Drawing is multi-tasking. There are many issues that the artist should deliberately address in drawing. With practice, this awareness turns into the ability to see. I have been asked a lot to publish a list of these issues. I recommend to all my students (and other artists) to print it out and use it as a guide.
Issues, Choices and Considerations in Drawings
- point of view
- drawing materials
- size of paper
- orientation of paper
- composition
- cropping of subject
- rhythm
- scale / amount of background
- choice of style
- time constraints
- balance
- symmetry
- form
- negative shapes / spaces
- silhouette
- structure
- lights / shadows
- body shadows
- cast shadows
- anchoring objects
- pushing-and-pulling
- tonal values
- temperatures
- edges
- focus
- direction of light
- contrast
- shading
- reserving the white
- texture
- perspective
- foreshortening
- facets
- style
- quality of line
- exaggerating
- ignoring
- proportions
- anatomy
- character
- creativity, originality
- pentimenti
- embracing gaze
- space
- weight
- highlights
- reflected light
- abstracting
- simplifying
- background
- signature
Some points might appear odd or unclear. Don’t worry, keep reading this blog and I’ll try to gradually explain all of them.
