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Kate’s Sketchbook

by Matthew | May 4, 2019 | Sketchbook Videos, The Blog | 1 comment

Kate is a student currently enrolled in my foundation drawing at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan New York. Kate was nice enough to share two of her Moleskin sketchbooks. If you stick with her sketchbook video you can really see her progression from start to finish.

What I like about Kate’s sketchbooks is that she is not afraid to experiment. Kate is a first-year student so experimentation is the name of the game. I also like how she has jumped around drawing many different subjects.

Kate is really into big simple shapes. However, she also likes to draw with detailed line work. That really showed through in her dinosaur drawings.

The semester is just about over and I’m going to miss having Kate in class. She really held nothing back always jumping into each assignment given with a great attitude.

Enjoy her sketchbook.

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

Mixed Media Figure Drawing

by Matthew | Apr 20, 2019 | Drawing Tutorials, The Blog | 6 comments

I recently uploaded a brand new course to the member’s area over at Drawing Tutorials Online. This course focuses on drawing the figure using diverse mixed media.

To start with I went old school and used my favorite Strathmore illustration board. I then painted the board using simple acrylic paint. Fifty percent water, fifty percent paint.

I then just started to draw on the board using my favorite black Prismacolor Col-Erase pencil. As I progressed I started to apply the white charcoal to the light area of the torso only. The concept is taken from oil painting, keep your light’s a bit more opaque and your shadows a bit more translucent.

As I started to build up the white charcoal pencil gradually, I then proceed to blend the white charcoal with a bristle brush. Using light pressure to soften all of the edges. Needless to say, this drawing technique is super fun.

The key is to be patient and work in layers. I also incorporated a blending stump in a minimal way. Too much blending stump can work against you making everything too soft.

I encourage you to sign up to see this course in its entirety. I am offering it as a free course with a downloadable PDF that explains my materials in much more detail than this blog post. You can sign up right below.

Don’t forget to sign up for my free course right below. Drawing the figure in a mixed media sort of way could be something new for you to explore.

Delaney’s Sketchbook – Every Square Inch

by Matthew | Apr 13, 2019 | Sketchbook Videos, The Blog | 4 comments

Wow, how time flies by. I remember back in September when Delaney’s class just started. I also remember seeing Delaney’s first sketchbook. I never saw anything like it. It was one big hot mess, it looked like it was dragged to school behind the School of Visual Arts bus.

Delaney is definitely different and she plays by her own rules. I love that about her. I love having students like Delaney in class who’s work is so dramatically different. It makes the classroom such an interesting place to learn and grow.

What I also like about Delaney is that she puts her heart and soul into each assignment in class. She tried every single traditional technique taught in class. She approached each traditional technique in her own style.

Even if you mainly love traditional realistic type drawings you have got to love Delaney’s passion. Every single square inch of her sketchbook is filled to the brim.

Check out her sketchbook, I trust you will definitely get inspired to start drawing today.

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

First Lines When Drawing A Portrait – Process

by Matthew | Mar 31, 2019 | Drawing Tutorials, The Blog | 2 comments

I just recently added a brand new portrait drawing course in the member’s area over at Drawings Tutorials Online. This particular course focuses on drawing smaller portraits.

With every course, I like to review certain techniques via a screencast video. This particular video reviewed how I start a portrait drawing. Especially a smaller one, say about two inches tall.

I always start with the angles, combined with measure lines and negative space. Nothing new right?

No, it’s not new, I have been teaching these same techniques for many years. Unfortunately, I still see many artists who struggle with drawing a likeness. Don’t fall into the trap of just knowing the techniques because you have heard about them.

You have to constantly practice these portrait drawing techniques over and over again until you master them. It’s not enough to just know them in theory. You need to put them into practice.

Just replace the white lines in the video within photoshop with pencil lines on your drawing pad. Start off with light pressure at first.

Enjoy the video.

If you are interested in learning many more techniques similar to these consider a membership to Drawing Tutorials Online.

Drawing A Small Portrait

by Matthew | Mar 24, 2019 | Drawing Tutorials, The Blog

Have you ever worked on a figure drawing where the head was really small? Did you ask yourself, how am I supposed to draw so small? The eye is the size of my pencil point.

I’ve been there too, many times. What I have learned over the years of painting smaller portraits on book covers is that shadow shapes are your best friend.

You really do not want to start outlining little details like the bottom of the nose or say the eye lashes. You first want to block in shapes of shadow. Then you can gradually build up some softer tonal shifts to resolve the features. As you progress you can then start to use some crisper line.

Now I completely understand not every artist works with tone. If this is the case you’ll still want to draw shapes first, not features. If you work with line only you do not have to shade in these shapes.

The key takeaway from this short video, use light and shade to your advantage when drawing small. Also less is best. With a smaller portrait you have to know when to stop. Adding too much detail can take you down a road of heartache.

If you are interesting in learning more, you can check out the full course within the members area of Drawing Tutorials Online. Consider signing up to DTO. You will immediately gain access to all of our comprehensive course listing.

Anna’s Sketchbook – Animator’s Delight

by Matthew | Mar 16, 2019 | Sketchbook Videos, The Blog | 1 comment

Anna is a student currently enrolled in my foundation drawing class at the School Of Visual Arts. I really enjoy having Anna in class. Her work ethic is pretty amazing. Not to mention she is super friendly.

Anna’s sketchbook is really special. She just absolutely loves everything animation and it really shows. Her characters have some really cool expressions. Movement and flow are a constant theme throughout her sketchbook.

I can really see Anna making great strides in her journey through SVA. She has such a passion for animation that will enable her to learn while having fun at the same time.

Loving what you do is such a key ingredient to becoming a successful artist.