How to Draw Anything

Step 6 How to Draw Realistic Tonal Drawings

One aspect of drawing which baffled me for ages was how to draw something so that it looked life-like on paper.

The break through came when I studied a black and white (below) mixed media drawing for one week. What was in the mixed media I wondered.

The 'How-to" clicked automaticallyas this picture spoke a thousand words.

As I studied the richly drawn tonal 'painting' I wondered what would this scene look like in colour?

It was an unexpected aesthetic experience for me understanding tones,
because when I looked at clouds they looked like amazing masterpieces. I finally got it.

How to Draw Something you see in Colour in Grey Tones

1. Take a picture of what you wish to draw.

2. Convert it into black and white with GIMP or transfer to tv and 'turn off' the colour

3. If this is not possible, you need to divide each colour you see into three groups - pale, medium and dark.
   HINT: Squinting helps to see the different tones better.

4. Draw the 'cartoon' ie line drawing of what you wish to draw

5. "Fill in" the tones you've numbered one to three. Remember white = 0 (ZERO) and black = FOUR.
    Artist's pencils are thankfully graded from soft to hard. This makes it easier to match your tones.
    Rather than pressing harder and harder to make a darker shade, which creates bloom or a waxy surface that
    prevents further drawing, use the softer pencil, which will create a darker tone.