements that need to luck as if they are further away need to be drawn smaller. Two parallel lines directed away from you in real life will be two converging lines to show perspective.

Adding tone

In order to show tone on paper shading is used. An example of shading is to show shadows and highlights. Careful use of shading can result in very realistic drawings.

Drawing negative space is a technique that concentrates on filling in the background of an object, while leaving the object lank. This provides a dramatic representation of the object.

Computer Art / Computer Illustration

Drawings can be placed on the computer through the artist drawing directly on to a tablet or through the use of a mouse.

Drawings can also be made on the computer through using mathematical algorithms that are then interpreted in to shape and colour to provide a visualisation.

Have a look at some of my pictures where you can see a number of these drawing techniques used