Lesson 1: Getting started

Do you look at artwork and wish you could do that?

Have you "always wanted to do that"?

Did you have an experience that put you off trying?

Then this is the blog tutorial for you.  If you are more experienced with art you might find the foundational exercises beneficial for reminding you of your foundations, but this space is largely for those who wish to try and never have.  My belief is that everyone is artistic - you just need the space and time to explore and practice.

So how do you get started?  Well, you will need to spend a little money.  Consider it a Christmas present to yourself!

Shopping list

• small sketch book (A5)
• 2B pencil
• eraser
• coloured pencils (my favourite are Inktense or Watercolour pencils but any will do)

Next, you need to find some time.  If you are really pushed, just aim for ten minutes once a week.  Choose your day and make an appointment that you keep.  Some time is better than no time, and you will be surprised by how even short amounts of time will improve your skill.

Lesson 1: Getting started

1. Using your 2B pencil, in your new  sketch book,draw different shapes (squares, circles, triangles etc), overlapping some and making some bigger than others.
2. Using colours you like, shade the different shapes.  Imagine someone shining a bright light from the top right corner of your piece, making the top right corners of your shapes the lightest area. The bottom left corner will be the darkest area of your shapes. If you like, you can include the shadows that the shapes might cast.
3. Congratulate yourself on getting started!  

I'm off to get my own sketch book and will post an example picture for you later today (lunch with friends first!).

Here is my go.  Nothing earth-shattering but simple principles at work.  The light is shining from the top left, high in the sky so that it doesn't cast much shadow.  It could just as well be later in the day and cast a longer shadow.  The colour is most intense the closer the shapes get.  Likewise, as my shapes get closer they get bigger.  You might do a cluster of shapes or random shapes, patterns or shapes that disappear into the distance.  There are no wrong choices.


What matters most is that you give it a go.


Taking it that little bit further...  
Using a water-based pencil means that you can go over your picture using a small brush and water.  This activates the pigment and the colour becomes richer.  Try not to be too perfect but allow parts of the picture to be missed.  This adds interest and a sense of movement to the picture.  So a flat piece becomes a trail of shapes, all heading off somewhere.

Hope you enjoyed your time creating!