BASIC ART LESSON ONE

WHAT IS ART?

Art can be described in many ways. Google described art as the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.

TRADITIONALLY

Art emphasized self-expression and avoided skill building for fear of cramping creativity.

Whether you are learning to draw by yourself or guiding beginner students through art lessons, the strategies are similar.

For beginners, I want you to know that learning something new is both rewarding and frustrating.

HOW TO HOLD PENCIL

There is no single right way to hold a pencil, and whatever works for you is probably the best choice. 

Try experimenting with various grips, as different methods will produce different effects and you may find some more comfortable than others.

The way to find out what each drawing instrument can do is to simply begin making marks on paper. This is known as mark-making.

Don't try to make your drawing look realistic. Just think of it as a line in space. Your drawing can be completely flat, with no perspective. 

Don't worry about shadows or highlights. All you are interested in is the shape of the wire.

Below I look at four different kinds of grips for drawing;

• the basic tripod grip
• a basic drawing grip
• the overhand/gesture grip
• an extended underhand grip

Remember, and I want you to know, this is an exercise, so it doesn't matter what the final result looks like. Just take your time and observe carefully. Honestly, you are training your mind and hand to work together.