Total Beginner Drawing

Learning how to draw is a rewarding journey that can be approached in many ways, depending on your goals and preferred learning style. Paintology has borrowed many of the techniques familiar with traditional materials to bring you this Total Beginner app.

Ways to Learn with Paintology:

Paintology has been built from the bottom up to identify unique ways that any beginner can learn to draw. This can be on your phone or tablet. Developing these art techniques are key to building these important skills that can take you much further.

Draw from Doing: This can help you become more proficient in drawing and Paintology has many modes of drawing that builds on this

Strokes Tutorials: What you see and what you draw needs to be congruent. This unique method of drawing helps you attain these essential skills

Trace Drawing: This way of drawing helps you to see the underlying image that you draw over on your phone or tablet

Paint by Number: This is an excellent way for you to build confidence in your coloring and shaping your drawing strokes and skills

Block Color: This is unique to Paintology helping you to rapidly draw on your phone without having to worry about making mistakes. It opens up creativity on a whole new level

Drawing subjects: To be passionate about drawing, people have an affinity for various subjects, such as their pets, portraits, landscape, objects and more

Fundamental Concepts in Drawing:

Before diving into specific techniques, understanding these core concepts will significantly improve your drawings:

Observation: The most crucial skill. Drawing is less about what you think something looks like and more about what it actually looks like. Train your eye to see shapes, lines, values, and relationships.

Line: The basic building block. Explore different types of lines: contour lines (outlines), gestural lines (expressive and quick), cross-hatching (for shading), etc.

Shape: Objects are made up of basic geometric shapes (circles, squares, triangles, cylinders, cubes, cones). Learning to break down complex forms into simpler shapes makes them easier to draw.

Form (3D): Understanding how to represent three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface. This involves light, shadow, and perspective.

Value: The lightness or darkness of a color or tone. Value creates the illusion of form, depth, and light. A strong value range makes drawings more impactful.

Perspective: Creating the illusion of depth and distance on a flat surface. This involves vanishing points and how objects appear smaller as they recede into the distance.

Composition: The arrangement of elements within your drawing. Good composition guides the viewer's eye and creates a visually pleasing image.

Proportion and Anatomy: Understanding the relative size of different parts of an object or figure. Essential for drawing realistic people, animals, or even still life.

Draw Regularly: Use the Paintology app to make many of the fun 600 drawing exercises and watch yourself improve. Eventually you will be making photo realistic drawings too.

Tips for Success:

Start Simple: Don't try to draw a masterpiece on day one. Focus on basic shapes, lines, and values.

Practice Consistently: Little and often is better than sporadic long sessions. Even 15-30 minutes a day can make a big difference.

Be Patient and Persistent: Drawing takes time and effort. You will make "bad" drawings – embrace them as learning opportunities. Don't get discouraged.

Learn from Mistakes: Analyze what went wrong and try to correct it next time.

Get Feedback: If possible, share your work with other artists or a teacher for constructive criticism.

Enjoy the Process: Drawing should be fun and a way to express yourself.