Manual Drawing Volume 2 For the Beginner
The idea behind this Drawing Manual (including the first one) is to teach you how to draw mainly from your imagination and creativity, channeled on an adequate skills and knowledge for illustrating, and a capacity to manifest a thing, a place, or a world of your own. The technical aspects of drawing are easy to obtain, it is up to you how you use it move on ahead.
The easiest way to start drawing any subject is by making a base. Establish the mass of the subject by combining different basic shapes and then convey the length of any extending parts (such as legs for animals) with a simple straight or curve lines.
Reference lines are combined with basic shapes to make sure that the base is constructed properly. Lines are used as guides for outlines (and certain portions) that should be aligned. The curves and slants on the main outline can be easily adjusted if there is an equally aligned base to refer upon.
If there is any pattern that is observable on the subject you want to draw then you can use reference lines to establish the details easily.
In this case, the reference lines are used as a guide for the pattern of the snake’s scales. The arrangement of the snake’s skin is filled with diamond shaped scales, this creates a grid-like pattern contoured to the semi-cylindrical dimensions of the snake’s figure.
The changes in dimensions are expressed easily by using constructive planes. The form is then expressed with different tones depending on its angle and perspective. The lines expresses the position of the plane. Leveled horizontal lines across the plane would describe if the plane changes in angle, while curved lines depicts sloped or recessed areas.
To establish the planes of a subject in perspective, you need vanishing lines coming on both sides of the horizon line, thus, requires two vanishing points on the edges of the horizon line.
It is better (and easier) to establish a subject (or a place) having a great height or depth if it is viewed from afar, either in an angle above (bird’s view) or from below (ant’s view). To easily establish this kind of perspective, you need a vanishing point coming from above or below.
A third vanishing point is added on top or below aside from the other two vanishing points on the sides of the horizon.
Point perspectives also come very handy when you want to draw a room, a passageway, or anything with a solid structure.
But not all of the things have solid forms. Things with free-shape nature such as fire and water don’t have definite planes on its shape. This becomes an issue when you try to draw them, aside from a water being transparent and fire being too bright for solid outlines.
If you are going to draw a fire as an element or a part of a drawing, remember to keep the outlines as subtle and thin as necessary. This is to establish that it is not an object that can be held and it does not have a fixed shape. Depending on how the fire is angled, the peak of the form is often pointed or spiking. Curvy lines are always present to portray an element with a free-shaped nature.
On a black and white drawing (by charcoal, pencil or pen) brightness may require a certain visual density, affecting the fire’s semi-transparent nature. A thin layer of highlights often created with an eraser is also effective, but a strong and bright flame may look weak if the fire is drawn with an eraser entirely.
If you wish to see more examples, guides and tips, grab a copy of "Manual Drawing Volume 2 For the Beginner". Step by step instructions are thoroughly explained in details. This book is centered on teaching you how to construct the shapes of your subjects properly. Know how to put your drawings in their proper proportions and in perspective. Learn the essentials of making proper outlines of any subject or scenery from the very start and how to finish. If you are an absolute beginner, this book is perfect for you.
