5 Tips for creating incredible illustrations

Here are a few important tips that will help you sail smoothly in the world of illustrations.

Design for the User: One might lose himself trying to make stunning visuals. But it might become too unrelatable for the audience or the end-user. In this case, it will be better to start illustrating a basic sketch and add visual details to satisfy you as well as the user.

Avoid complex symbols: It is crucial to avoid any sort of symbolism that pertains to any culture or language in your illustrations. It is also wise to avoid any colors that may be offensive to your target. Do a brief study on the audience.

Follow color hierarchy: Use a minimal color palette of two to three colors. It helps the user to understand the hierarchy in the illustration better.

Spacing: Ensure that there is plenty of breathing space and as few elements as possible in your design. Remember that less is always more.

Use Grids: It gives you more control. It can help in abolishing the vagueness in your work.

Understand all these rules well as you learn and break them once you master them.

4 Habits to become a better artist

become a better artist

If you’re an aspiring artist, you would have met your worst enemy of all time: the art block. The worst thing about an art block is that many times, it is self-inflicted.

Here are some habits you must build to say goodbye to art blocks for good.

Bye-bye takers: Next time someone asks you for free artwork, say no. They do nothing but drag you down. Anything is more appreciable when it comes with a reward or a price.

Stop scrolling: The internet is the best thing when it comes to both amplifying or sabotaging your creativity. Try to choose your sources of inspiration from outside the screen.

Don’t try to be original: Instead of trying to draw something that is a hundred percent original (which is almost close to impossible), observe existing ideas from a unique perspective and express them authentically in your drawing.

Be grateful: In other words, stop being narcissistic, which is a complex that develops over time. The world doesn’t owe you anything just because you’re an artist. Be grateful for whatever gifts you have in life instead of expecting more of it.

Start enjoying your art life more with these habits.

Surrealism: Basics You Should Know

Surrealism has been one of the most popular branches of art, and it is so because of the sheer strangeness of this style. In surrealist art, nothing is bound by the laws of reality, even though the images are realistic. Here are some ways to help you get your way through surrealism.

Find objects that interest you and connect them: The connection has to be so irrational that it should shake anyone who stumbles upon it.

Get inspired: Inspect works of great masters like Dalì and Magritte to understand how to blend all your ideas. These pioneers of the style have created innumerable surrealistic masterpieces.

Keep the initial sketch as simple as possible: Work in layers and add more layers as you start adding more details.

Lighting: Lighting and composition are just as crucial in surrealism as it is realism. Identify the light source and adjust the shadows and highlights and mid-tones accordingly.

Ultimately, all you need to draw surrealism is the ideas in your head. Give life to absurd ideas and ditch all the rules of art with this style.

Get Inspired for Art: Tips You Should Know

Sometimes even though you’re in your workspace surrounded by your favorite art supplies, you might find it hard to draw because of a lack of inspiration. Let’s go through some ways to get inspired to make art every day.

Create something every day: Spend some time every day to give life to a new idea, and it will, in turn, stimulate another new idea.

Clean your workspace: When your mind feels empty, get rid of a few things from your work desk, and start fresh. Make sure that your workspace has only things that you work with.

Don’t always rely on the internet: Sometimes, it can be overburdening to see other artists’ work. Try to draw inspiration from nature or other things you love rather than something you see online.

Write down your ideas in a journal: Fill it up with whatever incites emotions in you. You can later use this list to get ideas for your artwork. This can also be therapeutic for you.

Embrace your mistakes: Be brave enough to make mistakes and learn from them. Don’t let the hesitation hold you back.

Follow these easy steps to be infinitely inspired by yourself for your art.

How to create an illusion of depth in drawing

depth in drawing

A depth in drawing refers to the concept of making it look more dimensional and giving it a look of life. A lack of depth in drawing means it will be less than lifelike.

Some simple methods to create an illusion of depth in drawing are given below.

  • Volume: Drawing 3D objects shows more volume and indicates depth.
  • Size: Draw smaller objects farther away to create more depth in a painting.
  • Overlap: Draw images as one overlap over others to create more depth.
  • Position: Draw images as base positioned higher on the surface.
  • Edges: Draw foreground images with hard edges to give more focus. Draw background images with soft edges to look more blurry. 
  • Perspective: Draw images using linear perspective to give depth realistically.
  • Cast shadow: Draw cast shadows whenever necessary and adjust direction to the opposite side of a light source.
  • Horizon: Divide your drawing into the ground and sky by any medium like horizon line will give more depth.

Follow these simple methods and improve your drawing skills.

Drawing Tips: What You Need To Know About Perspective Drawings

Perspective drawing

Perspective drawings make objects look smaller as they move into the distance. It gives depth and dimensions to images.

