Learn How To Draw Using The POSI Formula
by RuedigerOne of the most crucial things to learn once learning to draw is understanding the process nearly every artist uses to fill a blank sheet of paper with more and more lines till she completed the drawing. Although seemingly complicated this process consists of several separate and simple tasks.
Many creative persons pursue intuitively these individual tasks step-by-step in the proper order. Unfortunately when beginning to learn drawing, you lack the experience to adopt this strategy by instinct. But rather than waiting for the necessary experience, you can use the following shortcut.
I created a scheme around this process most creative persons understand and follow intuitively. It is composed of four steps: Placement, Outlines, Shapes, Illumination. These four steps are quite simple and pursue the common 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 first step. Have a look at the whole scene, identify the individual elements in the scene and seek to understand it. Focus on the individual elements' placements and their position in relation to each other. Finally if you believe your understanding of the scene is adequate enough, mark on your sheet wherever you would like to lay out the individual elements.
Seek out to be as precise as possible unless you possess some competence in the art of pictorial composing. Advanced artists know how to alter the scene for a stronger impression without hurting realism at the same time.
2. Drawing Outlines of the individual elements
Now you know where to place the elements it's time to outline them as simple outlines. Look carefully at each part of the scene and attempt to understand its outline and shape. Then depict its outline - only the silhouette - in a couple of light lines. Restrict yourself to the outer lines of each object. Replicat this step for every element in the scene. Ideally you start with elements in the background and move on to the foreground areas.
After finishing the sketch of the whole scene this way, it's time to have a concluding judging look (but not too judging though!). In this stage it's still easy to reposition any element or to correct one or another line. But don't be too critical and keep in mind: every great drawing comes alive thanks to slight deviations.
3. Draw the Shape of the individual elements
Now it's time to turn our attention to the elements' anatomies. Start adding the inner structures of the scene's parts with only few and faint lines. Aim the strokes in the right directions to travel along and form the form of the parts of every element.
For curved elements use curving lines and in flat parts use straight lines. But still limit you to only some and light lines. Just attempt to catch the contours properly. As there are still only thin lines on the sheet you still have the opportunity to correct some lines.
Finally your drawing will have gained a more substantial perspective and three-dimensional appearance. Time to fill the white spaces and complete your drawing!
4. Illuminate your Drawing
Until now we only worked on laying out the scene utilizing light lines. Forming the outlines and contours of all elements in the scene we produced a line drawing that portrays the scenes outlook reliably.
But for creating real naturalism something is lacking: texture, light and shadow. In that last step we will fill out these elements that give volume to our drawing and finally make it seem realistic. So in this step our chances for completing a outstanding drawing are high but as well is the risk of damaging it beyond fix.
What to do? Again look carefully at each section of the scene. Note how light, shadow and the different surfaces are forming the textures and what the colors look like. Most important is the surface - as even if a surface is completely one-colored, its structure and texture creates different nuances.
The same goes to shadows. Look how the elements cast shadows on themselves and on elements around them. Add these darker areas by first sketching their countour, correcting and perfecting it and then filling it with dark shades.
When adding all the shades and textures to your drawing all of the time seek to draw from the background to the foreground. While following this strategy travel from brighter tones and light contrasts in the background to dark tones and contrasts in the foreground. This creates a more substantial three-dimensionality.
After this final step you completed your drawing. Go one step back and enjoy. But keep in mind: if the little critic in you comes to life, put your drawing away, the more you'll enjoy it in a few months!