Drawing is an artistic skill that, once mastered, will bring you great pleasure, and over time it can even turn into an amazing hobby. You may think that in order to learn how to draw well, you need to take professional lessons, but this is not true. Simple drawing For your own pleasure, you can save money and improve your skills. To learn how to draw without taking a class, sketch with short strokes, apply shadows, highlight individual shapes in objects of various shapes, and practice as much as possible.
Steps
Part 1
Initial sketches- If you're just trying to draw, you don't need special ones yet. art materials. Any pen or pencil and paper on hand will do the job.
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Draw a general sketch with short strokes. Lightly press the pencil onto the paper. Concentrate on the line you are drawing, forgetting about the object itself. If you're drawing a dog, forget about it. Instead, start drawing its outlines. They represent the boundaries between the dog's body and its environment. Draw these outlines with short strokes.
- The shorter your strokes are, the more accurate your sketch will be.
- Don't criticize your work. Move quickly and perfect your strokes as you go.
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Draw in the details. Once the sketch of the object is ready in general outline, start drawing out its details. Try to identify distinctive features or marks on an object, for example, a chip on a cup or a tuft of hair on a dog, based on which you can place other nearby details in the drawing.
Apply shadows. Applying shadows will be a little more difficult, but they allow you to reflect the play of light and shadow in the drawing, and also create volume. Look from which side the object is illuminated by the sun. Then take a sharp pencil and evenly shade the penumbra areas. Once the pencil tip becomes dull, move on to shading the darker areas. To make the pencil leave darker strokes, press harder.
- You can practice applying shadows by drawing a smooth scale of shadows. Start drawing the scale from the edge of the sheet. Move the pencil back and forth as you work. As you work, begin to press harder on the pencil to gradually make the strokes darker.
- It is also useful to practice drawing a scale of achromatic colors. Divide the elongated rectangle into five sections. Leave the first section white. Paint the last section as much as possible dark color, as much as possible. In between these two sections (in the three central sections), distribute your strokes so that you get transitional (light to dark) shades of gray.
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Connect different geometric shapes into shapes. Learn to compose individual blocks from which the contours of an object are formed. For example, a table can be represented as a series of rectangles and cylinders, and a snake as a series of circles. As soon as you learn to identify individual geometric blocks in objects, you will be able to draw them even from memory (without nature).
- Spend some time looking at the objects carefully and trying to fit them into individual geometric shapes.
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Sketch the subject from different angles. Assemble a drawing object from various forms. While working on the sketch, erase the unnecessary ones and draw the necessary lines so that the object in the drawing acquires the required shape. Once you've finished drawing this sketch, try drawing the same subject from other angles. For example, in profile, a horse's head may consist of a square nose, a circle of cheeks and a triangle of ears, but the same head can be drawn from many other angles.
- Return to these sketches later to improve the rest of your drawings.
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Draw the selected object again. Next time, after correcting various errors in sketches from different angles, draw the object again. At first, you can even rely on prepared sketches. Build an object from basic geometric shapes, then draw its details and correct it possible mistakes. Once you have some experience, you will be able to draw this object in various poses, even from memory.
- It is quite acceptable to make some simplifications in the drawing, they may even become yours individual style. For example, remembering the location of every single muscle on the body can take too much time.
Part 3
Learning drawing techniques-
Explore information about various techniques ah drawing. Your local library should have books about different styles drawing from realism to Japanese manga. Similar books can also be purchased in bookstores. For free drawing ideas and demos, search "how to draw (subject)" on Google or YouTube.
- Anatomy books can also be a good source of information for realistic drawings. Learn to schematically draw the skeleton and muscles using them.
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Start working with additional materials. It's usually best to stick with one thing before you gain experience, such as pencil and paper. Then you can find alternatives that you like better and will help you develop own style, for example, start working with colored pencils or charcoal. In addition, even simple pencils come in different hardnesses, which allows you to expand your options for applying shadows.
- TM (HB) pencils are considered standard. T-category (H) pencils are harder and suitable for drawing light lines. M-category (B) pencils are softer and suitable for drawing darker lines.
- The degree of hardness and softness of pencils is expressed by a number. For hard pencils (T or H), the highest hardness is expressed as a nine, while for soft pencils (M or B), a nine indicates the highest softness.
