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Do the Big Shapes First!

Writer: goldenstateservicesj
goldenstateservicesj
Jul 11, 2022
2 min read

Hi friends, many students struggle with drawing complex subjects but I have a tip that will make it much easier as long as you are not afraid of letting your work be loose and messy for a while.

Draw the big shapes first, try to find gesture lines that wind throughout the subject, compare where features like hands and knees are, and use the negative space around the subject to get your contours right. When you approach a drawing in this way you avoid fiddling with the details until you have the framework down. Think about it, you would try and paint your walls before the house was even built right? That is why I don’t recommend you start drawing some really detailed features and working out from that because you can spend a lot of time making one thing pretty only to realize it’s completely out of proportion. Trust me, if you can deal with the mess upfront you will have a better outcome and enjoy the process more. Confused? Watch today’s video and see what I mean.

If you would like a real-time version of this lesson you can find it up now in Critique Club along with 84 other more complex real-time art lessons all for $5 a month! I post monthly creative prompts and 2 new lessons every month for you to enjoy and you can upload your art for feedback from me!

Or if you want to get better at drawing check out my class Learn to Draw with Lindsay with nearly 8 hours of step-by-step instruction where you will learn the fundamentals of drawing and sketching people, animals, landscapes and still life. BTW I am having my 46th Birthday sale through tomorrow so you can save 46% on any class in my Teachable school with the coupon code: HB46 *Click “add coupon” at checkout and type in HB46. **Offer ends 7/12/22

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That’s all for today! Happy crafting!

 
 
 

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