Drawing Exercise : Basic Even Strokes & Lines

Drawing lines can be drawn in several ways. The smallest or thinnest lines are made by means of holding the pencil, pen (or whatever) in a way that it is controlled mostly by your fingers, wrist , elbow, or even by the arm at the shoulder. While you are sitting, use the fingers and the wrist to draw. However, if you are stranding, you will want to use your elbow and arm at the shoulder (for example, at a standing easel or at the chalkboard). When you are drawing specifically tiny details, the way to hold your pencil is to control it with your thumb, first, and second fingers.

FREE BROAD LINES ARE CREATED BY FINGERS AND WRIST MOTION

More freedom and broader effects are produced by the movement of the fingers and the motion of the hand radiating fromt he wrist. Still more sweeping effects are secured by holding the hand nearly rigid and obtaining actions by means of the forearm swung from the elbow. A still greater radius may be had by swinging the full length of the arm if you need to draw a huge circle or something like that.

AVOID DRAWING UNEVENLY SPACED LINES

Scratchy and Unevenly Spaced Lines should in most cases be avoided .... such as when drawing grasses. The upper lines in Fig. 3 below, are of the scratchy and uneven kind, while those below are more deliberately and carefully placed.

In Figure 4 the difference between the correct lines and the 'bad' lines are pretty clear to see.

Figure 5 below shows practice lines that should be repeated over and over again until you become an expert in drawing them. In A below, the lines are about as evenly placed as could be expected from someone who is just learning to try to evenly space lines. In B, the lines are such as would be made by the absolutely untrained hand and eye.

In Fig. 6, at C (below) shows lines enclosed in order to teach you to stop the lines within prescribed limits.

In Fig. 6, at D (below), the lines are drawn backward and forward quickly without removing the pencil.

In Fig. 6, at E (below), consists of lines drawn quickly, but by lifting the pencil at the end of each stroke.

In Fig. 6, at F (below), the lines are broken, but firmly and evenly placed.

TRY TO DRAW YOUR LINES WITH AN EVEN PRESSURE

You will want to learn to make lines with an even pressure, from the moment the pencil or crayon touches the paper until it leaves it.

Fig. 7 below gives practice lines that are used in nearly all drawings, from the parallel lines at the top, the graduated lines in the second row, the cross-hatch lines near the bottom and, lastly, the solid shading in which the lines are placed so closely together as to nearly or quite lose their identity.

PRACTICE THESE LINE EXERCISES AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN

Fig. 6 above shows practice lines that should be repeated over and over again until you become quite expert in their use.