DRAWING EXERCISE FOR BEGINNERS: HOW TO DRAW LONG STRAIGHT LINES
Here's a quick tip on drawing lines. As always, practice is key, but I hope that this little trick will help you with your lines. Read the explanations and watch the video. Your lines will be shaky and wobbly at first, but I promise they will get better!
Exercise 1
Draw the first line parallel to the top edge of your paper.
The second line is parallel to the first line. When drawing it, try to look at the first one and at the one you're drawing at the same time.
Draw some more lines, then go a little faster.
Make sure the distance between all your lines is the same.
IMPORTANT: Don't hold your breath! Keep breathing nice and slow. Move your whole arm from the shoulder, not just your hand and wrist.
Exercise 2
Draw a vertical line parallel to the left edge of your sheet.
Repeat the above steps, moving your whole arm as your pencil moves down.
IMPORTANT: Draw lines in one long movement instead of a few short movements.
And now a little trick:
When drawing a line on the right-hand side of your sheet of paper: use your pinky to guide your hand. It's a bit tricky to explain - so just watch the video! And make sure the edge is not too sharp and you don't get a paper cut!
There are many little tricks that make a big (and quick!) difference in your drawings. I share them in my weekly newsletter and in my workshops. Would you like to learn from me? Click on the image below to subscribe to my newsletter and get my FREE 2.5-hour workshop on the basics of urban sketching.
