For you practicing artists and doodlers out there, I’m going to share a pro tip that anyone can benefit from, for creating forms with body and substance, which will ultimately add to the realism of a drawing. Once I grasped an understanding of this concept I was so excited because it truly took my drawing skill to boss level… OK maybe not boss level, maybe more like secret unlocked level. It literally injected my pencil with pure free flowing universal awesomeness, compared to what my pencil could previously do. It’s as though I began to speak the same language as my little graphite buddy and we were no longer bickering.

The tip is defiantly simple, some have the natural inclination to let the pencil flow this way, but if you are one of those who stumbles across this tip before knowing it, then my little happiness light globe just flickered a bit brighter for you!

Here’s the tip:

Try this in your head - there is a person standing in front of you, you reach your arms out to grab their waist, how are your hands shaped? I imagine they are somewhat parallel to the floor and your pinkie fingers are pointing downwards, thumbs up. Your hands are going to be laying across and around their waist, not up and down like a high five. There you have it! When laying down tonal shades your pencil strokes will not go up and down the form, they will go across and around the form. Keep this in mind when laying down the direction of your pencil strokes, follow the organic flow of the form. If you’re unsure, imagine grabbing whatever it is your drawing with both hands and follow that direction. You will inevitably avoid a flat looking form which will instantly give realistic depth to your object. Keep in mind, some more intricate and complex objects may change direction, that’s OK, keep checking your hands and imagine you’re sculpting it out of clay, just remember to follow your hands. It will eventually become a natural skill for you. If you’re drawing 2D cartoonish subjects, forget this technique!

Here’s a sketchy example I’ve done

Now get practicing!

** Sculpting stuff