Tag: pencils

7 Drawing Tips for Beginners

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7 Drawing Techniques for Beginners

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Drawing is a fairly simple and straightforward skill which is something anyone can enjoy at any time. It is also relatively cheap, as you can start with just paper and pencil. If you enjoy it, you could go on to acquire skills with pens, Tablets and computer software.

It used to be hard to get information on how to start sketching and drawing, unless you attended art classes, nowadays, the search engines provide not only information but also videos on all the techniques and materials you need.

Drawing And Sketching Pads

When buying paper for drawing, consider whether you are going to be practising (sketching) or whether you want to create something to keep longer term. If you want to practise drawing, then cheaper, thinner paper is fine. This is normally made from 60 or 65lb paper (roughly about the same weight as printer paper or copy paper). But if you want to create a finished piece, then you really need to use 80lb or 100lb paper. Finished drawings will usually have had a lot more time spent on them and the paper needs to be able to stand up to this kind of usage, also heavier paper will last longer and give a better end result that you can be proud of and display. Of course, the heavier paper is more expensive or you get fewer sheets in a pad. It can be useful to have two pads available for drawing, a thinner paper for practising and a thicker paper for your finished work. Choose quality paper for finished drawings. Sketches and rough work can be on cheaper, thinner paper, to save money.

7 Tips For Improving Drawing

Try these seven tips for boosting your drawing skills:

1. If you are drawing and you are right-handed, make certain that the light originates from your left side. This stops both hands’ shadows falling onto your paper and making it difficult to see what you are drawing.

2. Practise drawing lines of all sorts, straight lines, curves, scribbles, etc. Get control of your hands with practise, so they will do what you need.

3. Continue to develop your drawing skills and improving your control step by step by drawing circles, oblongs, and different thicknesses of line.

4. Shading is the next skill to develop, this is governed by using differing amounts of pressure with your pencil, so you can create the impression of darkness and thickness.

5. Continue to practise drawing circles and oblongs, to get them correct. Keep a record of your attempts, to see how you are improving.

6. Determine which is your weakest area(s) and concentrate on improving this /these. Develop your own individuality.

7. Use good quality materials. You can start out with just a decent sketch pad and 4B and 6B pencils. Don’t compromise on quality.

Video Of Drawing A House

The video below provides simple techniques that can be easily learnt through trying to draw a house. Practise the techniques shown, then draw and color your own picture. It is labelled as “for kids”, however, the techniques shown can be used by anyone wanting to learn to draw.

 

Colored Pencils Or Markers

What Are The Best Coloring Tools For Adult Coloring?

When adult coloring books first started coming out on the market, there was honestly some snickering going on in society. What prideful adult would possibly waste time sitting somewhere doodling like they were a child? Fortunately, some people were willing to try them, and in fact, many were wanting to do them. Coloring is one of the fondest memories many people have from their childhoods, and as adults get old enough to get nostalgic for their youth, adult coloring books give them the chance to go back in time.

Once you think about it, the concept starts making a lot of sense. The benefits and appeal to children are the same as for adults. Coloring is a chance to make something beautiful and creative happen right in front of you, giving you a sense of accomplishment in making something pretty and beautiful. Like all good art, it’s a chance to enjoy a creative outlet in a relaxing break from being always plugged in and on the go.

If you’re new to this though, whether you bought a book yourself or got one as a gift, you might be wondering what are the best coloring tools for adult coloring? It’s a rather subjective question, so keep reading to learn 4 primary contenders to consider, along with their advantages and disadvantages:

1) Markers

Pros of markers: If you are adult enough to suffer arthritis, carpal tunnel, or similar hand issues, then markers spare you a lot of the pressure needed to fill areas in completely. Markers also fill areas quickly, so coloring goes faster.

Cons of markers: You can count on markers to bleed through your paper. You might need to put barriers between pages in your coloring book to prevent the next page from getting saturated and ruined. Double-sided pages are often a lost cause on the back sides.

2) Watercolor Pencils

Pros of watercolor pencils: If you need to do things like blending, then watercolor pencils are great. You can add elements of realism to any colored picture using these.

Cons of watercolor pencils: These have a serious learning curve. Apply too much, and you get your paper soggy with colors running together. On the other hand, not enough water just winds up looking like any other colored pencil. Your images need to be on thick paper to start with, since thin pages are going to buckle when they are wet.

3) Gel Pens

Pros of gel pens: If you need to handle fine details or want fun options like glitter or metallic finishes, then these are a great way to go. When you are not actually coloring, you can use them to bring flair to shopping lists, honey-do notes, and even office memos.

