Sketching For Beginners

Learn how to sketch and draw with easy to follow videos and exercises. No experience required!

Last updated 2022-01-10 | 3.7

- Draw simple objects with confidence and ease!
- Learn the 5 elements of shading
- How to sketch complicated object using simple shapes

What you'll learn

Draw simple objects with confidence and ease!

Learn the 5 elements of shading

How to sketch complicated object using simple shapes

Understand the role of sketching in creativity and notetaking

Learn traditional sketching techniques

How to use sketching as a means of communication

How to practice sketching

Develop a sketching language that is personal to the sketcher

* Requirements

* No previous experience or knowledge is required
* Pencil or Pen
* Sketchbook or Paper
* If you intend to produce digital sketches then you will need a computer
* a digital tablet and some photo-editing software (free software recommendations included)

Description

-- Updated May 2020 -- (Added List of things new drawing prompts - never be stuck for something to draw!)

Have you ever wanted to learn to Draw? Perhaps you tried, but did not have the guidance necessary to progress your artwork? Maybe, you used to sketch a long time ago and now want to rebuild your skills? Or, maybe you are looking to capture visual notes? If you answered YES to any of these questions? Then come join me to learn the foundation skills needed to become a better sketcher!

Sketching for Beginners is a self paced course. Designed to guide novice students on how to get started sketching and drawing. This course starts right at the beginning. By understanding the tools and techniques needed to start drawing today. You will learn the best ways to hold your pencils? How to make different types of marks? How to simplify your images using just 5 values? And so much more. This course also contains practical exercises and demonstration lectures. Which you can follow along at your own pace, and share your final images in the Q and A section if you wish.

This courses focuses on using traditional materials, pencil and paper. We will cover how you can get by with just a single 2B pencil and regular printer paper. A cost effective way to learn this skill. Each exercise is designed to develop your own personal sketching language. How to practice sketching. How to communicate with simple drawings and sketches.

Each module builds upon the last. Accompanied with practical exercises for you to download. Each e-Book offers advice and guidance to give you a clear path to follow.

The course consists of over three hours of video content. Segmented into 25+ modules. With new lectures added each month. Plus, as a lifetime student you have the opportunity to request new topics. At no extra cost to you.

Want some feedback on your work? No problem. This course has a dedicated Q&A section where you can post your questions. Ask for some feedback. Or share your results from the course. I am active most days of the week and ALWAYS reply to questions within this course. Which we all know is vital to anyone looking to learn how to draw!

So, if you have ever wanted to learn to draw, but did not know where to begin. This course is for you. Come join this awesome group and we will begin this journey together.

Who this course is for:

This drawing course is ideal for anyone who wishes to learn how to draw.
This course is intended for anyone who wishes to get better at sketching and recording information graphically.
Even if you have never picked up a pencil before, this highly structured course, can teach you the fundamentals to developing your sketching skills and developing your own sketching language
This course may NOT be suitable for someone already versed in traditional sketching skills, or someone who has an art degree!

Course content

5 sections • 43 lectures

Introduction 10 lectures

Introductory Quiz

Start with this Quiz, it is designed to help reinforce the course content. You can use this quiz to gauge your current understanding of the topic.

Welcome to the course Preview 03:59

This lecture introduces the course and a brief overview of the areas of content. It will introduce how the student can use the course, the objectives covered and contact details.

What is Sketching? Preview 02:01

A short discussion and your first objective...

What Materials? Preview 11:46

A list of materials, you will need to sketch...

What Will I Learn? Preview 03:11

Explains what will be covered in the course.

How Do I Use This Course? [Please note this lecture refers to the old interface] Preview 02:39

An explanation of how to go about using this course most effectively

How Long Will This Course Take To Complete? Preview 01:03

A brief note on expected time needed to complete this course

The benefits of being able to sketch Preview 03:00

A look at why sketching can help you in both your personal and professional life

Traditional vs Digital Preview 03:38

In this lecture we develop an understanding for the differences between traditional and digital, We Also look how integrate the two ways of working. This lecture also covers the materials needed, including software suggestions and hardware advice.

Basic Concepts

A simple quiz to reinforce the basics covered in section 1.

Getting Started 12 lectures

Holding A Pencil And Basic Mark Making Preview 07:43

Learn three different ways to hold the pencil. Also, learn the six foundation shading techniques that will add interest to your images.

