About Drawing / Sketching

Show and Tell

2009-11-06T00:09:38Z

It's show and tell time! We have a terrific new template that lets you share your drawings and stories without having to wait for your ever-disorganized guide to upload them to a gallery. She (ahem) just has to add a bit of text and hit 'approve'....

I've started a few topics so please jump in and have your say. Bear in mind, with the time difference in Australia, it may take a day or two before I approve it. When viewing Show-and-Tells, you can click on the image to see the full-size picture. Feel free to add topic suggestions to the blog post. I'll be adding some more soon, and we'll be able to use it to share projects, too!

Check out the show and tells

Show and Tell originally appeared on About.com Drawing / Sketching on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 00:09:38.

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Make it Merry: Week 1

2009-11-05T06:49:29Z

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Clothes Pin Holiday Card Holders
What to do with all those holiday cards? Hold them up with clothes pins as dazzling as twinkling lights with this how-to from Kate Pullen.

Make a Gingerbread House
Ever want to create the perfect gingerbread house? Okay, I have yet to master this skill..but you can! Our Barbara Rolek will show you how.

How to Draw a Christmas Tree
Here is one that will come in handy for all those handmade cards. Learn how to draw the perfect tree from start to finish, right here on About Drawing/Sketching.

Paint a Glass Ornament
Turn a plain glass ball into a work of stained glass art. Our Guide to Painting will show you how to create this delicate trimming.

Silent Night Cross Stitch Pattern
Don't just get cozy, get your stitch on. Create a Silent Night design with this free pattern from Connie G. Barwick.

Stitch a Pear Trio
Hang up something special in your home for that Thanksgiving gathering. This free 'Pear Trio' needlepoint pattern from Cheryl Fall is just what your walls needed.

Easy Christmas Ornaments
Start a tradition for the kids to make new ornaments each year. Sherri Osborne has the shape patterns and project ideas for these ornaments that reflect Christmas traditions.

Print Thanksgiving Placecards
Add some warmth to your table with these Thanksgiving place cards that will have your guests saying 'awwwww'. Barbara Crews has the free printable for you to personalize.

Wine Bottle Wrap Pattern
Instead of giving a bottle of wine in one of those skinny bags, make a felt wrap that the bottle can be displayed in all season. Phyllis Dobbs will show you how.

Make a Miniature Christmas Tree
Why are tiny things always so darn cute? Learn how to make a little pine tree with Lesley Shepherd.

Interchangeable Thanksgiving Pins
Sometimes you just can't commit to just one pin. With this interchangeable Thanksgiving pin by Tammy Powley, you can tell everyone when you're ready for pie...and when you're overstuffed.

Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more. �

Make it Merry: Week 1 originally appeared on About.com Drawing / Sketching on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 06:49:29.

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Back to Basics: Pencil Shading

2009-11-01T22:56:28Z

Good pencil shading takes a little thought and practice to master. Beginners often make their shading being too light and have unwanted changes of tone, or dark bands through what should be a solid area. The challenge for more advanced artists is to really control their range of tone, getting every subtle variation from white to black and all the greys in between. Working on some simple swatches, without trying to draw a subject, is a good way to improve your pencil shading and learn to control your values. Just focus on what you are putting on the paper, and experiment with pencil selection, pressure and method.

Pencil Shading Tips and Exercises:
Introduction to Pencil Shading - basic techniques
Graded and Continuous Shading - value exercise
Newspaper Shading - fun value drawing activity
Soft Shading - working from middle values
Graphite Pencil FAQ - choosing and using pencils

Back to Basics: Pencil Shading originally appeared on About.com Drawing / Sketching on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 22:56:28.

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Miniature Animal Portrait Sculptures

2009-10-28T19:26:29Z

About.com Miniatures Guide Lesley Shepherd just published an amazing gallery of animal miniatures by artisan Kerri Pajutee. If you enjoy realist animal portraiture in any medium, you'll love these. Her medium might be different, but you'll appreciate her acute observational skills, and her attention to form and fine detail. Check out the Miniature Animals Gallery.

