Drawing Basics: To Draw Accurately, Draw Forms, Not Edges

One way to improve your drawing is by focusing on form — the total appearance of something — not edges. Begin loosely with the larger forms and work your way into the details.

In this real-time tutorial, I'm drawing from "life" — direct observation of objects, in this case, a pair of hiking boots.

After laying in the overall shapes, proportions, and directions, and defining the major and minor axes of the the forms, I build detail.

Approaching a drawing form first allows you to observe and understand the whole object or space, and relate each part to other parts and the whole design.

This approach is useful no matter if you're drawing from life or reference photos, and no matter what or who you're drawing.


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GEAR USED IN THIS VIDEO

Pencils: Derwent Sketching Light Wash HB and Staedtler Mars Lumograph 4B

As noted in the video, no eraser was employed during the making of this video.

Sketchbook: Canson Universal Sketch 9 x 12 inches

Shot with an iPhone. Post was done in Adobe Premiere Pro on my upgraded 2009 Mac Pro.


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Alvalyn Lundgren is a practicing illustrator, designer and teacher. Founder of Alvalyn Creative, an independent studio located in southern California, she shares her knowledge of visual design, color and illustration in courses at UCLA Extension, Art Center College of Design, Otis College of Art and Design, privately, and through her blog and other online platforms.

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