Leonardo Davinci Note Books 2

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Figure 2.

Based on Leonardo's note books, for putting in the Features..

In his note ­books, Leonardo explains that the major types of features are those
that lie flat along a baseline, those that rise.and those that fall from the baseline.

Leonardo Davinci Note Books 1

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Figure 1.
" Getting a Likeness." To place the features on the face, divide it into three equal parts -from the hairline to the eyebrows, from the eyebrows to the base of the nose, and from the base of the nose to the chin.

More Interior Drawing Painting Tips - watercolor painting

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More Interior Drawing

Here, again, the tool was a pen. In this series, use the contour method except that added much more interior drawing. This is a step toward developing the shadow area shapes and

gives the indication of some values we will use to paint. Although there is a little interweaving of the shapes,

You don't woven the heads into the background. This would be a necessity if you are going to make a painting with a more serious design concept.

Improving Your Drawing Skill Painting Tips - watercolor painting

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Improving Your Drawing Skill

Whether drawing from your photographs or a live model, there are two methods that can improve your drawing skills and help you loosen up.

The first method is using a brush to draw rather than a pencil or pen.

This is a marvelous way to develop dexterity with your brush. 

The second method is contour drawing. Again, the more you practice these skills, the better you become. also develop your skills by meeting with other artists in your area sometimes to draw and paint from a live model. Work in different mediums-from pencil to watercolor, Oil or Acrylic. 
Perhaps you can find a similar group in your area. You don't need an instructor. Simply chip in enough money to cover the model fee.

Don't worry about Proportions ( Painting Tips )

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Don't concern yourself too much about proportions, but rather concentrate on the shapes      and angles and try to capture the feeling of the subject. You would rather see an exaggerated

drawing of the subject-one that shows feeling and captures the character-than one that is too photographic and tight. 

Contour drawing is a big help for Beginner who do not draw well and haven't had much experience drawing the head and figure.

recommend Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards for Painter who are serious about improving their drawing skills. This book shows some examples of students' work at the beginning of practicing the exercises and then again after only a few weeks. The improvement is truly amazing.

Contour Drawing Painting Tips - watercolor painting

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Contour drawing has been most helpful in teaching ourself to draw better. One of my friend, who is becoming a fine painter, says this method has helped him more than anything else he has learned about drawing. The line and characterof his drawing has improved greatly.

KEEP PEN OR PENCIL ON PAPER

The objective of contour drawing is to Keep the pen or pencil on the paper as much as possible without lifting it, all the while looking at subject you are attempting to draw. 

In true contour drawing you will never look at the paper, only at the subject. Exciting shapes can be achieved with this method and it prevents your work from getting tight, thus looking like a photograph.

DRAW SHAPES

Don't draw things, draw shapes. On a contour drawing, you can begin drawing anywhere but I generally begin with an eye. I do this more from habit than for any other reason and it seems to work best for me. When I begin, I think entirely about the shapes I see rather than the eye itself. 

After working out this area, I move on to other parts and use the eye I have just finished to judge the rest of the drawing for shapes, sizes, angles and proportions.

USING A PEN

Using a pen will give you clean lines and will eliminate the habit of reaching for the eraser. I some- times work with a Tombow pen that has a fine or very fine point.

The surface I work on determines which one I choose. For instance, if I'm working on vellum or some other smooth surface, I use a very fine point; if I'm working on a surface with more texture, I use a fine to medium point to get a heavier line.

Four Kinds of Contour Drawing

In the  first drawing of the pear and banana, I used only curved lines, not lifting the pen  from the paper and keeping my eye on the subject as much as possible.  In the second  drawing, with the same technique, I used only straight lines. Both drawings are boring because there is too much "sameness". In the third example, I used both curved and straight lines to get more variation into the drawing.

Finally, in the fourth drawing, I added some interior lines that develop shadow areas. I also connected the  drawing to the background with the use of  cast shadows.

Weaving Shapes into the background painting tips - watercolor painting

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Talk about shapes it's so important. It will help both your dawing and painting.  Not only we need to see and draw the shapes of our subject, but we must look at the shapes that weave through the subject and the background that indicate the lost and found edges. This helps make a drawing that will become a comlete painting and not one that looks like it has been cut out and pasted on the surface.

CONTOUR DRAWING TIPS

Go fast on the straight and curved lines; slow down on the angles.

Stop often to see where you are and check for shapes, sizes and proportions.

Try not to repeat the same shape twice. This will add more variety to your drawing.

Let the pen or pencil linger at a stopping point, making a distinctive mark that adds character to the line.

Think of the shadow areas as shapes and draw those shapes.

Draw the background shapes and weave them in and out of the subject. If you draw the subject and then come back later to draw the background, you will have two totally isolated thoughts.

If  a boundary is lost in shadow, then leave it out in the drawing to remind you to leave it out when you do the painting.

Connect your subject to at least three of the borders, and try to balance the positive and negative shapes to achieve better design.

Try to keep the backgrounds as simple as possible unless the subject matter demands more involvement.

This is the same drawing as at before except that attempted to weave the figure and the background together in order to achieve a better composition.