How to Draw Versatility in Art

How to Draw Versatility in Art

Howdy! You can grab a writing utensil, or not! Today, there are only a few exercises. What I do recommend is that you sit back, look at the pretty pictures, and let me learn you a thing or two about art. Now that we know how to draw tactilely (because you’ve definitely read and exercised parts 1 and 2), it’s time to consider how to make drawing and art a part of your everyday life.

I talk about versatility in art when referring to gratification. Think about why you wanted to learn to draw in the first place. What drew you to it? Obviously, this domain is very subjective; there are no wrong answers. Being able to draw well can make your notebooks cute, your mental health stable, and your emotions secure. Whatever drew you to make art is a sign that it is valuable to you and fills something in your life. I have some advice on how you can make it accessible.

Drawing from Memory

Every single day, you can look up from your phone and see something flabbergastingly resplendent. And some people actually do it! I like art because it lets me incorporate the beauty of the world around me into more of my life. I get more time in the sun when I can relive it and create more of it. I can do all of that when I remember it. (I do not have a photographic memory. This is for people without a photographic memory.) 

For instance, this is Catalina. Say hi. I am trying to remember what she looks like, but cats are complicated creatures sometimes. You could try to remember your childhood house, your grandma’s favorite outfit, or someone you see all the time that has an odd aesthetic you can’t quite place—just as long as it's something you’ve seen from a lot of angles. 

Map out the broad shape of what you’re trying to remember. Don’t think too much about it. I’m using this dying marker. You should go for the silhouette because that is likely the first thing you retrieve from your internal snapshots of the thing. When you have rough shapes of the whole subject, you can fill in what you remember when you remember it (you don’t have to “save it” until you “get there” proximally). 

You can use guidelines if you’d like. I remember what her eyes look like because I’ve seen them many times. I remember her stripe patterns on her legs, and I remember the pattern on her face. I also remember her not looking like a collection of scribbles, but practice is going to be shotty like this. I want you to feel comfortable starting with garbage art. Fortunately, I take lots of pictures of her, so I can compare and correct after I’ve got everything. But what if you saw a new thing that you want to draw?

Drawing from Imagination

When you really think about it, imagination is the same as memory. It’s an image that exists in your head. I include starstriking experiences that you’ve only seen once, because the picture is grainy but still holds the essence of that impression. Dreams are also in this category since distortion and a lack of continuity are common. The key here is to capture what about it struck you with stars. Why did that stranger in the airport make you stop? How did the light catch that dumpster so majestically?? What about that dream hugged you so tightly? 

What I’m describing here is this model I saw at my friend’s fashion week last year. Do loose sketches. Capture movement, particles, light, everything. Don’t think too much.

I only saw this woman for like 40 seconds of my life. I tried to catch pictures. I failed. All I have is this strike in the face of how her dress was neon green and, like, scaly or something? Making light of this tragedy, the graininess of the vision forces one to infer. That inference can aid the recreation of the vibe you were going for. Most of the time! If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. Don’t burn out on something you’re not enjoying trying to figure out. I didn’t have the energy to do a finished product, so I didn’t torture myself.

A PSA on Stylization

You might have noticed that I see NO calculable superiority in hyper-realistic art and, in fact, despise it to some degree. I did this at the start of freshman year because Ms. Busher told me to, and then I never did it again (Ms. Busher said I was very talented, but she understood).

Imagination is something that isn’t bound by conventions like realism and physics. I encourage you to take advantage of the fact that you’re not a printer by being diverse with your stylization. 

Stylization is a rhythm of shapes, colors, textures and general iconography that people often use to define their art pieces.

CAUTION: this should not be confused with drawing-something-a- certain-way-because-you-don’t-know-how-to-draw-it-any-other-way. That is called cowardice, and I am willing to work through that with you.

The misconception that goes around is that you should solidify a personal, original artstyle. “Solidify” (and related vocabulary) is a RED FLAG when referring to subjectivity. You should feel encouraged to imitate, deviate, amalgamate, modulate, authenticate, and consecrate to your heart’s content.

I have one last piece of advice for others who are unskilled with the camera. If you are skilled with the camera, you are making the world a better place, and I love you. Won’t you share that memory card with me, please? 

To the rest of you: When you are hit in the face with the absurd radiance that dwells across every inch of this fine earth, just look at it (don’t be creepy though, that’s not cool). Try to know it. What about it is so outrageous? You already know how much you suck at taking pictures of things. Stop wasting time and storage space on what doesn’t bring you joy. Make art, you’ll live a happier life. Thank you.

Tutorials you might stick around for in the future:

• How to Draw Humans

• The Foundations of Conceptual Art

• How to Draw Perspective and Scene-Setting: drawing from real life and more!

• The VALUE of COLOR and THEORY