Simple Drawing Tutorials

Freehand drawing is a form, which is done only by means of hand and eye coordination. In simple terms, this type of drawing is done by a person without use of any tools like rulers, protractor, etc., or by using tracing or any other such techniques. Many people who enjoy drawing as a hobby use this method of drawing, just by carrying a sketchbook and pencils, and sketching any subjects they like. If a person asks you while looking at a drawing, 'did you do it freehand ?', it means that did you draw it without the use of any tools or mechanical devices.

For freehand sketching, one needs to have good sense of proportions, a smooth motion of hand that allows to draw neat lines, and some shading skills to give more depth to the drawing. These skills take time, patience, and practice, and advice from a teacher or an artist will help a person to learn freehand drawing by the right way. Whether you are an absolute beginner, or you have some experience in drawing, provided below are some very useful sketching tips that will help you to get started, or get better at this technique.

Useful Tips

Adobe has a freehand drawing software, on which you can practice drawing freehand. But, most artists and teachers always recommend to practice the skills first on paper, and then on any software. Hence, before going digital, stick to the basic drawing tools, which are the pencils and papers. Thus, buy a sketchbook that has A4 sized papers, few 2-3 graded pencils of 6B and 8B, and start drawing. Avoid using eraser as much as possible; if you are a complete beginner, then eraser is allowed for first 2-3 weeks. After this period, you have to stop using it so that you get the confidence.

Keep a Blank Mind and Loosen Up
On a paper, draw circles in one smooth motion, do not rest your palm on the paper. So, hold the pencil with your fingers, and draw circles all over the paper. In a similar manner, draw horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines on the same sheet of paper. This will help to keep a blank mind, and loosen up your drawing motions; you will be more confident, and the lines will come out better by practicing this technique. Do this on 2-3 papers everyday, and as your drawing skills get better, you can continue this only on one paper everyday.

Observe Everything You See
Now, the second important factor that helps to draw better is your observation power. Continuously go on observing everything closely, how an old man looks, how a young person looks, how a child looks, etc. You can also observe their clothing, expressions, gestures, etc. Take a good look at the animals in the surrounding if any. Observe trains, buses, buildings, natural landscapes, trees, birds, cityscapes, etc.

Carry Your Sketchbook and Practice
Always keep a sketchbook and pencils with you (don't forget a sharpener or cutter too). Watch people at the train station, and sketch them. If you are a total beginner, then forget about how neat your drawings looks; firstly, just scribble the subjects, and later on, your skills will improve. Thus, scribble birds, people, landscapes, buildings, etc. If your subjects are not stationary, and it is difficult for you to observe moving subjects, then by using a camera (digital or analog), click pictures of the subject. Once you are at home or at a quiet place, observe the subject, and then proceed to draw it.