[*Hannah*]

Hi. Im really interested in fairies. I used to be really good at drawing when i did art at school. But since i haven't done that in ages, i cant seem to draw as good as i used to. I can draw roses and other certain flowers, but only if i can look at them. I have trouble trying to picture the way something looks, and trying to imagine what to draw. I don't want to draw something that someone else has designed, i want to be able to do it myself. I like to draw fairies, but have never been good at drawing hands or feet! I also like to draw faces.

Im not really sure on how to do shading, and picking out light. Once i have drawn something, i then either smudge or colour in with a pencil. I then pick light out using a rubber. Is this how you do it, or do you use another way?

What are the best pencils to use? I normaly use a HB pencil.
What pencil should i use to draw the outline, and what pencil to use for the shading for example?

I always draw things without using colour. Im terrible at painting, so i would only use coloured pencils if i were to use colours. What kind of colouring pencils should i use to get a really nice effect?

When colouring with pencils, do you put shading in?


Im so sorry for all the questions. I never have known about these things. In art at school, i only drew things occasionally, and most of the time we made things. So, i never really got the chance to learn.

Thanks for any help.

[Mon]

for tutorials covering just about everything:
http://www.sumaleth.com/links

I'd go another way though. Draw from life, draw from reference. I'm sure a dozen people will readly telly what kind of materials to use, but I wouldn't worry about that. Use a BIC ballpoint, toenail clippings or sticks dipped in tar, it really doesn't matter. Ask any artist of some higher standing and he/she'll tell you that they use the cheapest crap they can get their hands on. Only amateurs buy the fancy, expensive stuff
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[Harmony Steel]

Hi Hannah If you want to be able to draw -anything- eventually take Mon's advice and draw from life and references. That will teach you how to draw things correctly, and after a while you'll be able to design your own drawings.

Drawing really just comes down to understanding how things are broken up into basic shapes, and how light effects those shapes, so try and break objects into shapes in your mind before (and while) you're drawing them.

The kinds of pencils you use will depend on the kind of finish you're after. Light, hard pencils (like HB) will give you a sharp finish, but you may have trouble making the object look 3D because the pencil is so light and sharp. Personally I use 3B pencils and darker because they're easy to shade with and create smooth lines. Experiment with pencil shades to see which ones work best for you. If you're going to smudge try and use a cloth rather than your fingers (if you're not already) as fingers will leave oil on the paper.

Quality does count for something when it comes to colored pencils because more expensive brands use different types of materials to ensure you get a smooth, even line from your pencil. If you use cheap pencils you'll see the difference. I find 'Derwent' and 'Faber Castell' are really good, but again go to the art store and experiment and see which ones work best for your style.

I'd probably recommend buying or borrowing some books from your library about basic pencil and color pencil drawing. Although you've been drawing for a while it never hurts to go back to the basics, and it will be easier to correct any mistakes in your methods now than it will be later.

Also, draw lots, at least an hour a day if you can, it's the only way to get better. Don't expect improvement overnight, but if you study and draw lots you'll see yourself getting better, and the better you get the more fun creating art becomes

I hope that helps!
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