Learn How To Draw Using The POSI Formula
By: R. Schmidt
One of the most crucial things to learn once learning to draw is understanding the process nearly every artist applies to fill a blank 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.
Most creative persons follow intuitively these individual tasks stepwise in the proper order. Unluckily when starting to learn drawing, you lack the experience to adopt this strategy intuitively. But rather than waiting for the essential experience, you should use this shortcut.
I created a system close to this formula most artists understand and follow intuitively. It consists of four steps: Placement, Outlines, Shapes, Illumination. These four steps are quite simple and follow the common forumla to make a drawing. I shortened this system P-O-S-I - a POSItive way to learn drawing.
So let's get started:
1. Placing the elements in your drawing
This makes up the first step. Have a look at the complete scenery, distinguish the different elements in the scenery and try to understand it. Focus on the different elements' locations and their location relative to each other. Ultimately if you think your understanding of the scenery is good enough, mark on your paper where you want to lay out the different elements.
Seek out to be as precise as possible unless you possess already some competence in the art of pictorial composition. Advanced artists know how to alter the scenery for a stronger expression without hurting realism at the same time.
2. Drawing Outlines of the different elements
Now you know where to place the elements it is time to sketch them as simple drafts. Look carefully at each part of the scenery and try to realize its outline and form. Then draw its outline - only the silhouette - in a few light lines. Limit yourself to the outer lines of each object. Replicat this step for every object in the scenery. Ideally you begin on elements in the background and continue to the foreground areas.
After finishing the outline of the whole scenery this way, it is time to have a final judging look (but not too judging although!). In this stage it is still easy to reposition any object or to adjust one or another line. But do not be excessively critical and keep in mind: every good drawing lives thanks to slight deviations.
3. Draw the Shape of the different elements
Now it is time to focus our attention to the elements' shapes. Start adding the internal structures of the scenery's parts with only few and fine lines. Place the strokes in the right directions to travel along and build the form of the parts of every object.
For curved elements use curving lines and in plane sections use straight lines. But still restrict you to only some and light lines. Just try to get the shapes decently. As there are still exclusively fine and faint lines on the paper you still have the chance to adjust some lines.
Finally your drawing has gained a more substantial perspective and depth appearance. Time to fill out the white spaces and complete your drawing!
4. Illuminate your Drawing
Thus far we only worked on arraying the scenery using light lines. Forming the outlines and shapes of all elements in the scenery we created a line drawing that portrays the scenerys lookout faithfully.
But for creating real naturalism something is lacking: texture, light and shadow. In that last step we will fill out these elements that generate volume to our drawing and ultimately make it seem naturalistic. So in this last step our chances for creating a outstanding drawing are great but as well is the risk of damaging it beyond repair.
What to do? Again look carefully at each part of the scenery. Notice how light, shadow and surfaces are forming the shapes and what the colors are looking like. Most important is the surface - as even if a surface is completely one-colored, its structure and texture produces different nuances.
The same applies to shadows. Look how the elements cast dark areas on themselves and on elements around them. Add these shadows by first drawing their countour, correcting and perfecting it and then filling it with darker tones.
When adding all the shadows and textures to your drawing always try to draw from the background to the foreground. While following this strategy travel from brighter tones and weak contrasts in the background to strong tones and contrasts in the foreground. This creates a more substantial volume and depth.
After this terminal step you finished your drawing. Make one step back and enjoy the result. But keep in mind: if the petty critic in you awakes, store your drawing away, the more you'll enjoy it in a few months!
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