Mountain Man
Graphite on drawing paper
14″ × 11″ (36cm × 28cm)
Graphite on drawing paper
14″ × 11″ (36cm × 28cm)
Be patient with yourself. Good drawing skills are developed through observation and practice. Try drawing the same demo more than once and compare your results. You will probably be surprised by the level of improvement you have made.
Each demo is done in two stages. In the first stage, you'll work through structural drawing. In the second stage you'll apply values with pencil strokes. As you work through these demos, write the date in the corner of each drawing and sign it. By doing this, you will be able to see the progression of your skills in your artwork. Save your artwork, even if you are tempted to throw it away or send it through a paper shredder. Sometimes the frustration of working on a difficult lesson overshadows the improvement that has taken place. By putting your artwork aside to view later, you allow yourself the opportunity to view it with a more objective eye, when you are more likely to appreciate the skills you have developed.
A still life with fruit is always an interesting subject for interpreting forms through shading. This is a good demo for observing the play of light and shadow on common objects.
4H, HB, 4B graphite pencils
11″ × 14″ (28cm × 36cm) medium-tooth drawing paper
Drawing board
Kneaded eraser
Dividers, proportional dividers or sewing gauge
Erasing shield
Pencil sharpener
White vinyl eraser
Clip your paper to the drawing board. With a 4H pencil, sketch in the curved, oblong forms of the bananas. For accuracy, draw the full shape of the farthest banana, even though its image is partially blocked by the banana in the foreground.
Use the 4H pencil to sketch circles for the apples. To determine the placement of the foreground circle, draw a line under the foreground banana. Line up the foreground apple with the foreground banana.
Add stems and sketch the shapes of the individual apples and bananas. You can use dividers or a gauge here to check your proportions.
Before using your pencil, observe the highlights and shadows. With the 4H pencil, lightly sketch where the highlights will go so you will remember to leave them white. Then sketch in where the shadows fall. Keep in mind that the primary light source is at the upper left.
With the 4H pencil, add value and form to the apples with light lines that follow their contours. Use uniform pencil strokes to make the surfaces look smooth.
With the HB pencil, darken the shadow areas of the apples. With the 4H pencil, indicate the lighter values of the bananas. Check your work with the value scale.
Graphite on drawing paper
11″ × 14″ (28cm × 36cm)
With the HB pencil, shade the darker areas of the bananas. Use a 4B pencil to add shadows under the apples and bananas, with the darkest part closest to the fruit. Add the background value with a 4H pencil, using uniform pencil strokes. Make the apples slightly darker with a 4H pencil. Use the value scale to check your work and make any necessary adjustments. Sign and date your drawing.
For this demonstration, you want a freehand look but may need the guidance of a straightedge for steps one, two and four. Make the lines you draw with a straightedge light so they won't be so noticeable with the sketchy lines used to portray a weathered watering can.
4H, HB, 4B graphite pencils
11″ × 14″ (28cm × 36cm) medium-tooth drawing paper
Dividers, proportional dividers or sewing gauge
Drawing board
Kneaded eraser
Erasing shield
Pencil sharpener
White vinyl eraser
With a 4H pencil, sketch a square, slightly tapered at the bottom. Draw a guideline above the square to help you place the top of the ellipse. Add height to the lines on the side, then sketch the top and bottom ellipses.
Use the 4H pencil to sketch the lines for the spout. Use one of your proportioning tools to compare the spout width to the width of the cylinder, using this drawing as a reference. Add lines for the handle and a curved line for the top.
Add an angled ellipse at the top, ellipses around the central section as ribs, lines to connect the handle, and a small cylinder for the end of the spout.
Add details, including the wire handle at the top and lines where the spout attaches to the body. Create the dent by changing the shape of the lines that form the ribbing. Sketch the leaf shapes around the can and vertical lines for the boards in the background. Use a kneaded eraser to remove obsolete guidelines.
Add lines to indicate the structure of the leaves and boards. (See Brick, Stone and Wood for tips on drawing wood.) With the 4H pencil, add the shading on the watering can with thin strokes going in many directions to create a weathered texture. Because the light source is at the upper left, make the left side of the can lighter than the right side.
Shade the leaves, using an HB pencil for the soft line work and a 4H pencil for light, thin line work. With a 4H pencil, add the appearance of wood grain to the boards.
Sketch over the lines you created with a straightedge to give them a more freehand look.