- Vinyl erasers and scratch marks don't damage paper like regular rubber erasers, but they won't erase colored pencils. Due to the plasticity of such erasers (they have a dough-like consistency), they can be given any shape to accurately remove individual small details of a pencil sketch.
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Learn to imagine the drawing process itself. When you're not busy drawing, look around. Think about how you could reflect the environment in the drawing. For example, imagine how you apply shadows around drawn eyes, draw pupils and irises. This line of thinking will allow you to think about working on the lines and creating your own style.
- The goal is to learn to see details, not just general forms. Instead of thinking about the eye itself, think about the lines and colors that will allow you to draw that eye.
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Practice. Drawing is a lot like skills like playing the piano. musical instrument or cycling. As soon as you have free time, sit down and sketch. Practice shading and using different painting techniques. Work on sketching things from different angles. In between drawing sessions, simply spend time with objects that interest you so you can learn more about them without becoming overwhelmed.
- Make it a habit to draw every day. With this habit, it will be easier for you to force yourself to practice, and you will improve your skills faster.
- Don't be upset by the realization mistakes made. This perception stops many aspiring artists. Remember, even experienced artists continue to learn through their creativity.
- It will take time to master the precise coordination of hand movements. Keep practicing, making short strokes on basic geometric shapes, and the results will improve over time.
- There is no need to purchase expensive art materials. A notepad and simple pencils will be enough for studying.
- Developing the skill of identifying individual geometric shapes in objects also takes time, but it helps to make more accurate sketches.
Warnings
- Someone, or even you yourself, may try to talk yourself out of this idea. But don't listen to those who say you don't have talent. Drawing needs to be learned, and if you enjoy doing it, just keep working on it.
Choose an object to draw from life. If possible, find something meaningful to yourself, such as your favorite flower or your dog. On initial stage you will likely find it easier to draw from life than from memory or imagination. So if you draw something that you enjoy, it will help you concentrate.
What can you draw when you're bored? A question to which the site actually has a hundred answers, but let's talk about everything in order.
The simplest ideas for beginners
Not all of us can draw well, and even bother with complex designs in those moments when you’re just bored and don’t really want to. I offer a whole range of cool and interesting drawings, which you can draw in those moments when you or your child really want to take up drawing to kill boredom:
More ideas
What else can you draw when you're bored? Let's get creative.
- Comic
. Surely funny stories happened to you not so long ago, which you told your parents or friends more than once. What if you draw them in the form of a comic book? It is likely that your story will touch many people, and you will even become famous! You can find examples of comics on the Internet - today you can find almost anything online: how to call a Life operator, how to make a craft and how to fly an airplane.
- Your character from the game
. If you are a fan of any computer toy, be it Minecraft or League of Legends, you definitely have a favorite character that you wouldn’t mind drawing. Try to portray him in battle or, on the contrary, in some unusual situation - for example, as if your character had ended up in our world;
- You yourself
. Although drawing yourself is difficult, it is very interesting! Try drawing your own portrait in your favorite style - perhaps you will not only find something to draw when you're bored, but also have a unique and unusual avatar!
- Idol
. If you have a favorite actor, singer or just a cartoon character, why not draw him when you're bored? Drawing a loved one from the world of show business or just a fictional one cartoon character It will take your time perfectly and leave an excellent result in the form of pumped-up drawing skills and a cool drawing!
- Your girlfriend or boyfriend
. This is a great opportunity for you to practice your drawing skills and keep yourself busy when you're bored, and just imagine how pleased the person you drew will be!
- Relatives
. Mom, dad, grandparents, sisters and brothers - all these people who are very close to us always support us, no matter what situation we find ourselves in, and, of course, it will be very nice to draw a beloved relative with a pencil on paper or digitally.
- Pet
. If you have a favorite animal, then this is a great chance to learn how to draw an animal from life. Of course, it takes a long time to persuade your pet to sit quietly, but if suddenly you are lucky enough to have your kitty curled up to take a nap, don’t waste time, grab pencils, paper, an eraser, and start drawing!
- Something beautiful.
Think about what causes you the most emotions? Maybe a bright rainbow after rainy day, rays of sunshine in mom’s hair, some landmark, an elegant butterfly, or just something ordinary at first glance, but incredibly dear to your heart.
