Jim Dowdalls - Drawing School: Fundamentals for the Beginner: A Comprehensive Drawing Course

In this book, I will take you through a journey of many steps, some easy and some challenging, as we continue along a path that will establish a strong foundation for the fundamentals of drawing. It is my goal to inform, motivate, and inspire you every step of the way along this new creative journey.

In this initial chapter, we will explore the arrangement of the drawing surface for maximum effectiveness, how holding a pencil can make a difference in the way a drawing looks, how making marks on a drawing surface can represent a dimensional reality, and how to successfully build a drawing from the understanding and use of a few key fundamental steps. Remember: A long journey begins with small steps.

The ideal way to see a subject and the drawing surface simultaneously is to elevate the drawing surface as vertically as possible, while maintaining a comfortable and accessible drawing position. The artists eyes should be the only things that move, back and forth or up and down, from the subject to the paper. The more a drawing surface is angled away from the artists line of sight, the less the artist will be able to comfortably view the subject. Working at an easel is an advantageous position for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, the less the artist has to move his or her head the better.

An easel allows the artist to simultaneously face the paper and the subject while drawing. Set up the easel slightly to one side of the subject so that you can see it as well as the paper with a slight back-and-forth motion of the eyes. Another advantage is the ability to more easily step back from the easel to critically evaluate the process.

You may also choose to use a drawing table, which can be elevated to a height similar to the viewing situation an easel would provide. Elevate the table as close to a 90-degree viewing angle as possible, while still being able to see the subject over the elevated table edge.

Holding the Pencil

There are two ways to hold a pencil while drawing. The first is the basic overhand, or handwriting, position. The pencil sits in the crook between the thumb and first finger, with the palm of the hand parallel to the paper. Most people instinctively hold a pencil this way because it is comfortable and how we are typically taught to write. This is a good way to hold the pencil if you are working on detail and want more control.

The second way to hold a pencil is in the underhand position. The pencil sits comfortably in the palm of the hand, with the barrel balanced and supported by the thumb and the first and second fingers. There are several variations of this position. The palm may be placed parallel to the paper or at a right angle to the papers surface. The pencil may be gripped at the point for more control or further up the pencil barrel for more expressive mark-making.

Overhand