It can be very intimidating to be faced with the blank page when starting a new drawing. One thing my friend and mentor, Robert Barrett, once said gets to the crux of the problem: "The first line is always right. It's when you add the second line that things go awry."
It can be scary to add that second line. You're still a virtuoso artist until pen finally meets paper. But never fear! In this post I will outline how to approach any subject in a manner that removes the fright of the fresh sheet.
In this post we will discuss:
Ghosting it in: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Place Tick Marks--Tick paper on top, bottom, and sides to indicate general placement of your subject
Step 2: Block in Overall Area of Subject--use side of pencil/willow charcoal to lightly block in gestalt with back-and-forth motion
Step 3: Indicate General Landmarks--Break up block-in into smaller divisions to indicate more specific placement
Step 4: Block in Darks--add more tone to the shadow areas of your drawing
Step 5: Lift out Lights--Using a kneaded eraser, pull out where the light hits the form
Step 6: Measure-- Use triangulation, angles, and subdivisions to adjust landmark placement to increase accuracy
Step 7: Strengthen and Clarify-- Work from general to specific as you slowly & carefully improve the accuracy of your drawing
For a quick overview of the steps, see the video below:
For a longer, more comprehensive look, view this video: