Five Basic Steps to Discover Drawing

1. Practice holding your pencil with only your thumb and middle finger. Your index finger should be used to apply pressure.

2. Find the composition by using geometric shapes to discover form.

3. See the contour line that holds your composition within the boundaries of your page.

4. Use the shading techniques that include hatching, cross hatching, and stippling. Use a blending tool, a stump, your finger, or a piece of paper to allow for an even lighter tone or value of grey.

5. Add color using only primary colors,(blue/red/yellow) and then neutral colors of black or white. First apply the blue, then red, then yellow. Use the same pressure for each pencil laying down layers of color until the color and value appears that you desire. Add black last as a means to glean a darker value or shadow. Use your eraser as if it were a brush filled with white paint allowing you to pull out the highlights within a drawing.