Cons of gel pens: These kinds of pens often run out of their ink fast, so you’ll be going out and buying replacements pretty frequently. Some users note that gel pens don’t apply color equally under light pressure, even skipping spots.

4) Colored Pencils

Pros of colored pencils: These coloring utensils are among the easiest things in the world to use. You can also sharpen them to a fine point that’s useful in detailing images. Should you get an urge to get really fancy, you can mix these with anything from mineral spirits and paint thinner to baby oil.

Cons of colored pencils: You have to be mindful about not dropping these, since impact might break off their lead from the inside. You’ll also need a pencil extender if they get too short if you want to keep holding them comfortably. Also, if you have to layer colors, you might have to apply some pressure, which can wear down your hands over a long session of coloring.

Now that you know the 4 best coloring tools for adult coloring, sift through the benefits and potential drawbacks of each one, comparing them to your own preferences and budget, in order to figure out which one well serve your relaxation best. Options exist in each category from economical to premium options. If you want to save money, head for the kids section of a big box retailer, but if you’re looking for something nice, head for a dedicated arts and crafts store.

Finding And Enjoying Coloring Pages For Adults

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You can find a lot of neat coloring pages for adults. They cover all sorts of topics from classic cars to mythology, from inspiring quotes to skulls and tattoos! Some may have adult language or imagery on them, so be sure that if you get something like this you keep it away from kids. Here’s more so you know where to find interesting and fun coloring pages and books.

How To Find Printable Coloring Pages On Line

The pages you can find with a general search are not always going to be exactly what you want. When you do a search, you need to enter a few words that have something to do with what you like. Do you want funny coloring pages for adults or do you want something that has to do with a fandom you’re a part of? A lot of adults find it to be fun to color things that are offensive or that feature different things that are only for adults so be sure you turn your adult image filter off if that’s what you’re trying to find. Enter your chosen search terms to the search box, such as adult coloring pages and add a search term that will narrow down your search, such as mandala or zentangle or skulls, or classic cars, or fantasy or fairy, etc., or even funny coloring books for adults. If you haven’t tried any of those types of pages yet, do a search, you may find a new area you will really enjoy. Of course, you can always buy a complete coloring book.

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The Right Coloring Tools

Before you can color a page, you’re going to need to make sure that you have the right tools. You’re going to need colored pencils, crayons, or markers. You can find these at local stores, or you can buy some online if you want to save money. There are all kinds of brands, so make sure you research what you’re going to get so you’re not disappointed with it.

colored pencil set from www.mythsoftime.com https://amzn.to/2HPGNhz

A lot of what is sold for super cheap is not that good so avoid the super cheap discount store brands if you want to avoid that. If you are just starting out on coloring, it probably doesn’t matter what coloring tools you use, even raid the kids’ pencil cases if necessary! You can see whether you enjoy this activity. If you find a page you really love and want to keep, you can always print it out again and get yourself the best coloring pencils or pens you can afford. Of course, if you are already an accomplished colorist, you will know your favorite brand or types of tool.

There are adult coloring books that you can order which are a lot of fun if you don’t want to have to pick just one image. The goal is to find what other people like, or if it’s a new item then at least see if you like some of the photos of the book and its contents. If they don’t let you see what’s in the coloring book, then you may want to try waiting for a little while. That way, you don’t have to take a risk and other people will review it before you buy.

Are you able to print out coloring pages at home? If you can’t, then you may be able to do it at the library. It may cost you a few cents, but if you can print out a handful of pages at a time it may be like buying a coloring book for a lot cheaper sometimes than it would cost online or in stores. When printing something at the library, you may want to ask about whether you can do adult materials or not. As long as it’s not super offensive or a bunch of nude people on coloring pages, you should be fine.

Coloring Book And Pencils From www.mythsoftime.com https://amzn.to/2HQjd4e

If you have another family member, you can both try getting a few books so you can swap them from time to time. If you got, for instance, one with adult jokes in it you could trade it for your partner’s animal related one. That way, you don’t have to let the pages that you don’t want to do go to waste. It can sometimes seem like you only like one or two pages, so it’s good to have someone you can share with. You may also be able to trade with people online if that’s easier for you.

Adult pages may be offensive to others so be sure you don’t have them just sitting around. With kids in the home, you should try to keep them put away because if the kids see you trying to color they are going to want to join in. Try to have some separate coloring books around for people that don’t need to be involved with coloring the adult ones. It’s fun for people of all ages to color, but only as long as what you have to let them color is age appropriate and easier or harder to color depending on age.

When you find and color interesting coloring pages for adults, you’ll find it to be a fun way to spend time. The more you can find that feature things you think are fun to color, the more time you will spend on something you enjoy!