I’ll leave you with some cool drawings for inspiration - if you still haven’t figured out what to draw when you’re bored, just look at the gallery and choose what you like!
If you want to learn how to draw beautifully in a matter of days, then you have come to the right place. Since this article will help even the most inexperienced beginner master drawing techniques and learn how to draw with a pencil yourself.
The main thing in the article
Basic rules for drawing with a pencil
To learn how to draw, you need to master this art step by step. As with any creation (work), there are certain rules in drawing, without knowing which it will be very difficult to study this science. Let's get acquainted with the basic six rules of pencil drawing:
How to quickly learn to draw a person with a pencil?
Before starting work, you need to make some small mathematical calculations. For the proportional appearance of a drawn person, the head is taken as a basis. Next, the remaining parts of the body are calculated. For a realistic picture, men take: 
- from head to hips - size 2.5 heads;
- from hips to knee – 1.5 heads;
- from knees to heels - 2 heads.
For the image of a woman, the calculation changes slightly: 
- from head to hips - size 2 heads;
- from hips to knee – 2 heads;
- from knees to heels – 2–2.5 heads.
The most great attention is given to the face, since there are many lines that need to be conveyed with the greatest accuracy. You should draw a face step by step, more detailed instructions for drawing you will find below.
How to learn to draw landscapes with a pencil?
Landscape is artistic genre visual arts, the main subject of which is the image of the nature around us.
Let's take an example, How to draw landscapes with a pencil.
To get such a picture, you need to prepare a pencil and a white sheet of paper. Now we perform the following steps:
How to draw anime with a pencil?
Anime is a popular modern cartoon trend that not only teenagers, but also young artists have become hooked on. When drawing anime you don't need to stick to classical rules drawing a person. And this greatly simplifies the drawing process. The main elements in this drawing are the head, eyes and hair. And they are drawing cartoon anime So:
- Initially, an oval of the head is drawn. It's split in half straight line, then divide the same oval crosswise into three parts.
- Now you need to mark where the nose, mouth and most importantly – large eyes will be.
- Outline the eyes. There should be a distance of one eye between them. Start drawing big eyes with an arc upper eyelid. A peculiarity of the eyes of anime characters is the glare in the pupils, which is given a lot of attention.
- There is only one requirement for an anime nose - it must be small. Mostly artists perform it in the form of a tick.
- Eyebrows should be drawn above the large eyes. They are performed in classic style, in other words, these are two even arcs.
- Lips on a cartoon face are drawn with two small lines connecting to each other.
- As for the hair, it is drawn in triangular plates that fall chaotically and slightly cover the eyes.
How to learn to draw beautifully at home with a pencil?
The basic rule for drawing a house is use of straight lines.
Thanks to them, the structure comes out stately and beautiful. Also, when drawing a house, you should maintain a certain technique:
- D They draw in the same way as they build - from the bottom up.
- The basis of the future house is an ordinary rectangle. It is done in straight lines.
- Mark the foundation, drawing it across the entire width of the house.
- Doors, windows, corners and other elements are outlined in straight lines.
- According to the standard, the roof is drawn in the form of a triangle. If desired, it can be modified. The roof is decorated with tiles, since this particular covering in the picture looks very impressive.
- Now pay attention to the details of the house. You need to draw windows, shutters, doorway, steps, porch, etc.
- Shade the drawing, remembering the basic rules of drawing.
- Place trees, flowers, bushes around the house.
How to learn to easily draw animals with a simple pencil?
Drawing animals can be done not only with children. Lovely representatives of the fauna look great on canvas and are pleasing to the eye. So pick up a pencil and start drawing our amazing little friends.
How to draw a dog with a pencil?
Drawing a dog on paper is quite simple. The basis is:
- a circle that will act as a muzzle;
- oval - dog's body.
Afterwards the muzzle and paws are formed. All the details are applied and the dog is ready. 
How to draw a horse with a pencil?
To draw a horse, the artist must have certain skills, since not everyone will be able to convey on paper all the power and pride of this animal. Below is step-by-step instruction which will help you cope with this task. 
You can try to draw a simpler version, for example, a cartoon horse. 
How to draw a cat with a pencil?
