Drawing can be difficult. Drawing with a pencil can be really difficult. There are common problems artists face when drawing with a pencil. When you achieve pencil and line control, the benefits are astounding. It is difficult, however. But never fear, there are great tips to help you around these trouble areas.



The first tip I would suggest is to start watching how you lay down your pencil. You want to be observant and see how your pencil is hitting the page. It sounds simple, doesn't it? You can improve your drawings just by observing how your pencil is laying down graphite.



I would also suggest that you keep your lines varied. What does this mean? It means that you can vary how thick or thin (weight) the line is by pressing harder on the pencil or by allowing the pencil to lift. You may think to yourself, duh! It's sad to say that a lot of artists don't do this enough. Reducing or adding weight to your drawings can really help your drawings come alive.



When shading, try using a small circle motion to give your drawing added texture. Always shading from side to side is not a great idea.



Smudges a problem with your pencil drawings? Get a kneaded eraser. These are the best for erasing and eliminating little smudges along the way. Knead your eraser so that the shape is a ball with a pointed tip on the end.



Lastly, keep your pencils sharp! Granted sometimes, as an artist, you'll want a duller edge, but most of the time keep em' sharp. I go through many pencils a week because I am continually sharpening them.



When you learn pencil and line control, you will be able to draw pieces that mean something to you, even if they are never seen by anyone else. You'll be able to more fully capture the essence of what or who you are drawing and achieve a likeness like never before.



These short tips will help you in your drawing endeavors and keep you from making some mistakes. If you currently struggle with drawing well and having good line control, you should definietely try these tips. Also, doing some line variation drills will help. Drawing can be difficult but if you start with a basis you have a strong foundation to build upon.Try these tips and you'll see your drawings come alive.

Todd Harris is a master artist who is working as a concept art director for a multi-billion dollar company. He is trained in the Florence Academy Method and loves art. Learning2draw.com is a resource web site devoted to aspiring artists wishing to explode their figure drawings to new heights. For more information on how to draw people and faces visit http://www.learning2draw.com . You can also sign up for a free newsletter with hundreds of tips, tricks and techniques of the masters. To see more free tips visit http://www.learning2draw.com/how.html .

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