Here is a tip to hold the pencil correctly while drawing

Holding the pencil is the first step that should be mastered if you want to become an artist. The way in which you hold the pencil places a huge role in how the final work turns out.

Artist Bobby Chiu has given an important tip regarding the same in one of his YouTube videos. He recommends that holding the pencil like a charcoal can lead to some great results. The idea is to draw using the side of the lead rather than using the point. This can help to keep the pencil sharper for a longer period and also give you a texture that is usually not achieved.

“When covering large areas, I shade with my pencil perpendicular to the line I’m drawing to get wide, soft lines. For details, I hold my pencil parallel to my lines to get sharp, narrow marks. The only time I use the point is when I’m working on intricate details,” he notes.

So get going and try this out the next time you are scribbling.

How to Draw a Hand: The basic shapes you should understand

Almost everything out there is made up of such basic shapes which can make our drawing process easier. Drawing a hand is no different.

There are some basic shapes that make up our hand and we are going to list them down below courtesy of the picture from virtualinstructor.com.

First, look at your hands; you can understand that a square makes up the back portion of your palm. Similarly, a triangle is formed where the palm meets the thumb. These shapes might differ based on perspectives, but they will still be there.

Lastly, the fingers are basically cylinders as you can see from the picture. They may become taper and larger based on the finger but the basic shape is cylinder after all.

Digital Drawing: 3 Reasons why you should be doing it

People are often split when it comes to traditional drawing and digital drawing. While a lot of people argue about the merits of traditional drawing, there are some major benefits of digital drawing that cannot be overlooked.

We will be listing down three reasons why you should be trying digital drawing.

  • The availability of countless tools: One of the biggest advantages of digital drawing is the availability of countless tools. You can experiment with a lot of things which you might not have access to in real life.
  • Eco-friendly: Digital drawing enables you to learn drawing without the wastage of paper. Considering the climate changes and environmental issues that are rising, it is a big contribution indeed.
  • The undo button: If you make a mistake on the paper, you might end up ruining your whole work till that point. Digital drawing, on the other hand, gives you the undo button which reduces the pressure.

So if you are still not trying out the digital platforms for drawing, you should really give it a thought.

Leonardo da Vinci: Some shocking facts you should know

Leonardo da Vinci needs no introduction. The Italian is hands down one of the most influential artists in the history having made contributions across multiple fields like invention, drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, science and mathematics among others.

While people know a lot about da Vinci, we will be taking a look at three interesting facts about him that most people probably do not know.

  • It took him 12 years to paint the lips of Mona Lisa: For drawing just the lips, it took him 12 years. Imagine how much perfection he wanted.
  • He fought for animal rights: He used to buy caged birds and set them free.
  • He was a vegetarian: Not a big surprise here considering he fought for animal rights, but then again, it is a fact that most people don’t know.

So next time someone talks about Leonardo da Vinci, drop these interesting facts about him in the conversation.

Drawing Eyes: Here’s what you need to know

When you are drawing a face, the way in which you draw the eyes can either make or break the whole drawing. And this is why you should know some tips and tricks related to drawing the eyes.

Firstly, you should understand that eyes are just about halfway between the jaw and top of the head. Once you have figured out this particular line, the job is half done. The next job is to place both the eyes on this particular line.

Now, our heads are usually five eyes wide. So place five eyes on the line you identified in the first step and remove the ones on either sides and the middle so that you end up with two perfectly place eyes.

While this is an easy trick that can get the job done, this is only applicable to a face that is facing straight. The proportions and eye placements will vary depending on the position of the head.

Why you should encourage Kids to draw

Most of us started drawing from our young age itself. Back then, we did not have the luxury of smartphones and technology which opened the doors for creative activities like drawing.

The current scenario is completely different. The kids these days have access to a lot of gadgets and technology which takes them away from most of the things that we grew up with. While these gadgets have their own merits, it is always recommended to encourage your kids to physically draw every now and then.

Below are some benefits of encouraging kids to draw.

  • It increases imagination: Increasing the imagination is crucial when it comes to being independent and advanced. Drawing is one of the activities that can get this job done.
  • A way of displaying emotions: Several researches have shown that drawings are a great way through which emotions can be expressed.  This can be helpful when the kid grows up as he or she will be used to expressing emotions rather than hiding them inside.
  • Motor and Coordination Skills improve: The coordination of brain, hand, and eyes are important for drawing. And the more this is practiced, the more the skill is developed.

Apart from these, drawing also improves the cognitive skills of a kid. It can also increase the creativity and confidence as well.

Figure Drawing Proportions: 3 Tips you should know

When drawing a figure, it is important to that you give attention to the proportions. Different part of the figure requires different size and if this is not followed, you might end up getting a forgettable output in the end.

There are many tips related to the drawing proportions that you should know and we will list down three of them below.

  • The Whole figure should be approximately 7.5 heads tall.
  • The line of the nipples comes around two heads down from the top of the figure.
  • The Belly Button comes around three heads down from the top.

Incorporating these proportions can drastically improve the figure and doesn’t require much effort as well.

Drawing: How it impacts your brain

Drawing is not just a hobby or a profession. It is much deeper than that when we take into consideration the impact that it has on our brain. The creativity involved in drawing can be a big boost for our brain.

If you didn’t know how drawing can impact your brain, we will be listing down some facts that you should know.

  • Drawing can add synapses to your neurotransmitters. This means that memories and experiences stored in your brain can become stronger, more vivid, and easier to access.
  • It can Produce positive brain chemistry like Serotonin, Endorphins, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine
  • Many studies have shown that drawing could lead to the person getting a thicker brain stem.

So rather than seeing drawing as simply an artistic hobby, you should start seeing it as a tool to boost your brain as well.

3 Shocking facts about Art that you should know

Did you know that Art can completely change your life?

Not many people are aware of this as most of us do Art just for fun. But according to various studies, Art can bring huge changes in the life of a person. We will be listing down some facts related to Art today.

  • Students who study art are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement.
  • According to studies, Art can promote creativity, social development and self-worth.
  • Drawing develops hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness- abilities that engineers and architects use

Not only these, Art is mandatory for children in countries that rank highest for maths and science. So if you are not trying out art, it is about time you spend some time for it.

Here is an interesting fact about caricatures that you should know

Caricatures are probably something that we come across every day. While it never fails to amuse us, did you know that caricature is much older than you think?

Some of the greatest artists in history even practice it to develop their skills. Eileen Owens, curator of “Biting Wit and Brazen Folly: British Satirical Prints, 1780s–1830s” once noted that Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the first artists to use caricature.

In 17th century also, caricatures had a place in the society as Italian artist Pier Leone Ghezzi used them to make fun of Romans and tourists. So next time you see a caricature, remember that it has an illustrious and deep-rooted history.