Graphite on drawing paper
11″ × 14″ (28cm × 36cm)
Using 4H, HB and 4B pencils, add darks and details. Pinch the end of the kneaded eraser so it makes a point, and gently rub it on the paper to create lighter areas, such as the top of the ribs. Sign and date your artwork.
Though it may not be obvious, this scene uses two-point perspective, so pay attention to the subtle angles of the wall and the gate. Proportion the gate correctly by using dividers, proportional dividers or a sewing gauge to compare the width of the gate's opening to the opening's height.
4H, HB, 4B graphite pencils
11″ × 14″ (28cm × 36cm) medium-tooth drawing paper
Dividers, proportional dividers or sewing gauge
Drawing board
Kneaded eraser
Erasing shield
Pencil sharpener
White vinyl eraser
Start by sketching the stone walk and the opening for the gate using a 4H pencil. Use your proportioning skills and
Lightly sketch the outer shapes of the foliage with a 4H pencil.
Sketch the details of the gate, foliage and stones. Erase any unnecessary guidelines with a kneaded eraser.
With your value scale as a reference for the rest of this demo, use a 4H pencil to add values to the gate. Direct your pencil lines to follow the grain of the wood. Make the values of the shadowed side of the gate gradate from dark at the top to light toward the bottom.
With a 4H pencil, add values to the foliage. Draw the various types of leaves differently from one another, using differing values and line strokes. Make the shadows behind the leaves darker than the leaves themselves.
Add values to the stonework and to the ground around and between the stones with a 4H pencil. (See Brick, Stone and Wood for tips on creating the texture of stone.)
Graphite on drawing paper
11″ × 14″ (28cm × 36cm)
Add the finishing details and additional darks using 4H, HB and 4B pencils. Check the range of your values with your value scale and darken areas as needed. Sign and date your drawing.
This fun drawing explores different textures, such as tree bark and fur. This is another drawing that could easily be made into a greeting card. It could also be framed and given to your favorite niece or nephew.
4H, HB, 4B graphite pencils
11″ × 14″ (28cm × 36cm) medium-tooth drawing paper
Drawing board
Kneaded eraser
Dividers, proportional dividers or sewing gauge
Pencil sharpener
White vinyl eraser
Observe the basic shapes that make up the raccoons' faces before beginning. Using a 4H pencil, sketch ovals to represent the outlines of the raccoon's faces. Sketch vertical lines for the centers of their faces and horizontal lines for the placement of their eyes, which are below the middles of the ovals. Next, draw small ovals for the snouts.
Add shapes representing the eyes, ears and noses. Draw the hole, trunk and small oval for the paw.
Erase guidelines with a kneaded or white vinyl eraser before continuing with your drawing.
Add lines to indicate important details, including guidelines to indicate the markings on the raccoons' faces, the the paw and the tree bark.
Still using a 4H pencil, begin adding the lighter values to the raccoons and the tree.
Now, using a 4B pencil, add the dark values. Keep small highlights in the eyes to suggest their glossiness.
Graphite on drawing paper
11″ × 14″ (28cm × 36cm)
Add fur and finishing details with an HB pencil, checking the range of your values with the value scale. Lighten or darken areas as needed. Sign and date your drawing.
This demo shows how to rely more on value contrasts than on pencil outlines to define shapes. The light source in this scene is at the top right, but the snow also reflects light, making the wolf's outline light as well. This looks dramatic against the dark of the mountains. When collecting your supplies, include your value scale and proportioning devices so they will be handy when you need them.
4H, HB, 4B graphite pencils
14″ × 11″ (36cm × 28cm) medium-tooth drawing paper
Copier paper to be used as a friskett
Dividers, proportional dividers or sewing gauge
Drawing board
Kneaded eraser
White vinyl eraser
Erasing shield
Pencil sharpener
Scissors
Straightedge, triangle or angle ruler
Using a 4H pencil, sketch the basic shape of the body and the slope of the hillside. Add a circle for the basic shape of the head. While you may be tempted to rush on to the next step, this is the time to pay attention to proportions so the finished drawing will be accurate. Use a proportioning device to check your work, making adjustments as necessary.
With the 4H pencil, sketch the shape of the body, including the legs, neck, ear, mouth, lower jaw and tail. Pay close attention to the placement of the line for the belly because this will affect how tall the legs appear. Check your work with a proportioning device and make adjustments as needed.
