Picture this. You’re in the middle of math class. You’re drowning in boredom, and you’ve got no friends to help get you to shore. Your sheet of notes is looking awfully blank.

Let’s fix that. You get your pencil and start doodling with this amazing idea of a dragon in your head. However, as you’re finishing, you notice it isn’t coming out like that great idea in your head.

Why didn’t your great idea translate well to paper? I’ve seen a lot of people in this situation, and I have some tips for you.

Disclosure

Now before I start, I’d like to disclose the following information I’m about to give is not in any way a strict guide to become better at drawing. Art is a free and vast subject, and almost any method is a valid one.

You can pick the information you like and disregard anything else and still get to the same place as anyone who may choose to follow all the tips I give.

Classes Available

If you don’t already take art here at Miami High, then you’re missing out. Art teacher Ms. Lee teaches Drawing 1, Painting 1, and Portfolio, and her colleague Mr. Perez teaches Drawing 2, and 2-Dimensional Art.

Both Drawing 1 and Painting 1 are identical and are meant for students who have never taken an interest in art, or those who have an interest but haven’t had much practice. Portfolio is a much more advanced art class meant for higher level students.

Common Mistakes

   When not taught properly, or at all, students usually have flaws in their methods of drawing. Despite art being what you make it, sometimes there are better ways to use the pencil.

Although this is Ms. Lee’s first year as a Stingaree, she’s been teaching art for many years. Throughout her time teaching, one of the most common weaknesses she sees is that, “A lot of kids start with the outline while drawing. This just makes mistakes worse. You’ve got to start with lights, and then finalize with darks.”

In other words, kids like to draw the silhouette of something instead of structuring it first. Doing this restricts your freedom to draw. Using multiple layers, however, for your drawing provide more accuracy.

When starting with light lines, you can slowly begin to see the final image and make any edits before you’re finished. More importantly, when you use proper structure, everything comes out more proportional.

Developing an Art Style

It’s a great thing when amateur artists decide to go out and work on something born on the plane of their creativity. When some people draw, they only copy from other artists (which isn’t bad at all). However, this could prevent budding artists from developing their own sense of style.

Mulitple award-winning artist Brad Arrieta, a Miami High senior, advises, “If you want to get your own art style, you have to draw from inspiration. For example, if you like a certain artist, draw inspiration from their work.”

When artists have problems developing their own art style, Brad says the solution is through practice. When you practice – and this includes anything, scenery, nature, cartoons, anything – you gain the tools you use to draw. These tools could be how to draw a good nose, how to structure a good torso, or even how to shade well.

You also gain different styles of that tool, or different brands of that tool. When you draw from your own creativity, you use the brand of tool you like, and you craft your piece. The reason why people feel like they have trouble developing their own art style is because they haven’t yet found a style or brand of tool that fits them, or one that they feel comfortable with.

Remedy this by drawing from different sources. If you prefer a realistic style, practice drawing portraits and the human body. If anime fits better on you, then practice pieces from different animes. Whatever you like, practice that.

Practicing

Practice makes perfect, right? Aspiring artists out there may wonder what the best practice to improve their skills is. Honestly, while there are drills and things to do to sharpen your skills, the best thing you can do to improve your ability to draw IS to draw. What I mean by that is drawing whatever you want to get good at. Experience is invaluable.

Ever since Brad Arrieta started to draw, he’s made it a serious hobby. “I draw whenever I can. When I’m at home and I feel the urge to draw, I’ll draw,” he said. Because of the time he’s put into drawing anything, he has built up his skill. “I wouldn’t practice in the traditional sense. I would practice by drawing, trying out different mediums,” he said.

Now if you really want to put in the work and get into drills and methods, Ms. Lee says you can practice a value scale. “Values are used in any material. Kids must know their values,” she said. The scale helps develop your ability in shading, and the transition from dark shades to light shades.

To throw in my own opinion, I’d say drawing mannequins of different shapes and sizes and still lifes are great ways to increase your skill. Mannequins are great to familiarize yourself with the human body, and still lifes can help out your ability to shade. If mannequins are too simple for your taste (or skill level), try drawing portraits or detailed mannequins with muscle groups.

Final Thoughts

   When writing this article, I identified troubles I’ve had as an artist and tried to provide solutions. However, I understand that I may have missed out on some people’s needs.

   If you’re one of those people, you can look for Miami High art teachers Ms. Lee or Mr. Perez and ask them questions. If you weren’t aware, they’re located in the first floor of the fourth building, the two sets of double doors next to each other. If they can’t help, go on YouTube. Draw with Jazza is a reputable channel that I visit when I have trouble myself.