Line Quality - Making your lines more appealing! Preview 04:39

Learn three ways to make your line work more appealing and how to add emphasis to the important edges within your images.

Contour Lines - Using Contour and Cross-Contour lines to describe objects Preview 05:01

Learn how to use contour and cross-contour lines to depict form.

Your First Sketch Preview 03:37

This lecture covers the most basic steps in getting started. It includes example exercises to build confidence, getting used to sketching, the different marks a pencil can make and discusses the importance of practicing a little every day, including what to practice first.

Simplifying Objects Preview 10:17

This lecture covers, why you don't need to be able to draw to be able to sketch. We look at how sketching can simplify both objects, scenes and ideas. Practical examples are given of sketching techniques. Further resources are also made available.

Understanding Shading Using 5 Tones Preview 13:31

This lecture explains shading, form and lighting to a level the beginner sketcher will be comfortable reproducing.

Understanding Shading - Exercise File Preview 3 pages

In this step by step, we practice creating a range of tonal values, in step-wise value.

Understanding Shading - Sphere Exercise File Preview 3 pages

Print out and practice shading these spheres using tonal patterns.

Demonstration - Seeing Shapes and Tones Preview 05:08

Follow along in this exercise as you learn how to start 'seeing' objects as abstract patterns of shape and tone. This is an important exercise to practice, and will help take your drawing to the next level.

Scribble Sketching Preview 06:23

Sketching should be quick. Being loose and gestural is a great way to start an image. The tighter lines and correct tones can come at a later stage. In this lecture we take a quick look at how to be loose!

Conclusion To Section 2 Preview 00:40

A wrap-up and re-cap lecture, covering the main points from section 2.

Getting Started

Drawing Lessons 17 lectures

Demonstration - Drawing A MailBox Preview 06:50

Learn how to draw a simple scene from your imagination. Also understand how we can use counter-change when contrasting light objects against darker backgrounds.

Demonstration - Drawing A Row-Boat Preview 05:05

Follow along and draw an old row-boat tethered to a mooring post.

What Are Construction Lines and How to use them? Preview 03:03

Learn how to use Construction lines as a way to layout your drawings and provide a framework for good proportions.

Demonstration - How To Draw A Rose Preview 07:41

Learn how to draw a simple Rose. Apply shading techniques to emphasize the form.

Demonstration - How To Draw A Leaf Preview 24:34

A practical demonstration, showing how to start sketching. Including, pencil grips, shading, layering tones and adding details.

How To Draw A Leaf - Exercise File Preview 6 pages

Follow along with this step by step exercise file for: Getting started - leaf.

Demonstration - Working With Tone Preview 06:39

In this lecture, we see how we can simplify the complex into 5 tones.

Working With Tone - Exercise File Preview 4 pages

Follow along with this Step by Step exercise file for: Working with Tone - Swatches

Demonstration - Learning To See By Drawing A Spoon Preview 07:02

A look at how we can perceive our subject matter as patches of light and dark.

Learning To See By Drawing A Spoon - Exercise File Preview 5 pages

Follow along with this step by step for: Learning to see - spoon

Drawing in 3 dimensions Preview 15:43

This lecture covers a powerful concept of sketching in 3 dimensions.

Drawing in 3 dimensions - Exercise File Preview 6 pages

Try out this challenging exercise. Learning to rotate an object in your head, will enable you to produce drawings that dont require a reference image to. This is an important skill for the beginning artist. If you find the exercise easy, try combining a few other primitive shapes and draw them also from different angles.

Demonstration - Sketching A Feather Preview 14:13

A Demonstration of drawing a Feather using Pencil

Recreating Proportions Preview 05:21

Recreating proportions is a key skill in sketching to scale. This lecture covers the theory and practice.

Sketching Skills

Learning some important aspects of sketching skills

Conclusion To Section 3 Preview 00:18

A wrap-up and re-cap lecture, covering the main points from section 3.

Drawing Ideas - 8 Things for you to draw... Preview 00:56

Find inspiration with this short list of drawing ideas.

Sketching For Communication 2 lectures

Capturing Information Preview 02:24

This lecture covers the value of sketching in capturing information. It explains how you can start thinking in terms of information capture and sketching as a tool to effective communication.

Thinking Graphically Preview 02:24

Closing thoughts on how you can start to incorporate sketching into your daily routine, how to start thinking graphically, and the next steps you can take.