Learn Drawing Using The POSI Formula

Date Added: December 15, 2008 07:42:54 PM

Author: R. Schmidt

Category: Art Education: Art Tutorials

One of the most crucial things to learn when learning to draw is realizing the process almost every artist applies to fill a white sheet of paper with more and more lines until she finished the drawing. Although apparently complicated this process consists of several separate and simple tasks.Many creative persons pursue intuitively these individual tasks step-by-step in the right order.

Unfortunately when starting to learn drawing, you lack the experience to adopt this strategy intuitively. But instead of waiting for the essential experience, you can use the following shortcut. I created a system close to this formula most artists understand and stick with intuitively.

It is composed of four steps: Placement, Outlines, Shapes, Illumination. These four steps are quite simple and pursue the proven process to create a drawing. I abbreviated this system P-O-S-I - a POSItive way to learn drawing.So let's get started:

1. Placement of the objects in your drawing This is the opening move. Have a look at the whole scenery, distinguish the individual objects in the scenery and try to understand the scenery. Concentrate on the individual objects' positions and their position in relation to one another. Finally if you believe your understanding of the scenery is good enough, mark on your paper wherever you want to place the individual objects.Seek out to be as precise as possible unless you have some competence in the art of pictorial composing. Advanced artists know how to modify the scenery for a stronger impression without disturbing realism at the same time.

2. Drafting Outlines of the individual objectsNow you know where to lay out the objects it's time to sketch them as mere drafts. Look cautiously at every part of the scenery and attempt to realize its outline and shape. Then depict its outline - only the silhouette - in a couple of light lines. Limit yourself to the external lines of each object. Replicat this step for every element in the scenery. Ideally you start with objects in the background and continue to the foreground areas.After finishing the outline of the whole scenery this way, it's time to have a final judging look (but not too judging although!). In this stage it's still easy to reposition any element or to adjust one or another line. Only don't be too critical and keep in mind: every great drawing lives thanks to slight deviations from reality.

3. Draw the Shape of the individual objectsNow it's time to turn our attention to the objects' shapes. Start adding the internal structures of the scenery's parts with few and faint lines. Place strokes in the proper directions to travel along and build the form of the components of every element. For arced objects use curving lines and in flat parts use straight lines. But still limit you to few and light lines. Just attempt to catch the contours decently. As there are still only thin lines on the paper you still have the chance to adjust a line here and there.In the end your drawing has gained a more substantial perspective and depth impression. Time to fill the white spaces and perfect your drawing!

4. Illuminate your DrawingUntil now we merely worked on arraying the scenery using light lines. Forming the outlines and contours of all objects in the scenery we produced a line drawing that depicts the scenerys lookout faithfully. But for creating realism something is lacking: texture, light and shadow. In this final step we'll fill out these elements that generate volume to our drawing and ultimately make it look naturalistic. So in this last step our chances for completing a outstanding drawing are great but also is the risk of damaging it beyond repair.

What to do? Once again look cautiously at every section of the scenery. Note how light, shadow and the different surfaces are forming the shapes and what the colors are looking like.

Most important is the surface - because even if a surface is all one color, its structure and texture creates different nuances.

The same applies to shadows. Look how the objects cast dark areas on themselves and on objects around them. Add these shadows by first sketching their outline, correcting and honing it and then filling it with darker tones.When adding all the shadows and textures to your drawing always try to work from the background to the foreground.

While following this strategy go from brighter tones and weak contrasts in the background to dark tones and contrasts in the foreground. This ensures a more substantial three-dimensionality.

Congratulations! After this final step you completed your drawing.

Go one step back and enjoy the result. And keep in mind: when the petty critic in you comes to life, put your drawing away, the more you will love it in some months!

This is another article of the six element series on drawing and how to learn drawing. Visit the upcoming part of the how to draw series: http://DrawingSecrets.com

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