How to Draw Anything

Cielo Vista
Acrylic on Canvas
30 x 24 in/76 x 61 cm
Copyright 2008

I got the digital image of the Grand Canyon acrylic I finished earlier in the week, so you can see how it turned out. I like it, and will shoot it over to Orbisplanis Online Art Gallery this weekend.

Just a reminder, Orbisplanis is a daily blog (M-F) with fresh content every day (unless I’m on vacation, of course, in which case I’ll tell you ahead of time). A good reason to visit Orbisplanis every day. Tell your friends and family, too.

Orbisplanis Poll Results

Thanks for voting! The ballots are tallied and 100 percent of voters chose Pen & Ink as their favorite drawing medium (of the choices provided). I’m not saying it’s statistically significant because the universe (of voters) was small, but not bad for a beginning. Please join in and vote in this week’s Orbisplanis Poll.

Links We Hope You Like, Too

Hope you’ve had a chance to click on at least one of the links in our new section, Links We Hope You Like, Too, in the right column. If not, try it (after reading today’s blog, please). You may find the sites informative, helpful, entertaining, artful, cool, all of the above, whatever. I like them and will add others from time to time as I run across them—some about art and some about baby boomers in retirement.

In the Library

A new weekly feature (drum roll!)—In the Library—starts today! Every Friday I’ll tell you about books, mostly books, but there may be other sources, too. This can help you in your quest to rejuvenate your art skills and knowledge about art in general. It may be a how-to book one week, about an artist’s techniques the next, maybe about art history, or even a biography. You’ll just never know until Friday rolls around.

For the premiere, I’ll start us off with How to Draw Anything by Mark Linley. This is a gem of a book for beginning sketchers and artists. It’s a great starting place. if you have recently moved from the I’m-thinking-about-doing-art stage to the I’m-actually-going-to-pick-up-a-pencil-and-draw-something stage, then you should read this first.

It starts off with a pep talk about anybody can learn to draw, with which you know, if you’ve been reading Orbisplanis, I wholeheartedly agree. Then—bang—right out of the gate, you are told, Start with Landscapes, the title of chapter 2. Get a pen [Orbisplanis suggests using a Rollerball pen], use black ink, draw a tree, and go, go, go. Go outside and, I’m quoting here, “churn them out.” A little about shapes, a little about shading, and practice, practice. And you’re off and running.

The next chapter is about drawing bridges, specifically stone bridges in the “countryside.” What!? The intent, I think, is to engage you right away with subjects that are just a little bit challenging to keep you occupied. He gives very practical advice, such as, you don’t need to draw every stone and rock, and how to dot-stipple for a realistic effect. “The more you draw, the better and quicker you become,” he says.

He has you going all over the place: to the woods, the hills, the seaside, to practice your drawing. Linley drops in a chapter here on drawing buildings and a chapter there on composition. He introduces the grid system about half-way into the book calling it “a useful little aid.” This is great stuff, especially for a beginning artist.

No subject being too difficult to draw, he has you drawing animals starting with a buffalo, no less. Then it’s on to sheep, cats, foxes, squirrels, horses, dogs, and birds. He gives lots of examples and simple lessons on such things as body shapes and birds in flight.

Ironically, there are eight chapters on drawing people. From what I pick up on, even experienced artisans think learning to draw people is an acquired skill. But Linley has you drawing heads, eyes, ears, noses, torsos, hair, right away. You will be able to draw a simple portrait if you practice. In showing you how to draw people, he builds your confidence, and that is most important.

But wait, there’s more. Want to draw cartoons, funny figures, funny things (like a walking book), greeting cards? Linley shows you how. So, to repeat myself, this is a gem of a book, and a great starting place for anyone who wants to simply learn to draw.

So what you want to do is read the book and practice, practice, practice.

In the Studio

Last blog left off with me in the funky place in my “studio,” such as it is, looking for my next project. As I suspected, it didn’t take long. I found four great reference photos from which to choose, all landscapes, some of my favorite subjects, too. I’m leaning toward a full moon over mountains in acrylic on stretched canvas. Not sure what size, yet but will let you know next time.

If you like reading this blog, please leave a comment, and feel free to link this site to others who may have an interest.

Cheers!