Advice on drawing

[agaboric]

I am fast comming to figure out that if you do not have any reference material or do your homework on wood carving projects then you are not going to be happy with the out come of the final product. So I have begun drawing when I can, and I am not really good at it but in highschool many moons ago I would draw all the time. I have bought a little poseable model that I can put into the sort of positions I desire. Personally I have no desire to play with clay to make a model so that is why I am going this route, or is clay a good way to go too? So what things have helped you along on how to be a better drawer (if that is a word)? I can draw, sort of, but I want to take it to the next level, I have been watching some of Lynn's videos and before he does anything he at least makes a sketch or drawing of what he intends to carve, and it is not just him (maybe there is a pattern here). So I guess I am asking my fellow carvers what things do you do to help you draw and or prepare yourself for your next carving project?

[pallin]

I believe there is an analytical part and a creative part to both drawing and woodcarving. That is, you analyze the dimensions and proportions for the figure you want to make. As you start drawing, you let your creative side take over - the shape must "feel" right, or you erase and try again. A similar process happens when you transfer the pattern to wood and begin cutting.
BTW: A drawer is a rectangular box fitted into a cabinet, counter, or table - with guide tracks and a pull knob - for storing tools or other things out of sight.

[AlArchie]

Yep a drawer is a person who draws or even UNDERWEAR as in Maggie's Drawers!

Drawer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Al

[Mitchell]

Good topic Andy.

I draw - a lot. Mostly doodle and not necessarily for carving purposes. I'm a 'good' drawer, but not great by any means.

Since I mostly carve caricature - I draw a lot stick figures.....working on proportion ideas. I will also sketch specific detail ideas such as hair styles or clothing features (for examples).

For reference I have a few books on cartooning and animation. Any book on drawing anataomy is also good for reference. For 'beginners' I would recommend a kids drawing book - "Draw Squad" I believe is the title. I purchased this book about 15 years ago for our foster child and wound up getting a copy for myself. It has small chapters and exercises that help keep me in practice. I actually pulled it out of the shelf a couple of months ago as a refresher.

[Don Schneider]

Out of necessity, I discovered that a rudimentary ability to put my ideas on paper was essential for me. I wouldn't want to hang any of my drawings for public viewing, but have become adept at "working drawings" . I found an old paperback book "Drawing on the right hand side of the brain" to be very valuable. Keep drawing and working your drawings into your sculpture they become one and the same. good luck, don s.

[Just Carving]

I find drawing (as in drafter--person who draws--been doing it for 33 years) to come easy. But drawing a 3 dimensional figure on a rectangular block is intimidating because I can only draw top, bottom, sides, etc. So, I tried copying from a 3 dimensional figure without sketching--only tick marks to relate the measurements to the block--for fun. You'll find relating 3d to a block of wood a lot easier because it's easier to comprehend what needs to be removed from the block. And, I found that I didn't care about duplicating what was there already. I was more creative and more satisfied with the end result. I realize that this doesn't help when carving something that you don't already have a 3d figure of. But it does give you a breath of fresh air compared to carving from 2 dimensional sketches and drawings.

Bob L

[TreeWizard]

I usually work from a picture, either a photo or a drawing. I just can't get my mind around the clay figure idea. I guess it's because with the clay figure I'm adding material and with the carving I'm taking away material.

[Dileon]

I went to college for art,..and they made us do old master drawings to perfection and I can say it was a major B... but I learn how to draw. One of best ways to teach people to draw is to have them find drawings they like and then copy it. Internet has tons.... One thing you need to know is that artist have gum erasers, and they use them major. Number two tons of paper gets thrown in the trash can because you draw it over and over and over again until you get it right. As you can see I do not do my carvings from drawings and do make major mistakes .... but a mistake is often the best way to learn how to do it right. Then I will get my books and the sketch book out and draw it til it is somewhat ok to try to carve again. Some great carvers do use clay models first.....me ... I rather do a second carving if I destroy the first one. ....and have done up to three to four carving before I got one I liked. I work major with clay for years, and I think carving is easier then any kind of clay usage. But that is me, perhaps clay is easier for you..... and you won't know until you have tried it out. I do believe if you can draw, then you can improve you work a great deal. Also.... I do not like to draw from live models or on site.... I need to be alone and away from everything in order to think straight. But I collect and file thousands and thousands of photographs for ideas.

[mobjack68]

Originally Posted by Just Carving

I find drawing (as in drafter--person who draws--been doing it for 33 years) to come easy. But drawing a 3 dimensional figure on a rectangular block is intimidating because I can only draw top, bottom, sides, etc. So, I tried copying from a 3 dimensional figure without sketching--only tick marks to relate the measurements to the block--for fun.

Like BobL, I am adept at "mechanical drawing", give me a t-square, a straight edge and some kind of measuring tool?? I can draw up a storm. Ask me to sketch something??? deer in high beams, scared to death.....I want so bad to be able to draw, and I want to draw what I imagine, that's the hardest part. I can look at an object and create a drawing well enough to use as a basic pattern, that's about it....now the crazy part....I carve a lot of things without benefit of pattern. I am able to work out proportion and detail as I carve, how weird is that?? I believe that my carving could improve with better drawing skills, and as the folks have reminded me, drawing is a skill that needs to be developed and practiced. The only way to get better is to practice....I wish I could take my own advice

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Drawing the figure or idea out prior to beginning a carving is as important as actually picking up a knife and applying it to the wood. Probably the largest drawback to a person improving their carving skills to their full extent is taking shortcuts which bypass this step. A pattern out of a magazine? Sorry, you're just continuing what somebody else thought out. A roughout? Who wants to finish a carving started by someone else? Seminars? Sure, they can teach you how to carve but they CAN'T teach you how to be creative or how to truly understand what you're carving. By drawing the figure you learn this lesson, the figure's shape and how the different shapes in it relate to the other planes of the figure. Some work it out in clay instead of paper & pencil but the end result is the same.....your knowledge of the shape grows as you create it. Can't draw? Come on....we can all draw to some degree. The important thing is to keep at it. Practice, practice, practice! You might just surprise yourself and you'll probably become a much better carver.

I have nothing against patterns, roughouts or seminars. These are great tools for the beginning carver. However, some day everyone should want to do something they can truly call their own. Drawing is the first step down that road.