The cat is a favorite pet in many families, so it is not surprising that artists often depict this animal. Cats look equally beautiful in different styles, while they are drawn quite simply, and the diagrams given below are in Once again prove. 
How to learn to draw people's faces with a pencil: basic principles.
Let's return to the topic of drawing a person, or to be more precise, consider the basic principles and stages of drawing: 
- Initially draw an oval . It is divided into 4 parts by the axes of symmetry. The axes should converge in the center of the oval.
- Now give an oval contour to the face. You should start from the chin, moving upward, drawing the cheekbone area and the temporal area. The lines need to be shaded with a piece of leaf. This will make the outline less heavy.
- Using barely noticeable lines, divide the face into three identical parts across. The tip of the nose should be located on the bottom line.
- The nose is drawn from the tip. Depending on the type, it can be round, square or pointed. Then we finish drawing the wings of the nose and the bridge of the nose.
- Mouth start draw from the curve of the upper lip , located opposite the edge of the nose.
- Since in a portrait the soul is conveyed through the eyes, we will dwell on this element of the portrait in more detail below.
How to learn to draw eyes well with a pencil?
Since the eyes play the most important role in a portrait, maximum attention should be paid to their drawing. When drawing this part of the face, consider the following:
How to learn to draw cars with a pencil?
The car is drawn with a pencil according to the following plan:
- The external outlines of the car are indicated depending on the brand.
- The resulting template is divided in half.
- The body is indicated by bold lines.
- Then the wheels are drawn.
- Next, windows, doors, mirrors.
- Car parts (headlights, bumper, etc.) are distributed.
How to draw clothing sketches beautifully with a pencil?
Many girls dream of becoming famous clothing designers since childhood. But without the skills of drawing clothing sketches, this is simply impossible.
A sketch is a vague drawing of a model that focuses on clothing, shoes, and accessories, leaving the silhouette of the person in the background.
Let's look at the basic rules for drawing clothes on models:
- Attention to detail. For the integrity of the image, you need to pay attention to all the little things, not forgetting to draw accessories, ruffles, patterns on the fabric.
- You should also take into account the density of the fabric, since it depends on how the item will fit on the model’s figure. Thick fabrics in the sketch look a little baggy, but light fabrics will flow around the figure.
- Thoroughly draw folds on the fabric, curves of the figure, to convey the realism of the clothing as much as possible. Folds on clothes are also depicted in different ways. On thin fabrics they are intermittent and small, but on thick fabrics the folds are more wavy.
- When coloring a picture give Special attention the depicted print. Take into account the folds, how it can break.
It is difficult to see the nuances of the cut in sketches, so each model should be accompanied by a flat model of the item, so that by examining it, you can identify all the nuances for creating the model.
How to learn to draw flowers with a pencil?
Each flower is unique, and conveying all its beauty on canvas is not so easy. We suggest you consider below step by step diagrams drawing flowers. 
Video: How to teach children to draw with a pencil
Pencil drawing lessons for beginners: video
How to draw easily step by step and by cells?
Using simple technology step by step drawing, even novice artists will be able to draw beautiful animal figures. Here's how to draw a happy puppy.
And so with the help geometric shapes you can draw a cow.
Start drawing a chicken that sits on eggs in a circle. Gradually the beak, eyes, wings and tail are drawn in.
And after the chicken has hatched the eggs, you can draw chickens.
Drawing a bat seems difficult at first glance, but if you use the step-by-step drawing technique, this cute bat will appear in your album in just 5 minutes. Also two circles, but the larger one at the bottom and the smaller one at the top will help you draw a cat.
Birds are difficult to draw, but parrots are even more difficult to draw. But three circles of the same size will help you cope with this task.
And this is how you can draw a mouse.
A very cute Cat Lady is drawn with a pencil, the auxiliary lines are carefully removed and the cat is painted. watercolor paints.
Anyone who knows how to draw circles, ovals and rectangles can draw a drawing of an elephant and a horse.
The difficult task of drawing a camel only seems difficult. But in the technique of step-by-step drawing there is nothing impossible.
Domestic animals sheep and pigs are drawn slightly differently. For a pig, first draw the face, and then the body. In a sheep, on the contrary, the body comes first and the muzzle ends.