Erase obsolete guidelines with your white vinyl eraser and add details to the face, including the eye and nose, with the 4H pencil. Suggest the texture of the coat with back-and-forth lines along the outline of the body and within the body itself. Sketch in the mountains. Pay attention to where the lines of the wolf meet the lines of the mountains, making sure you do not create unwanted tangents (see Lines, Tangents and Shapes).
With a 4H pencil, add shading to the wolf, letting your pencil strokes follow the direction of the fur. With the exception of the head, keep the outer edges of the wolf light to suggest the light from the sky and the light reflected off the snow. This is a good place to start referring to your value scale as you lay down lights and darks for the rest of this demo.
With the HB pencil, add the darker values to the coat and the shadow areas. Add facial details by darkening the eye, nose and mouth, leaving white spaces to indicate teeth. Add dots to the wolf's muzzle to suggest whiskers.
Using the 4H pencil, make back-and-forth strokes, filling in the mountains except for the area in direct sunlight.
With the HB pencil, indicate the exposed rock of the mountains with short back-and-forth strokes.
With a 4B pencil, use vertical pencil strokes to add the dark areas of the background trees. To do this, cut a piece of copier paper in the same curve as the hillside. Use this as a frisket to create a clean edge, as discussed in Using a Frisket.
Graphite on drawing paper
14″ × 11″ (36cm × 28cm)
Now to step back from your drawing to observe the range of lights and darks in the sky. Before you attempt to add the sky, consider practicing this step on a piece of scrap paper. Using a 4H pencil, add light values to the sky with long, horizontal lines. Start with light pressure at the top and gradually decrease the pressure as you work down. If you get frustrated, leave the sky white; your drawing will still be dramatic. Be encouraged. You can come back and try this again at a later date for better results. Either way, sign and date your drawing.
Good art begins with an interesting subject. Be on the lookout for inspiring subjects because your best art will no doubt come from this inspiration. For portraits, sketch the facial structure first. Look into a mirror and use your own features as a guide. This will help you place elements such as the hat and beard with less guesswork. Apply line work in a rough and irregular manner to complement the rugged appearance of the subject.
4H, HB, 4B graphite pencils
14″ × 11″ (36cm × 28cm) medium-tooth drawing paper
Drawing board
Kneaded eraser
Dividers, proportional dividers or sewing gauge
Pencil sharpener
Small mirror
White vinyl eraser
With a 4H pencil, sketch the overall shape of the head and lines for the eyes and center of the face. The head is viewed slightly from the side, making the center line of the face somewhat left of center. Sketch in lines for the mouth and nose. Add the eyes.
Sketch facial features, including the eyebrows, ears, nose, lips, pupils, irises and creases around the eyes, using the 4H pencil. Now is the time to adjust the facial features, if necessary. I decided to make the nose shorter from what I originally sketched. Add the top of the hat and band. Notice that much of its form follows the shape of the head. Add a curved line to indicate the major fold of the hat.
Using the 4H pencil, add the brim. Notice the sides are turned up. Add lines to indicate the arms and shoulders.
Sketch in the basic form of the hair, beard and mustache. Add details throughout the drawing, erasing the obsolete guidelines in the process with a kneaded eraser. Make minor adjustments to the hat, if necessary.
Consider looking in a mirror throughout this demo to observe your own features so you will better understand the structure and values of the face.
With the 4H pencil, add values to the face. Pay particular attention to the eyes; they are the soul of a portrait. Continue adding values to the face using the HB pencil for the darker places such as the creases near the eyes, the eyebrows and the nostrils. Leave the lightest areas on the cheeks completely white as highlights.
Now add values to the underside of the hat brim. Use back-and-forth strokes to indicate the shape of the hat's underside. Use a 4H pencil for the light areas and an HB pencil for the dark, shadowy areas near the face.
Use a 4H pencil to add values to the top part of the hat.
Add fewer lines for the lighter areas. Use the HB pencil for the darker shadow areas under the band and for the very top fold of the hat.
With lots of squiggly lines, draw in the hair and beard using 4H and HB pencils. Notice that the lighter areas have fewer lines.
Graphite on drawing paper
14″ × 11″ (36cm × 28cm)
Add the shirt and suspenders with a 4H pencil for the lighter areas, an HB pencil for the darker areas. If you feel that you drew the shoulders too low, add more to them along the top. Add additional darks and details. Sign and date your drawing.
This is a great demo for learning more about how to draw people. Clothing and props can tell a story to add interest to a drawing.
