"I can't draw!"
We often hear this statement expressed! But the fact is that anyone can  learn to draw because drawing is a matter of learning and applying (practicing) a few specific skills. I will share below a list of the most essential skills. Just as other skills in sports or music, art skills grow with practice. You can click on the Lesson links that are associated with each of the skills found on this page.

Terms in Drawing
Sketching, Studies, Composition
Use the E-Z Drawing method. Drawing freely without inhibition.

What is Sketching?,
In a sketch a version of the subject image is done sometimes quite quickly, sometimes these sketches are smaller versions of final image. Thumbnail sketches.
Sketches may or may not be compositions.

What are compositions
Compositions recognize the entire picture space, not just a single small area within the page.

A "Study" is a practice drawing or an experimental version of the idea you are trying to develop.

Look at the Picasso studies below, the artist searches for a powerful expression of sorrow.

Drawing with Line
You are working with the visual element of Line, when lines close they produce shapes; these elements all occur in space.

Drawing Freely
Hand and Eye control - "Coordination"
The skill of using hand/arm gesture movement freely, is to draw
as though you were drawing in the air. Follow the exercises that are
shown on the link following. Hand gesture practice warmups

DRAWING WARMUPS -- LEARNING TO DRAW FREELY

Learn to Draw Technique 2
Plan visual content throughout the entire picture space
Use a viewfinder to plan composition
If you use a view-finder or examine photo content we discover that
within the picture "field" there are many parts or areas within the picture frame.
The drawer will need to select some of that content, eliminate others and
possibly rearrange parts to make a better arrangement.
Note a sketch or a "study" is a practice drawing that does not require
thorough consideration of composition using the entire field.
See this link for Sketch or Study vs Composition
What kind of a drawing?

SKETCH, STUDIES OR COMPOSITIONS?

THINK WHOLE SPACE, MAP ENTIRE SPACE USING VIEWFINDERS

Learn to Draw Technique 3
Developing the composition -
Inside the "outline' of every shape that fills our picture
there is a wide range of visual effects that may be developed,
Including tone, color, and texture.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PICTURE CONTENT

Learn to Draw Technique 4
Shading Forms to Create mass & 3 Dimensionality
(Tonality, modeling or Illumination)

Learn to Draw Technique 5
Show objects in space using horizon and ground plane
The horizon is our every day referance to the distance,
Things below the horizon are on the ground;
Things above horizon are in the air:
Things on the earth appear closer or farther away
because of several factors: Size, Overlapping, Darkness
NEAR FAR OBJECTS IN SPACE

Human Figure, Proportions and Poses

Draw the face -- Face guide lines

2006

Wheaton Minnesota High School
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