8 Useful Drawing Hacks

Creativity and being artistic is innate in everyone. It is a quality that exists in every human, but the degree of our creativeness depends on the work we put into honing it. Our artistic side can be seen in different art forms such as painting, photography, sculpture, literature, dance, and music, to name a few. But one of the most common ways of expressing our creativity is through drawing. 

Drawing can be a hobby, a profession, or a way for people to express themselves. It also has various health benefits such as enhanced communication, increased intelligence, and improvement of fine motor skills. Art also has a positive effect on well-being as it promotes patience, self-esteem, innovation, and positivity.

Drawing entails the production of images in any medium by using ink, graphite, or chalk. Whichever materials you prefer, here are some useful hacks you can use when drawing.

1. Prepare Your Mindset

Build up your drawing skills by preparing yourself. Exercise your mind to see the shapes and the lines that make up an object that you want to draw. Our minds are built to analyse, and this may sometimes interfere with our creativity.

A good practice is to copy an object, portrait, or painting upside down. This process will enable your brain to see the shapes and lines rather than recognising what the output should be. The different aspects of the image will be more explicit, and inaccuracies will be noticeable.

Another technique to prepare your mind is iterative drawing. Practice drawing fundamentals and vary your approach to identify which style suits you. You can start by watching some lessons on how to draw cute stuff. Try repeating the steps shown and experiment on your approach. With each iteration you make, you can determine what works for you and how you can improve your work.

2. Organise Your Stuff

Organise your graphite pencils and paintbrushes to access the right tool you need quickly. When you arrange your tools, you can identify which pencil grade is suitable for your drawing. You will focus more on drawing rather than looking for the right tool or shade. This also holds for paintbrushes which could be arranged in rank order.

Organising your brushes beforehand will also enable you to identify if you have the right paintbrush to complete your masterpiece. 

3. Create Your Shade of Black

The available shade of black in a paint set or the pencil usually results in a flat and artificial look for shadows. Try to achieve a better look by layering dark colours into each other, such as the colours purple and blue. In painting, mix the dark colours in a palate to achieve a better shade of black.   

4. Use Multiple Water Containers

Using two separate containers of water for cleaning your paint brushes will help save time and the frequency of changing water. Try to wash your paintbrush in one container, then clean it a second time on the other receptacle. With this hack, you will ensure that your brush is thoroughly clean, and the frequency of water change is reduced. 

5. Cleaning Your Eraser

Using a dirty eraser can ruin, instead of saving your drawing as it can leave unsightly marks in your work. Ensure that you have a clean eraser by rubbing it onto sandpaper to remove the dirt. Regular cleaning is advised, so better have a piece of sandpaper available for maintaining your eraser.

6. Use Visual Reference

It is advantageous to have a reference for the image you intend to draw. You can accomplish this by snapping a picture of the image or the subject you want to draw. If you want to perform the techniques of an artist, obtain a copy of the piece from magazines or postcards. Having a reference will enable you to study as well as compare the proportion, colour, and components.

7. Drawing in Perspective

Create a simple tool to help you draw in perspective easier. Using butterfly clips, attach a cut elastic band to your canvass on both ends, then attach a paper clip to the elastic band. You now have a flexible ruler for drawing and measuring lines in perspective. 

8. Create Your Own Compass

A compass is helpful when trying to draw a perfect circle or a smooth curve. Instead of purchasing, you can simply create one using a strip of paper with small holes on both ends. If you need to draw a circle or a curve, insert a pencil on the one end to hold the paper in place. Insert another pencil on the other end and move it a circular motion to achieve a curve or a circle. 

Whether you’re an artist or a newbie trying to learn how to draw, the hacks mentioned above can benefit you when creating your masterpiece. Exercise your mind and identify techniques that will work for you. It is also helpful to have your tools arranged, cleaned, and ready so you can concentrate on your work.

Moreover, you can build simple tools to assist in creating the elements of your drawing or make it better.