Miniature Animal Portrait Sculptures originally appeared on About.com Drawing / Sketching on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 19:26:29.

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Draw a Halloween Ghost

2009-10-25T06:46:58Z

Here's a fun friendly Halloween ghost for you to draw for Halloween art and crafts - great for a card or decoration, created by our regular guest artist Shawn Encarnacion.

Draw a Halloween Ghost

More Halloween Crafts:
Halloween Party Printables
Cross Stitch Skull and Crossbones
Halloween Cards and Printables

Draw a Halloween Ghost originally appeared on About.com Drawing / Sketching on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 06:46:58.

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21st Century Still Life.

2009-10-25T06:29:43Z

When you think 'still life' don't automatically think bunches of grapes and big old vases on swathes of velvet. We aren't living in the 18th century! Sure, rustic can look lovely, but when was the last time you had a Venetian urn laden with pomegranates in your kitchen? For a refreshing change, drag your Still Life into the contemporary world and look for some interesting compositions with things you actually use. Plastic, steel, glass and hard-edged manufactured objects are challenging to draw but worth the effort.
Image: (c) Iker, licensed to About.com, Inc.

21st Century Still Life. originally appeared on About.com Drawing / Sketching on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 06:29:43.

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Use an Eraser Shield

2009-10-21T16:24:04Z

How do you create tiny, perfect highlights in eyes? How do you get really sharp corners in your plan drawings? The answer: use an eraser shield.

Use an Eraser Shield originally appeared on About.com Drawing / Sketching on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 at 16:24:04.

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Human Anatomy Study

2009-10-18T22:56:51Z

I can almost hear people cringe when I say 'you need to study anatomy'. They imagine hours puzzling over confusing Latin names and boring drawings of skeletons. But hey - you're not training to be a medical student! Learning anatomy can be fun, if you remember why you are doing it and approach it with an artistic mindset.

Focus on one area at a time, alternating with studies of the whole figure, paying attention to proportion. Use lots of reference sources - for example, your own and family member's hands, magazine photos (or public domain sources if you want to be able to exhibit/publish), anatomy references, and if you can access them, three-dimensional anatomical models. You don't need to memorize names, but labeling can help you remember 'what goes where'. Just don't obsess about it. Relate the anatomy to the human subject: you are interested in how the forms of bone and muscle affect the movement, form and surface detail that you are drawing.

Change things up. Do some quick line sketches of the skeleton. Then do an atmospheric tonal drawing using charcoal and avoiding line. Try a crisp drawing in sepia ink - can you make it look like an antique medical illustration?

Human Anatomy Reference Photos
Figure Drawing: Structure
Figure Drawing: The Head and Neck

Human Anatomy Study originally appeared on About.com Drawing / Sketching on Sunday, October 18th, 2009 at 22:56:51.

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About Drawing/Sketching on Facebook

2009-10-13T02:51:42Z

If Facebook is your preferred interface with the world, you can add About Drawsketch to your pages to get the blog feed right to your homepage. Or if you prefer, you can join me on Twitter at aboutdrawsketch. Have fun!

About Drawing/Sketching on Facebook originally appeared on About.com Drawing / Sketching on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 02:51:42.

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DIY Dress-Up Doll in Flash

2009-10-13T01:47:09Z

Now here's a way to ~~waste a few hours playing~~ learn some new skills in Flash! Animation Guide Adrien-Luc Sanders has put together a fantastic tutorial which takes you through making a Halloween dress-up doll using Flash. If you're not familiar with Flash animation, don't worry, he's also got some First Flash Animation lessons so you can learn the ropes. So now there's no reason for your cartoon beach babe to have a boring wardrobe.

Draw a Funky Cartoon Girl
Draw a Cartoon Beach Babe
More Beginner Flash
Open Source Flash Tools

DIY Dress-Up Doll in Flash originally appeared on About.com Drawing / Sketching on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 01:47:09.

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