Top 10 Life Drawing Tips

Life drawing classes can be a little daunting when you have never done them before, so we have put together some tips to help you.

Get the most out of this experience and learn how to refine your drawing skills whilst still having fun in this experience. Whether you are having a hen party, stag do, or birthday party these tips will be helpful for you and will probably be things you will think of doing on the day. After all, you want to ensure you have done everything possible and got your all out of the creative session. You never know; this might be a new hobby of yours.

In Summary, our Top 10 Life Drawing Tips are:

1. Look at the figure closely

2. Plan your composition

3. Sketch the entire figure quickly first

4. Always keep your arm moving

5. Try to think about line economy

6. Erase as little as possible

7. Make sure to add shadows and highlights

8. Draw the entire pose

9. Don’t have a floating figure

10. Look at the model more than your paper

1. Look at the Figure Closely

Start by just looking at the figure and taking everything in. Make mental notes of little details you must remember when drawing too. A great idea is to hold your pencil next to the figure to work out where to start and keep the relationship between each body part you draw.

2. Plan Your Composition

You want to plan your composition before you draw anything. Use your hand to understand the proportions and general shapes of the figure. Make a grid like shape on your paper to help you correct the proportions.

3. Sketch the Entire Figure Quickly First

Before you start looking at any detail and finer touches, you want to ensure that you have quickly sketched out the entire figure before going further. This will help you with the proportions, and you will get everything accurate a lot easier by doing it this way. We suggest using the side of your pencil to create thin, light sketch lines.

4. Always Keep Your Arm Moving

You want to make sure you are always drawing with very few breaks, even if you are taking your time drawing. This is so you don’t neglect any negative spaces around the figure you are drawing. If you are trying to draw as much as possible, you will see different opportunities quicker and more often.

5. Try to Think About Line Economy

To keep things as effective as possible it is important to think about the concept of line economy:

“The concept of the economy of line is a familiar one to anyone who has studied figure drawing. Basically, it means that we should strive to draw efficiently by using fewer lines to say what we need to say, rather than a lot of unnecessary lines that lack a sense of intent.” – Realism Today

6. Erase as Little as Possible

Sometimes erasing things can do more harm than good. Erasers can damage the paper and sometimes highlight the line you were trying to remove. Instead, go over the line with smaller, thinner lines to remove the distraction from the error. And erasing things can take time, which means less time drawing.

7. Make Sure to Add Shadows and Highlights

Shadows and highlights are an addition that shouldn’t be missed as it gives the figure as much of a life like feel as possible. There are so many ways you can add shadows and highlights, but the simplest way to do so is with some charcoal or using the side of your pencil for shadows. And then using an eraser rubber for highlights.

8. Draw the Entire Pose

With this experience, you want to get as much as possible from it, so you shouldn’t avoid any difficult bits of the model and their pose. Always make sure you draw their head, face, hands, and feet, as there is no way you will improve unless you draw everything. After all, you will only get better as you go on.

9. Don’t Have a Floating Figure

If you go straight into drawing your figure, you might need to remember this vital part of the finished piece. You don’t want it to look like your figure is floating around on the page, so make sure you ground them even with just a simple line to create the floor. Anything is better than nothing to give some dimension to the drawing.

10. Look at the Model More than Your Paper

The model is there for a reason; there is no point in having a model there if you don’t learn from them. Make sure you take the time to familiarise yourself with the features, weights, proportions, pose and shadows that all come with the model and the pose. That way, you are getting the most you can out of the experience.

Did you Know?

We have organised 1000's of life drawing hen do's in Liverpool, London and across the UK for ladies looking for a creative event.  We also offer mobile life drawing that comes to your house!

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