4H, HB, 4B graphite pencils
14″ × 11″ (36cm × 28cm) medium-tooth drawing paper
Copier paper to be used as a frisket
Dividers, proportional dividers or sewing gauge
Drawing board
Kneaded eraser
Pencil sharpener
Scissors
White vinyl eraser
With a 4H pencil, sketch an egg-shape for the head, in three-quarters view. Sketch the neck and shoulders. Add a circle indicating the shoulder joint. Check your proportions with one of the proportioning tools.
Add lines for the upper and lower forearm. For correct proportions, compare the length of the upper and lower arm to the height of the head, using one of the proportioning tools. Sketch lines for the hand and basket. Add lines that indicate the ridges of the hand's knuckles and thumb. At this stage, the hand should look like a mitten, since the individual fingers are not yet defined. Sketch lines to indicate the sides and bottom of the basket.
Sketch in placement lines for the eyes and nose, and add a line for the center of the face. Sketch ellipses for the basket. Then go back and refine the eyes, nose, mouth and eyebrows. Add the individual fingers on the hand. To see which fingers are longer and shorter, you may want to look at your own hand and draw accordingly.
Sketch the ear and add more definition to the facial features, arm, hand and fingers. Erase any obsolete guidelines with a kneaded or white vinyl eraser. Add the basic form of the clothing and head scarf, noting where major folds occur. Also add short lines indicating the arm on the far side of the basket.
Sketch in the vegetables, the weave of the basket and the jewelry. Add details to the clothing, basket and ear. Erase any obsolete guidelines with a kneaded or white vinyl eraser. Add very light lines to indicate value variations on the face, neck and arm. Use the value scale to check the appropriate value changes. Keep in mind that the light source is at the upper left, so shade accordingly. Lighten some of the pencil work on the forehead, cheek, nose and arm by gently pressing a kneaded eraser on these areas to lift some of the graphite.
With an HB pencil, darken the neck, the far side of the face and under the nose and lips. Define the eyes and ear, darkening any area in shadow. Darken the arms and hand, making the farthest arm darker than the nearest arm. Use the value scale to check the values. Add a few details to the fingers, but keep the details to a minimum as the fingers are mostly in shadow.
With the HB pencil, begin adding the darks of the background. Use the value scale to create the appropriate level of lights and darks. Confine your marks to the top and left sides of the background. To make a clean edge, use copier paper as a frisket and proceed with downward pencil strokes. After you've done some of the background with the frisket, remove it and continue putting in the background without the frisket, giving the border a rough, loose look.
Use the HB pencil to make up-and-down strokes to further darken the values of the background. With the 4H pencil, add the lighter values to the clothing. Add interest to the composition by continuing the clothing on the left beyond where the dark of the background ends.
With an HB pencil, add the darks to the clothing. Use the value scale to help you add the appropriate values. The creases of the clothing will most likely be very dark.
With a 4H pencil, start adding values to the basket, keeping some areas light to show the weave. Use subtle value changes for the vegetables, with the lightest areas on the left.
Graphite on drawing paper
14″ × 11″ (36cm × 28cm)
With the HB pencil, add darker values to the basket and vegetables. Use the value scale to see if you need to make any adjustments with the 4H and HB pencils. Make some areas, such as some of the clothing creases, even darker using a 4B pencil. Lighten any areas that are too dark by gently removing the graphite with the kneaded eraser. Sign and date your drawing.
To a beginner, full compositions can seem overwhelming. Just remember, most elaborate drawings are just a grouping of smaller drawings. This particular drawing is made up of three main subjects: the building, the tree left of the building and the sheep. Approach it with the idea that each is a separate drawing that contributes to the whole. Take your time, be patient with yourself and enjoy the process.
4H, HB, 4B graphite pencils
14″ × 11″ (36cm × 28cm) medium-tooth drawing paper
Drawing board
Kneaded eraser
Straightedge, triangle or angle ruler
Dividers, proportional dividers or sewing gauge
Pencil sharpener
White vinyl eraser
With a 4H pencil, lightly sketch a rectangle for the basic shape of the springhouse, then add a line for the roof's edge and another line for the front corner of the house. This may be a good time to get out your straightedge to help you draw accurate lines. Sketch the grass line, tree trunk, leaf canopy and ovals for the sheeps' bodies.
