Drawing from reference falls into a sticky territory. Is it bad? Is it cheating? Is it actually helpful? There’s a common misconception that drawing from reference is the same as copying, but it’s not. In fact, you could end up with a very original and unique piece, even after using a reference photo. Drawing from …
Drawing
We’ve all dreamed of being great artists; pulling out our pencils and quickly drawing a masterpiece that we can be proud of. But, anyone who has tried to draw a perfect picture on a whim knows that it isn’t easy. Can it be learned though? How hard is it to learn to draw? It is …
There’s nothing like opening up a new blending stump, tortillon, or kneaded eraser. Mainly because they are so clean! But, even if you have old blending tools and erasers, there’s still hope. You can clean them and get them back to new. To clean a blending stump or tortillion, rub the tip of it with …
You pull out your brush pens, ready for a great session of lettering or drawing, only to find that your brush pens are all dried up. What gives? Brush pens are amazing tools, but sometimes they can be a bit fragile. You leave them alone for a bit and they simply shrivel up. Luckily, there’s …
Colored pencils and crayons are classic art mediums. We all have memories of both of them dating back to our youngest art years. In a lot of ways, they seem really similar, yet, they have some really important differences well. In the debate between colored pencils and crayons, which one wins? Which one is better? …
There’s a huge difference between light and grainy colored pencil drawings, and dark and vibrant colored pencil drawings. We all want the dark and vibrant option, but it can seem really hard to do. Is there some secret trick to achieving this professional-grade colored pencil technique? To darken colored pencils, focus on putting down multiple …
Learning to draw can feel like a long and slow process. But, it doesn’t have to be. With concentration and effort, there are ways to improve your drawing skills, fast. A lot of times, it’s just about practicing your drawing skills in the right way instead of the wrong way. To be clear, there isn’t …
We all draw as kids. We take art classes in school, make cards for our parents around the holidays, and go to summer camps where we’re forced to be inspired by nature. But, at some point, we start doing other things. We take science classes, learn how to run a business, and get “serious” about …
You sit down with your art supplies, ready for creativity to strike, and your mind goes blank. Suddenly, you can’t even think of one thing you’d like to draw. Something challenging; something fun; something new. How do you figure out what to draw next when you have a complete artist’s block? If you have artist’s …
Shading is SO important for art, especially realistic. There are 5 distinct elements of shading that you need to know to be able to learn how to shade your art yourself. The five elements of shading are full light, halftone, shadow edge, reflected light, and cast shadow. Some of these five shading elements are on …