Lifelike Animals

LEARNING TO “SEE”

When you first begin drawing, it is important that you learn to draw what you really see, not what you think you see. Often novice artists will make basic mistakes because they draw their preconceived idea of an object rather than what the object actually looks like. Over the next two pages, you’ll find three easy exercises that will train your eye to “see” correctly: contour drawing, negative drawing, and gesture drawing. You’ll need some sketch paper and an HB or 2B pencil for these exercises. Don’t use an eraser—just keep drawing, even if you think you make a mistake.

Contour Drawing

Contour drawing is essentially drawing the outline of a subject. Contour drawing uses line to describe the shape of a subject without worrying ...