Add the Window, Door and Roof Lines Using the 4H pencil and your straightedge, add the window and door to the springhouse along with angles to the roof. You may want to use an angle ruler to check your angles.
With the 4H pencil, add more lines to define the springhouse, including additional overhang to the right side. Erase any unnecessary guidelines with a kneaded eraser. Sketch in more of the tree's structure, tapering the smaller branches that grow away from the trunk.
With a 4H pencil, add more branches. Sketch the basic shapes of the tree's foliage and the bushes and shrubs along the house. Sketch the heads and legs of the sheep.
Use the 4H pencil to refine the sheep by adding ears and filling out the basic shapes of their legs. Begin shading the leaves of the tree with a 4H pencil. Create texture by applying scribbles with short, broad strokes with the pencil tip flat against the paper, going back and forth. Use this same technique for the shrubbery. Check your values with the value scale and make adjustments as necessary.
Add shading to the springhouse, sheep and foliage. Use the 4H pencil for the lighter shading and the HB pencil for the darker shading. Notice that the springhouse is darker on the left side because it is in shadow.
With 4H and HB pencils, add grass to the foreground and shade the sheep further. Make the body of the sheep on the far left dark and keep the grass around it light for contrast. The bodies of the other two sheep are light, so make the grass around them darker with an HB pencil. By doing this, you won't have to rely on outlines to define the sheep; instead they are defined by contrast. Check your work with the value scale.
Graphite on drawing paper
14″ × 11″ (36cm × 28cm)
Make any adjustments to the shading and details with the 4H and HB pencils. Use the 4B pencil for the darkest darks, such as the window and door openings and shadow areas of the tree. Check the range of your lights and darks with your value scale and make any necessary changes. Sign and date your drawing.
Approach this drawing by first establishing the most difficult element to draw, the foreground boat, then work back in the distance. When shading in an area, let your line strokes follow the direction of the material you're trying to create, such as the woodgrain of the boards.
4H, HB, 4B graphite pencils
11″ × 14″ (28cm × 36cm) medium-tooth drawing paper
Drawing board
Kneaded eraser
Straightedge, triangle or angle ruler
Dividers, proportional dividers or sewing gauge
Pencil sharpener
White vinyl eraser
Boat With a 4H pencil, sketch the basic lines for the foreground boat. Add the curved lines of the hull and the lines of the back, or stern, of the boat. With a straightedge to guide you, sketch the side of the cabin, add the roof and the pole that supports
Add the structural features of the boat. Erase obsolete guidelines with a kneaded or white vinyl eraser. Follow this procedure to add the reflection of the boat.
Sketch the second boat with the 4H pencil. This boat is viewed straight on, so the use perspective is minimal.
Sketch in the structure of the cabin. Add the reflection of the boat, and erase obsolete guidelines.
You may want to use your straightedge for the following steps. Use the 4H pencil to add the horizon line, then add the horizontal lines of the building. Notice that they would converge at a vanishing point far on the distant right.
With the 4H pencil and a straightedge, sketch the vertical lines of the building. Pay attention to their proportions and placement.
Add the roofs and gables with the 4H pencil and a straightedge. Some of the lines, such as the one coming from the tallest roof peak, will go toward a vanishing point on the left side.
With the 4H pencil, add details to the building, including windows, door and trim and the poles and stones to the pier. You may want to check your angles with an angle ruler. Erase any obsolete guidelines.
Start shading the lighter side of the building and the stonework with a 4H pencil, remembering that the light source is at the upper right. Darken the stonework near the water line. Use the value scale to check your values as you work through the rest of these steps.
Add the darker values to the roof, the chimney and the darker sides of the building with 4H and HB pencils. Use the HB pencil for the darker areas, such as adding shadows under the building.
Continue adding more darks and details to the building and stonework with 4H and HB pencils, as necessary. Apply the darkest darks with the 4B pencil.
Add the lighter values of the boats with a 4H pencil. Make the foreground boat darker than the second boat for contrast.
Add the middle values of the boats with the HB pencil. Clean up any smudges and erase any unnecessary lines with a kneaded eraser.
Graphite on drawing paper
11″ × 14″ (28cm × 36cm)
Add reflections with back-and-forth horizontal strokes using a 4H pencil. Lightly indicate distant water and trees near the horizon. Add some darks to the boats with a 4B pencil and darken much of the foreground boat with the 4H pencil. Add some simple seagull shapes with a 4H pencil. Sign and date your artwork.