Most aspiring artists share a common desire: to create beautiful drawings in their own distinctive style. However, for those of us who are drawn to modern illustration styles, the idea of learning traditional drawing foundations may initially seem boring. Trust me, I've been there too!
What I've learned the hard way
Through my personal art journey, I've come to realize that skipping over the foundations can eventually limit our artistic growth and hinder our ability to fully express ourselves. It's a lesson I've learned the hard way, time and time again.
8 Essential Skills to Elevate Your Artwork
Once we understand the value of mastering basic techniques, these foundational skills become far more intriguing and worthwhile.
Here are the 8 skills I've found the most useful:
- Observation - Seeing like an artist, accurately and without preconceived notions;
- Line - Drawing with artful lines that reflect what is observed or imagined;
- Shape - Constructing drawings with building blocks and shapes;
- Value - Seeing and grouping lights and darks with intention and clarity;
- Form - Communicating the form of an object, including texture and mass;
- Color - Seeing and understanding the use color for both accuracy and expression;
- Light - the ability to render light and harness illusions in color; and
- Composition- Guiding the viewer's gaze and framing an image with intention, utilizing depth and perspective.
No Shortcut to Mastery, But It Doesn't Have to Be Tedious
There are no shortcuts, you really do have to learn this at some point :) But it doesn't have to be boring.
When I created the Drawing Foundations class, I designed it with what I would have wanted as a beginning artist, incorporating aesthetic and enjoyable exercises while teaching with a gentle, mindful approach. I focused on the 20% of learning that led to 80% of my own progress, so you'll see quick improvement with practice.
Ready to Unleash Your Artistic Potential?
Embark on an engaging journey toward mastering the fundamental skills. Whether you're a beginner or seeking to enhance your current abilities, our class offers a fun and exciting learning experience. :) Go here to sign up now or learn more about the class and begin your drawing adventure.
Happy drawing,
-M💛
