Learning to Draw - Your First Few Sessions

You should be drawing, say, three days a week in order to build on what we're talking about. Learning to draw is like eating an elephant - do it a bit at a time. I'm starting you from a very simple place, of drawing exactly what's in front of you. Do it exactly the same size on a piece of paper sat along side you're still life. I suggest you do this half a dozen times. Each time for about half an hour may be a little bit longer if your concentration span can take it. You can draw the same object time and time again from a different viewpoint.

For these first few drawings just concentrate on the outline and concentrate on comparing the position of each outline and its relationship to any nearby outlines. Look at the space in between the outlines, try and compare these. Is this space bigger than it should be? Is in the right position in relation to its neighbours?

You can as you get a bit of confidence play with the kind of line you use. I suggest that you start off with a relatively soft pencil rehearse the line without allowing the pencil to touch the paper when you feel that your arm is moving correctly and the point of a pencil is over the right area you can lower the pencil onto the paper and make the mark. do this all always as your arm is moving, this will make the mark seemed fresher and more spontaneous. Avoid being tense and tight, your state of mind should be relaxed concentration.

As you get more confidence you can use a different medium. Try using a different kind of pencil, try using charcoal, and if you're really feeling good try using a pen. A simple ballpoint pen is a great tool but the pen has the benefit of not being easily erased, so it makes you really focus and concentrate. This alone gives a different kind of drawing.

When you have really got the hang of this try doing a drawing of the same still life but doing a reduction in size. Still have a paper on the easel but do the same thing this time not life-size but reduced in size. Do this three or four times, if that works well try enlarging the image.

If you would like to gain some designer/drawing skills, at home at your own pace you can freely watch our online drawing tuition online videos. This series is free to stream from your internet browser.

David Savage is an Internationally recognized professional Furniture Maker and Designer with over 30 years experience. David runs a furniture designer making workshop in Shebbear, in the beautiful county of Devon in England. David can be contacted through his Woodworking Courses Classes website