Some tips for drawing perspective are the following:

  • Place the horizon line: It would be better to place the horizon line either very low or very high in drawing. When the horizon line is above character it gives users an impression of them being in a higher position. When the horizon line is below character it gives users an impression of them being in a lower position.
  • Utilize a one-point perspective: Try to avoid putting vanishing points right in the middle of the space of the drawing. It creates too much symmetry to draw and is a bit unnatural.
  • Create a two-point perspective: Place either one or both vanishing points outside the edge of the drawing. It gives a natural look to drawing. Also, try to up your skill using analog tools.

Incorporating these methods of perspective drawings will help you to improve your drawings.

Ink Drawing: Tips And Tricks You Should Know

Ink drawings

Ink drawing is a process of using pens to apply inks for drawing. Ink drawing materials include ink, drawing pens, graphite pencil, eraser, and many others. 

Below are some tips for your ink drawing:

  • Choose the right pen for your drawing.
  • Get your grip right: It is good to hold the pen close to the tip and keep pen and paper at about 45 degrees.
  • Start with pencil sketches: Pencil drawings are easy to erase and drawings are easy to erase after the ink is dry. Give more attention to the eyes when drawing with inks.
  • Explore different textures: Try using different contrasting textures for a visual treat.
  • Try to clump your hair while ink drawing.
  • Try experimenting with silhouettes. You can also try some crow quills for drawing. Crow quills help to create different lines ranging from fine to extremely wide lines. Also, try to use some clean lines for face drawings.
  • The most important thing is to be careful while choosing the color.

Follow these simple drawings and create beautiful ink drawings.

Art Block: How to Get Over It

Art Block

Anyone who has experienced an art block would know how badly it affects their creativity. Art block is essentially a lack of inspiration to create art. Let’s see some ways to overcome the art block.

Keep drawing: No matter how small or imperfect it feels like, it can stimulate your creativity to make something bigger and better.

Change your media: Try using new media. For example, try oil paints if you usually use acrylic. Be adventurous.

Try a different style: Find new artists and explore their art style. Try to follow their art style for a change.

Visit a new place: Go somewhere you have never been before. Unfamiliar sceneries and people can always inspire to create new art.

Keep a journal: Writing a daily art journal can help you be consistent with your works. Jot your ideas down in the book so that you can refer to it later when you need the inspiration to make a new piece of art.

Art block is almost unavoidable at times. But, following the above steps can help you to get through them relatively better.

Drawing Pen Art: Tips That You Should Know

pen sketches

While drawing with a pen, even a small wrong stroke can create undesirable blobs and marks that could ruin the whole drawing.

The common mistakes committed while working with pen and ink are detailed below.

Lack of control over the medium when compared to other mediums: Instead of anticipating an error in each step, learn to convert that error into a unique feature. When drawing realistically, the wrong values can make the picture look unpleasant. To solve it, practice consistently. Draw from observation and train your eyes to absorb each detail.

Prevent mistakes at all costs: It’s hard to correct mistakes and even harder to maintain workflow when errors happen. Prevent possible mistakes using a pencil underlining. 

Smearing is never a happy accident: Make sure your ink is dry before moving your drawing around. Using waterproof ink is also ideal for preserving the work.

In case any of the said mistakes happen, it can be corrected in the following ways:

  • Try to make the mistakes a part of your drawing.
  • Use inks, gouache, or acrylics to cover your mistakes.
  • Use gel pens for correcting smaller mistakes.
  • Remove the mistakes with a blade.
  • Avoid this mistakes to master pen art.

Keep these tips in mind before you start with your work.

The Fundamentals of Painting With Watercolors

watercolors

Watercolors are fun to work with, provided you know a few fundamentals about this medium. So, before you start painting, read the following things which any beginner watercolorist must know.

Do not draw on regular paper: Get thicker paper intended for watercolors. 100% cotton paper at least 200 gsm thick is the most suitable for watercolor art.

Get the right brand of watercolors: Always consider quality over quantity. Do not buy cheap student quality watercolor if you are serious about watercolor art.

Swatch your watercolors: Printed color swatches are deceiving. Make swatches of your color palette to ensure that you are using the right shade. 

Keep the pencil sketches light: You can also erase the linework using a kneadable eraser so that lines won’t show through the painting.

Keep brighter areas unpainted: You can also use masking fluid to protect the whites.

To make your painting perfect, plan your painting well, and build darker values with each layer of paint. Allow each layer to dry properly before painting the next layer. Replace the water frequently so that your brushes remain clean every time you switch colors.

Grab that drawing pad and color palette now, and unleash your creativity.