Among the most crucial things to learn once learning to draw is realizing the formula nearly every artist uses to fill a white sheet of paper with more and more lines until she completed the drawing. Though seemingly complicated this formula consists of several separate and simple tasks.Most artists follow intuitively these individual tasks stepwise in the right order. Unluckily while beginning to learn drawing, you maylack the experience to follow this strategy intuitively. But instead of waiting for the essential experience, you should use this shortcut. I created a scheme close to this formula most artists understand and stick with intuitively. It is composed of four steps: Placement, Outlines, Shapes, Illumination. These four steps are quite simple and follow the usual forumla to create a drawing. I shortened this system P-O-S-I †a POSItive way to learn drawing.So let’s get started:1. Placement of the elements in your drawing This is the opening move. Have a look at the whole scene, identify the different elements in the scene and seek to understand the scene. Concentrate on the different elements’ locations and their location in relation to each other. Finally if you think your understanding of the scene is adequate enough, mark on your paper wherever you would like to place the different elements.Try to be as precise as possible unless you have some experience in the art of pictorial composing. Experienced artists know how to modify the scene for a stronger impression without disturbing realism at the same time.2. Drafting Outlines of the different elementsNow you know where to lay out the elements it is time to sketch them as simple drafts. Look carefully at every part of the scene and try to realize its outline and form. Then depict its outline †only the silhouette †in a couple of faint lines. Limit yourself to the external lines of each object. Replicat this step for every element in the scene. Ideally you start with elements in the background and continue to the foreground parts.After completing the outline of the whole scene this way, it is time to have a final judging look (but not too judging though!). In this stage it is still easy to reposition any element or to correct one or another line. But don’t be too critical and keep in mind: every good drawing lives thanks to minor deviations from reality.3. Draw the Shape of the different elementsNow it is time to focus our attention to the elements’ shapes. Begin to add the inner structures of the scene’s parts with few and fine lines. Place strokes in the proper directions to follow and form the form of the parts of every element. For arced elements use curved lines and in flat parts use straight lines. But still restrict you to few and faint lines. Just try to get the contours decently. As there are still only thin lines on the paper you still have the chance to correct a line here and there.Finally your picture has gained a stronger perspective and depth appearance. Time to fill the blanks and complete your drawing! 4. Illuminate your DrawingUntil now we merely worked on arraying the scene using faint lines. Sketching the outlines and contours of all elements in the scene we produced a line drawing that depicts the scenes lookout faithfully. But for creating real naturalism something is missing: texture, light and shadow. In that last step we'll fill out these elements that generate volume and depth to our drawing and ultimately make it look naturalistic. So in this last step our opportunities for completing a outstanding picture are great but as well is the risk of damaging it beyond repair.What to do? Once again look carefully at every part of the scene. Notice how light, shadow and the different surfaces are forming the shapes and what the colors look like. Most important is the surface †as even if a surface is all one color, its structure and texture creates different shades.The same applies to shadows. Look how the elements cast shadows on themselves and on elements close to them. Add these shadows by first drawing their countour, adjusting and honing it and then filling it with darker tones.While adding all the shadows and textures to your picture all of the time seek to draw from the background to the foreground. Whilst doing this go from brighter tones and light contrasts in the background to dark tones and contrasts in the foreground. This ensures a stronger volume and depth.Congratulations! After this terminal step you completed your drawing. Go one step back and enjoy. And keep in mind: when the little critic in you comes to life, put your drawing away, the more you'll love it in a few months!
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