A drawing tutorial of tips, tricks and drawing materials to help you get started with the drawing you've always wanted to do, but never did.

1). Get yourself some graphite pencils. You can get them at an art store or possibly Wal-Mart and usually find a SketchMate starter kit under $8.00, sometimes as low as $5.00. The package will have all the pencils you will need to draw a beautiful realistic drawing. You can always add more pencils to this collection.


Below is a pencil grade chart


2). Get yourself some quality paper for drawing, you don’t want to draw something you want to keep for years on regular paper, like printer paper for example. Be sure to get something that is acid free so as not to break down the graphite, or charcoal over the years

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3). Fixative Spray, this is needed to spray over your drawings after you have completed it, or if you would like to work in layers to get a darker effect. Found in all art supply stores and sometimes department stores, usually Wal-Mart. Here I am recommending Winsor Newton, but there are others that work just as well.


Never use hair spray as a fixative. It will yellow your work over time and flake

4). When you begin to draw you want to get in all that you are actually looking at that you want to capture. Be sure to include you shadows.

5). Look at negative space, the areas between the art subject, be sure to include these to get a realistic drawing.

6). Never draw lines, use your tortillion or blending stump that is included in your starter kit, or purchased in packs at your local art supply store. What you want to do is create an edge where you think there is a line and separate as needed. I buy them in bulk for the best price.

There are other tools you can use to blend charcoal and graphite. Cutting a small piece of cotton, like off an old tee-shirt will work well. I keep a large supply on hand so I always have a clean piece when needed. I cut off a piece to wrap around my finger and go to work.


For smaller work you can also use a q-tip, but the tortillion is best in very small and tight areas.

Avoid using your fingers for blending your artwork. Fingers have oil and will transfer to your art work space.

7). When blending, keep your strokes close, even and in the direction of the object, then blend out with your tortillion going from light to dark

Below is a Drawing Value Chart to help you understand values

Below is the correct way to blend

Below is the incorrect way to blend


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8). Use a knead eraser to lift out highlights. Highlights are very important for a realistic drawing. The brand displayed here is the one I prefer and recommend, though there are several brands to choose from. I buy them in bulk for the best price.



9). Do not use any shading at all where light is on the subject.

Examine your subject and look at it in values of shades rather than the color, then determine the value. There is a Refer to the value chart at tip #7 above.

10). Squint at your subject from time to time, this will actually help you see it better.

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11). Look at your finished work upside down; this will also help you see mistakes.

12). Practice everyday, no matter what the subject may be. Everything is a subject.

13). Carry a sketchpad with you, and in the car.


14). Keep photographs of people; these are great for practicing portraits.

15). Keep all of you artwork; you can look back on it to see that you have improved, and with daily practice you will, I promise.

16). Remember to be kind to yourself and not too critical of your artwork, what you think looks bad is awesome to someone else.

17). Everyone has his or her own style and technique. There is not a right or wrong way, just different.

18). Never give up on yourself. Most of all have fun.