Drawing for the Absolute Beginner

Art is a hobby that I aspire to become relatively good at because I want to be able to draw my favorite characters (to not turn out rubbish) and I really admire art in general. To accomplish this goal however, I have to start with the basics. Upon reading Drawing for the Absolute Beginner by Mark and Mary Willenbrink I learned that there is a difference between sketching and drawing. “A sketch is a work in progress. You may sketch to observe your subject matter or to resolve questions regarding a drawing you are working on…On the other hand, drawing is an activity that is begun with the intention of producing a finished piece of art.” (Willenbrink 14). Before reading this, I would jump right ahead to drawing rather than starting with a simple sketch.

For my first drawing I have chosen to sketch and draw a cat. I followed the first step which was to sketch out basic shapes (70).

Using this first step was a guide to the following instructions that came next. Refining, rounding, and creating details was easy because I had a sketch as a guide. I would’ve gone straight to making the eyes, face, and details right away if I hadn’t known any better.

Final Product:

From this first experience I have learned that it is very helpful to sketch basic shapes which will ultimately help guide form a feature (for example: the cat’s eyes). I also learned that it is recommended to do more sketches, and to do them before you start drawing. It serves as practice and helps you become more familiar of structures and proportions.

Question: Is art a skill that is achievable through hard work and lots of practice? Or is it a skill that some people are simply born with?

Willenbrink, Mark, and Mary Willenbrink. Drawing for the Absolute Beginner: A Clear & Easy Guide to Successful Drawing. Cincinnati, OH: North Light, 2006. Print.