Learning How to Draw - FAQ

Q: Hi I do pencil sketching. But I want to learn it professionally. I do not know to draw portraits, so I'm very interested in learning how to draw portraits. - Anita

Hi Anita. Drawing portraits can be tricky especially if you're new to drawing. Portraits are challenging to draw because of the many different parts that have to come together to portray a visual resemblence. For example, the eyes, ears, lips, nose and face have to be proportional to one another for a portrait to have a likeness of the subject.

More skillful portraitists know how to capture the essence of the face. That means being able to capture the fine details that portray the character of the face. So it's not as easy as just drawing some "hollywood" faces that look plastic.

If you're just starting out, I suggest doing some homework first. Start by isolating each feature and practice until you're satisfied before moving on. Draw faces that you're already familiar with. You'll find that familiar faces are easier to draw.

Q: Hello Darren, I am 62 years old, and I think I have some talent to draw. The main problem is my hands and fingers, they are stiff and sore. The other thing is, just getting started. I am a fan of Fantasy Art and have collected others' pictures for years. - Naomi

Hi Naomi. Due to the condition of your fingers, I recommend that you avoid long and tiring drawing sessions. You may want to pick something that's quick to finish, or you may want to plan your drawing sessions so that you can complete a single drawing in several shorter sessions. Also, you may want to get someone to give you a hand massage before and after each drawing session.

If you're just getting started, start with something that's less complicated. Choose fantasy art that you really like drawing and keep practicing. You can choose one subject, and try not to refer to it as you draw. This will help improve your memory. If you forget the details, you can always come up with your own, since it's fantasy :)

Q: My major concern is finding time to make art. - Russell

Hi Russell. This is a very commonly asked question. If you're having a hard juggling your time, try to achieve something small first. If you still find it hard to cope, reduce your goals again and again until you're comfortable. No matter how busy you are, you can always find some time to do some sketches or doodles. Art is about a way of thinking. It's not how much time you spend. And you can always hone your thinking ability even with just a pencil and a piece of rough paper.

Q: I am only a beginner at painting and I would like to know a bit more about water colours and how to apply them as I do not know the procedures to go through to get a nice painting. - Lesley

Hi Lesley. Watercolors are very fun to work with but you have to understand its nature. I assume here that you're already familiar with color mixing. So just know that watercolors are very thin by nature, so they're excellent mediums for creating washes or painting anything that's "flowy" in nature, such as rivers, clouds, fishes, etc.

However, it can be very challenging if you try to control watercolors. You should try it sometime.

Q: Where to start, when your're drawing. Not overthinking it. - Ulrika

Hi Ulrika. This depends on what you want to draw. But in most cases, you would want to plan your drawing properly before you start. Organization and composition is very important in any painting or drawing. This takes experience and practice. Follow sound design principles whenever you can when you plan. For example, keep your subject of focus to one or two so as not to distract the eyes too much. Use contrasting colors to bring the lead subject forward. As you plan, maintain a sense of balance by keeping colors and subjects in a symmetrical manner.

Q: The most frustrating thing about drawing for me is when I can't get something right the first time. - Randy

Hi Randy. Almost all aspiring artists face this problem! It's part of the growing process, so don't worry too much about not getting something right the first time. The more important thing here is to flesh out the lessons when something goes wrong and improve on it the next time you attempt similar drawings again.