The Blog | Drawing Tutorials Online Blog

Christine’s Sketchbook – Dancer’s Delight

by Matthew | Aug 10, 2019 | Sketchbook Videos, The Blog

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a sketchbook video. Christine is the last student to represent the class last semester’s class.

I really enjoyed having Christine as a student in the class. Christine really came into her own as the year progressed. I really thought that her linework looked great. Her gestures drawings also improved.

I wish Christine lots of success in her second year at the School Of Visual Arts. I hope she visits from time to time to share her ongoing progress.

We both have one thing in common, we both love to draw dancers. Dancers offer so much while posing on the modeling stand. They offer movement, action, physique, as well as storytelling.

I hope you enjoyed browsing through Christine’s sketchbook. I wish her all the best moving forward!

Emily love your work, thanks so much for sharing!! Come back and visit on day.

Check out Christine’s Instagram. Thanks again Christine for sharing your art.

How To Draw The Ear

by Matthew | Jul 18, 2019 | Drawing Tutorials, The Blog

I recently just finished uploading the last lesson in a course titled ‘How To Draw The Features Of The Face. This last lesson focuses on the ear.

Drawing the ear can certainly be tricky. There a few techniques that you really want to keep in mind.

First, think of the entire ear as an oval. All of the detail of the ear is housed in that simple oval.

Second, the details located inside of that oval, those details are basically cylinders. To be more specific they are cylinders that are curved. What makes these curvey cylinders hard to draw is the type of light that is hitting them.

I always place my light source above and to the side of my subjects, in essence creating form light.

Third, shade in the shadow shapes of the ear. Keep the shadow shapes more of a middle tone, do not go too dark. I learned my lesson the hard way a long time ago while working on a book cover painting. Let’s just say the ears were a bit too dark.

Ears are very translucent, shade the shadows with a middle tone. This will allow for a glow in the shadow.

Fourth and last, implement the modeling factors to really promote the three-dimensional quality of the Helix and the Anti-Helix.

If you have any questions or comments leave them below. I’d love the hear from you.

Don’t forget to check out myInstagram. I’m always adding new drawings.

How To Draw The Eye

by Matthew | Jul 10, 2019 | Drawing Tutorials, The Blog

I recently completed a course titled How To Draw The Features Of The Face. In this new course, I break down the features of the face in a step by step process. I cover how to draw the eyes, nose, and lips.

I wanted to share this particular lesson with you because it is short and to the point. You really want to draw the eye in a loose, curvy organic sort of way. You do not want to incorporate any straight lines when drawing the eye, everything about the eye should look rough and organic.

As you can see in this rough sketch of the eye I did not really focus too much of my time on the lashes. Do your very best to draw along with me, avoiding the lashes for now. Think more about the structure of the eye, not the lashes.

When drawing the lashes do not draw them with straight lines, instead, try to group all of the lashes into a shape.

I’m really happy with the way this course turned out. It’s really helping people improve their portrait drawings.

Download the Photo reference.

Thank you so much for watching the drawing lesson above. If you are interested in seeing the rest of the course consider a membership to Drawing Tutorials Online. Not only will you gain access to this course and many more, but, you will also be able to get feedback on your portrait drawings in our member critique gallery.

John Singer Sargent Study – Member Critique

by Matthew | Jul 3, 2019 | The Blog, Video Critiques

Arjun is a current member of Drawing Tutorials Online. Not only is Arjun a member but he contributes to the site on a weekly basis. His questions always stir up great conversations.

He is always working at his craft of digital painting using Procreate. Arjun also signed up for my One Month Coaching where he really jump-started his progress. Arjun is a tireless artist devoting countless hours into improving his technique.

Arjun utilizes the member critique gallery on a weekly basis which is part of his weekly ritual for constant improvement. In this digital portrait painting, Arjun worked on a study of Lady Agnew of Lochnaw painted by John Singer Sargent in 1892.

Studying the great masters is a great way to learn. In this critique, I share with Arjun the importance of seeing shapes of value. These shapes represent the different surface planes on Lady Agnew’s face. The key takeaway from this critique is how to see the shapes of value, then shading them in their appropriate value.

One of the most important jobs of the portrait painter is to shade shapes in a sold way. If you have the time I would suggest working on a study of Lady Agnew the same way Arjun did. Do your best to squint to see the different values placed around the face. It will certainly help you to improve your portrait painting.

Check out Arjun’s website. Thanks again Arjun for sharing your art.

Beautiful Statues to Draw

by Matthew | Jun 21, 2019 | The Blog | 27 comments

Tomorrow I will be teaching a figure drawing class at the Metropolitan Museum Of Art without a figure drawing model. Instead we will be drawing from some really amazing statues.

I’ve been drawing at the Met since I was in college. I used to go there once a month to draw both paintings and sculptures. If you do not have access to a traditonal life drawing class, drawing statues and paintings at a Museum is a great substitute.

Life drawing is great whether it’s from a live model or from a statue created hundreds of years ago. I encourgae you to get to a museum this Summer and draw. Don’t concern yourself with that nosy art critic looking over your shoulder, just have fun.

As you know I’m teaching small group classes at the Met this Summer. For those of you who cannot join me I’d like to offer you a free PDF download that contains some pretty amazing sculpture. Use it to practice this weekend.

There is something amazing that happens when you draw from beautiful art.

Download Your Free PDF

I currently have three classes scheduled this Summer. If you are looking for something different to do, you can learn more at MatthewArchambault.com

Four Drawing Techniques To Practice

by Matthew | May 11, 2019 | The Blog, Video Critiques

As you know every Monday I film video critiques for members of Drawing Tutorials online. I have been filming video critiques for ten years now. It’s really important that you get into the habit of receiving feedback on your artwork.

The key element with the weekly critiques is context. I’m able to give you specific guidance on the artwork you’ve posted in relation to a certain course. I also answer questions that you ask. Again it’s all about context.

The other really cool thing with the critiques within the member’s area of DTO, is consistency. it’s one thing to get feedback once. It’s another to get contextual feedback on your work on an ongoing basis.

I trust the four drawing techniques taught in the video tutorial below will help you. They are simple yet hard drawing techniques to implement. They are hard because they take a lot of practice. The practice can become tedious. However, if you are looking to draw accurate portraits they are a must.

Don’t forget to sign up for my free drawing course right below. Thanks so much for watching, let me know what you think.