The non-flying bird of the cold seas, the penguin, and the forest bird, the owl, are drawn in stages and painted with watercolors.
It’s easy to draw a snail if you draw a circle, then draw the snail’s body and add a curl on the shell, eyes and antennae.
To draw a duckling, just draw an oval to the circle and finish drawing the tail, beak and eyes and wings.
And this is how you can draw babies.
It happens that girls draw in albums, but do not know how to draw a beautiful face. A simple diagram will come to the rescue, where the correct proportions of the face are observed.
You don’t have to rack your brain for a long time about what hairstyle to draw for a girl in your diary, but simply choose the one you like and draw the same one.
You can also draw flowers in albums step by step. In order for the flower to have the correct shape, it is enough to make a circle or oval and complete the center and petals.
Beautiful and easy drawings in cells for sketching in a notebook and personal diary for girls 5 – 12 years old
The easiest way to draw is by cells. Of course, if you have a lined drawing. These cute kittens can appear in your diary if you draw them in cells.
For diary pages about love, a drawing with a boy and a girl exchanging hearts is suitable.
Another drawing on the theme of love is easy to redraw, but very interesting.
A bear holding a heart will decorate the pages of the girls’ diary, and the cells will help you draw it.
A smiling dog in flowers is suitable for those who like to communicate with dogs and draw them.
Drawings of girls in anime style will decorate the pages of the diary. It’s easy to redraw them cell by cell and color them with watercolors or felt-tip pens.
A more complex drawing with a girl, a butterfly and a strawberry. However, if you carefully count the cells and draw on them, success is guaranteed.
An anime style portrait of a girl in profile is also suitable for girls’ diaries. The drawing is transferred into cells; the color of the hairstyle and eyes of the drawn girl depends on the wishes of the owner of the diary.
A bear-boy and a bear-girl will remind you that friendship exists both between animals and between children.
Beautiful and easy drawings in cells for sketching in a notebook and personal diary for boys 5 – 12 years old
Both boys and girls love to draw cats. Such a cheerful cat will appear in an album or notebook if you draw it cell by cell.
Boys love to draw motorcycles. Let them not have a motorcycle yet real life, but you can always draw it in cells.
Space theme It’s also relevant for boys’ drawings, and they might like the astronaut cat.
Beautiful and easy checkered drawings for girls and boys: ideas, photos
A lion with a red mane, drawn in the cells with its fiery mane, will decorate any diary.
You can draw a whole picture from the cells. A lion, a zebra, a giraffe, an elephant and a hippopotamus are sitting on it in dense thickets.
These animals can be drawn separately. Blue elephant for sketching by cells
And this way you can draw and color a butterfly. She can decorate girls' albums.
If you complete the pond and reeds, you will get a picture with cheerful little frogs in the center.
A little fox drawn in cells can be drawn on fairy-tale pictures, or you can add flowers and grass and decorate your diary with such a picture. Tree for sketching by cells
A cheerful dragonfly will surprise you with its bright wings.
VIDEO: How to draw a bee step by step?
- Pencil. You will need the simplest and most intuitive drawing tool in any case. Even if you want to learn how to draw with paints, you will need a simple pencil to create a sketch. Not all pencils are the same. Some are for drawing, others for drawing, others for everyday tasks. It is better not to choose pencils that are too hard (3H, 4H and more): they can easily scratch and tear the paper.
- Watercolor. Water-soluble paint is known for its lightness, transparency and wide palette of shades. However, painting with watercolor is quite difficult: you need to learn how to use its properties and have a good idea of how the paint will behave on paper. On the other hand, if you put in enough effort, you will learn to draw in one of the most impressive techniques.
- Gouache. This is a thick matte paint that is diluted with water. It is perfect for the first steps in drawing. Thanks to the dense texture of gouache, dark tones can be easily covered with darker ones. This is very important, because then all the flaws and shortcomings can be corrected. Another good news: gouache is inexpensive.
- Pastel (dry). These crayons are used to create designs in soft colors. Due to its texture, pastel is very easy to shade, which allows you to create beautiful transitions between shades. You should immediately prepare for the fact that your fingers and table (at a minimum) will be stained with dust and pastel crumbs. The finished pastel drawing is easy to smudge, so the pigments on the paper will need to be secured with varnish or fixative.
