| Drawing has been around for centuries. In | | | | pencil to a fine point - just a blunted |
| fact, wonderfully vital drawings and | | | | point. |
| paintings by primitive peoples have been | | | | |
| discovered, which proves that many thousands | | | | Now you have your sketchbook and your pencil, |
| of years ago the art of drawing was there, | | | | what are you going to look for? What are you |
| innate, in mankind. Everyone can draw, for it | | | | going to start on? Don't start straightaway |
| is an inherent human trait far more natural | | | | on a landscape. Just focus your attention on |
| than writing. | | | | a few simple things that are before you in |
| | | | the room you are in. Something the shape of |
| Unfortunately most people lose this power as | | | | which attracts your interest, say a decanter, |
| they grow older, or rather it is overlaid by | | | | or a wine glass, or a vase of flowers. Draw a |
| more complicated mental processes. It needs | | | | definite shape on the blank page of the |
| only the desire to reawaken it and the | | | | sketchbook with a firm, thick line - say a |
| courage to proceed and rapidly the power to | | | | rough oblong. Count this as your picture |
| express what one sees, in drawing and in | | | | space: into this defined shape you are going |
| paint, comes back again. | | | | to put your drawing. |
| | | | |
| So take courage and go ahead. | | | | Then begin with the part of the selected |
| | | | object that interests you most. Perhaps it is |
| The first thing to get is a sketchbook: not | | | | the bulge of the decanter - boldly draw the |
| too big a one but a handy pocket size that | | | | curve of the right-hand side and then look |
| you can carry about at all times. You can of | | | | across and draw the corresponding curve of |
| course buy a children's drawing book for a | | | | the other side; then go upward to the lip and |
| few cents, but this has a flimsy cover and | | | | the stopper, drawing first one side and then |
| has to be folded or rolled to carry, and that | | | | the other; then look at the base, the dark |
| spoils the page, so a sketchbook with | | | | curve where the decanter rests upon the |
| thinnish cartridge paper and a good stout | | | | sideboard. You now have the shape of the |
| cover is the best investment in the end. See | | | | object - then relate this to the glass that |
| that the paper is not too thick or too rough | | | | is near it; notice the size of the glass in |
| in surface. Nothing harder than a 3B pencil | | | | relation to the decanter and repeat the |
| is much use. Get a black Conte crayon or | | | | process, taking into account where the two |
| black chalk pencil with the wood round it, | | | | objects are placed in your oblong space. |
| for this is the kind of pencil that will give | | | | |
| you most satisfaction in sketching. Of course | | | | Continuing to practice these techniques will |
| you will need a razor blade or sharp penknife | | | | help you get a grasp for the way drawing |
| because the breaking of points is a very | | | | should feel and ultimately look. |
| frequent occurrence. Do not sharpen the | | | | |