Leave a comment on Day 1: Mastering the Stroke: Circles and Hatching
Keywords: challenge, drawing, beginner drawing, drawing tutorial, drawing basics, right-brain drawing, creativity
Creative moment…
First day of the challenge:
21 DAYS TO LEARN HOW TO CREATE A REALISTIC PENCIL PORTRAIT
Like any beginner in any discipline, you have to start "small"!
By small, I mean "easy"—an achievable and realistic goal so you don't get discouraged and can keep your motivation up!
One small step after another, one more step each day; it is the surest way to reach your goal.
"A journey of a thousand miles always begins with a single step."
To start with my right hand, I must teach it the fundamentals, the ABCs, the essentials!
I need to be able to control its movements, and that starts with penmanship (remember school when you were learning your letters!).
Timer set for 15 minutes, HB pencil and graph paper ready—I am prepared to start my warm-up and muscle-strengthening exercises!!!
Let's go!
EXERCISE N°1: THE CIRCLES
The goal is to draw circles as perfectly "round" as possible. While it seems simple enough, the exercise requires more dexterity from my right hand than it looks!!!
* 3 full lines of nice, regular circles,
* then we create a grid (10x10 squares) filled with small and large circles as you like!
Tip: Slow down your stroke without pressing hard on the pencil. Use the paper's grid to help draw the circle and rest firmly on the palm of your hand.
Challenge 1 Exercise 1
EXERCISE N°2: THE HATCHING
The goal of this exercise is to train your hand to draw straight lines.
Let's start with short strokes before doing long lines, drawing vertical, horizontal, and diagonal hatching.
* one full line of each,
* then we create a nice grid (10x10 squares) of various and diverse hatching!
Tip: Just like in the circle exercise, use the paper's grid—especially the lines—and focus on drawing regular hatching without rotating your sheet!
Challenge 1 Exercise 2
There! Phew! Finished!!!
Review of this first training session:
* 19'65": I exceeded my allotted time by over 4 minutes, likely due to my circle grid! The bigger the circles, the faster you go—Q.E.D.!
* Hand cramps and the feeling of going back to childhood! Don't hesitate to shake your hand once in a while to relax it!
In conclusion:
A first day intended for absolute beginners, of course! These exercises are very, very easy, yet necessary for learning penmanship! Remember that my right hand has never held a pencil and must learn the basics: eye-hand coordination, stroke accuracy, precision, fluidity, etc.
Now it's your turn, and see you tomorrow for the next part of the challenge!