- Markers (“copies”). We asked artist-illustrator and teacher Anna Rastorgueva to tell us about this instrument, relatively unknown to most. Because she draws with markers and does it great. We are not talking about text highlighters or simple felt-tip pens, but about alcohol markers, which, thanks to their base, do not deform the paper and allow you to achieve smooth transitions between shades.
There are many manufacturers of such instruments, including Japanese brands, German, Chinese, Korean, and Russian. The price also varies - from 160 to 600 rubles per piece, so even a novice author can pick up a small kit to get started.
The palettes of this type of markers are unusually wide, with an average of 300 colors, so in order not to get confused, you can purchase a ready-made set, usually selected on a specific topic: architecture, nature, manga.
What if I don't know what to draw?
If you don’t know what to draw, but really want to, copy, draw and repeat after others. There's nothing wrong with that. On the contrary, this is a normal process. Take a picture that you like, put it in front of you and start.
Video instructions help a lot. Unlike advice in the style of “draw a circle, add sticks, add details - you will get a great canvas,” these notes do not lie. You will see exactly how the drawing is created.
Remember: creativity is an international thing. Don't be afraid to check out the YouTube channels of English-speaking bloggers, even if you don't understand what they're saying.
Try starting with these channels:
- Proko. An absolute must-have for anyone who wants to learn how to draw. The artist clearly, simply, and clearly explains the most difficult thing - how to draw a person. This is the base and foundation, so the channel will probably be in your bookmarks.
- Mark Crilley. The artist works in a cartoon style, so those who want to learn how to draw cute, cute drawings will find everything they need here. The artist shows different techniques and in detail, frame by frame, demonstrates the simplest techniques for creating an effective drawing.
- Sycra. The channel will appeal to everyone who loves japanese cartoons and wants to learn how to draw anime. Video tutorials cover the topic inside and out: body structure, facial features, costumes and everything, everything, everything.
- Bob Ross. Bob Ross is an American television legend. Perhaps the most inspiring program in the world was created by this man, who for 11 years taught people to create miracles on canvas. You may not understand what Bob says in his soft voice, but you cannot resist the artistic talent that penetrates you directly from the screen.
In general, choosing a topic is the second fundamental issue after choosing the material. And there is no need to limit yourself here traditional genres: portrait, still life or landscape. These days, daily household sketches are becoming increasingly popular. Like Instagram photos, artists quickly capture exciting topics in their notebooks, publish them on in social networks, study and communicate together. The subject of interest can be absolutely any object - from macro-sketches of insects to travel diaries detailed in every detail.
Anna Rastorgueva, illustrator, teacher
"You Can Draw in 30 Days" by Mark Kistler. One of the most famous books about drawing. As many years of observations show, after reading it and, importantly, following the instructions, everyone learned to draw.
"Discover the Artist in You" by Betty Edwards. Those who have doubts can immediately be informed: from this book, about 2 million of those who considered themselves “armless” have already learned to draw. For those who do not believe in their own abilities at all and think that all artists know some secret beautiful paintings, we say: yes, the secret exists. It's hidden in this book.
“A sketchbook that will teach you how to draw!”, Robin Landa. As a teacher himself, Robin knows that students draw best on the pages of their textbooks. This is where fantasy comes into full play! Therefore, he created a book in which you can (and should) draw. And learn along the way.
I want to draw, but I don't have time or extra money
Eugenio Marongiu/Shutterstock.com The first step can be taken without much investment or effort. Download creative apps and get started right now.
Tayasui Sketches. One of the most beautiful and simple applications with numerous tools will teach you how to draw in different techniques.
Bamboo Paper. Wacom, a company that creates drawing tablets, has developed its own application for artists. Sketches, sketches and full-fledged drawings - this program will be needed at every stage of learning.
Zen Brush. This application will not help with learning, but it will put you in the right creative mood. With a brush you can draw characteristic strokes, and the finished drawing looks like a work of art from some distant eastern country.
We’ve sorted out the materials, the sources of inspiration, too, the books have been studied, and there are applications for the laziest. It's your turn - it's time to get down to business.
The main thing is to find what you really like. Go for it!
Anna Rastorgueva, illustrator, teacher