17 Drawing Techniques to Draw and Sketch like a Pro

Finding the drawing styles you love takes exploration and practice. The art mediums you can use to draw are almost limitless—you can draw anywhere with anything. For example, a cartoon artist might use some realistic features in their drawings to make their style more unique!

Neo Expressionism is defined by subjectivity and relates to the minimalist movement that came about in the 1970s. This type of drawing style features looser and rougher lines, with art mediums applied in an unruly manner. If you’re interested in trying your hand at drawing in the comic book style, start by studying the work of some of the great comic artists out there.

Caricature Drawing

Line Drawing is an excellent exercise for artists to develop a keen understanding of shape, proportion, and composition. Minimalist Drawings often rely on the power of suggestion, allowing viewers to fill in the gaps and interpret the work in their own way. The use of negative space becomes as important as the Drawn elements, creating a harmonious balance that resonates with the principles of minimalism. This style challenges artists to distil their concepts to the essentials, creating Drawings that are visually striking in their simplicity.

Every so often, take a step back from your work or even take a break entirely. Shapes are important to practice drawing because they can help you communicate designs better. Shapes also help you develop intricate patterns and fill space within abstract pieces. To apply this technique, you can use numerous small circles, star shapes, or figures of eight to develop sophisticated textures. Sketching is an essential practice for anyone wanting to improve their observation skills.

thoughts on “Drawing Styles: A Complete List & Examples”

Discover how Masterworks works and learn how to invest in fine art. Find out why investing in art is a unique opportunity to diversify your portfolio. The difference between a sketch and a drawing comes down to the level of detail and finish. A sketch is usually a quick observation, it is often the precursor to a final product. Lyrical abstraction, on the other hand, emphasises spontaneity and emotion.

Get some graphite powder and scatter across the paper, then draw on top with the erasers. This is an approach to sketching which will give the effect of a more relaxed and effortless style. It’s a useful technique to try, especially if you’re a beginner and only used to trying to achieve precise fine lines. To create an even shaded appearance, hold your pencil slightly at an angle and lightly move it backwards and forwards. Unsharpened pencils create softer lines, it’s also essential to use a soft pencil.

Cross-contour Drawing

For those seeking more advanced instruction, try our courses “Character Design” and “Lighting + Shading” to take your drawing abilities to the next level. Impressionist paintings often have loose, expressive brushwork. So, don’t worry about being perfect %KEYWORD_VAR% – just let your strokes flow. Photorealism is about recreating reality, so feel free to experiment with different techniques until you find something that works for you. Markers — Breathe vivid color into your illustrations with art markers.

• Designers need to be able to break things down into geometric shapes to capture and build both the real and the imaginary.
• This style is often used in scientific illustrations, technical Drawings, and educational materials.
• Artists use quick, gestural lines to convey the flow of movement, the tilt of the head, or the tension in a pose.

The best way to plan a composition is to make a series of composition thumbnail sketches in a sketchbook. Spend about a minute on each and roughly outline how your scene will fit together. If you want to go a step further, read our composition blog post. It’s aimed at intermediate artists, but it will give you all the foundational knowledge you need to know about designing an aesthetically pleasing piece of art. What’s important is that you learn from them and continue to improve. Practice and patience are key when it comes to improving your drawing skills.

Different Types Of Drawing Styles Every Artist Should Try

The underdrawing acts as the first layer of an artwork, it can form the first stage of the drawing process. This is especially true for pieces that require more accuracy or time investment. Graphite isn’t a transparent medium, so you can create a finished looking piece all in one layer. Throughout history, animals have held significant symbolic meanings in various cultures, influencing art across different periods and regions.

We will provide a complete list of examples so that you can get an idea of the various styles that exist. We hope that this post will help those who are interested in learning more about drawing and for those who are developing a style of their own. Some may prefer a more realistic approach while others may go for a more cartoonish style. There is no right or wrong way to draw, it all comes down to what the artist is trying to convey and what they are comfortable with. Gesture Drawing is all about capturing the movement and energy of a subject in a few quick strokes. This style is often used in life Drawing classes to train artists to observe and convey the dynamic qualities of the human form.

This initial sketch can be a reference point for developing a more polished and detailed drawing. This type of drawing can be extremely technical, but no less artistic. While architectural drawing is a skill often honed in the design world, non-architects are still able to create stunning artwork. Drawing is the foundation of so many creative practices, from architects to fashion designers to animators and artists. Using a piece of paper and a pen or pencil, the opportunities for self-expression are endless.

These are the types of artworks or designs we tend to stare at the longest. An Artist and Online Teacher featured in many publications and websites around the globe. I’m here to help YOU create amazing and fun artwork as easily as possible. Art and fashion have always been intertwined, both serving as powerful mediums of self-expression and cultural commentary.

Experiment using hatching, stippling, scumbling, photorealism, and more in the same drawing. Another fun add-on to your drawing improvement week is cataloging your art. Keeping a file of the pieces you create allows you to study your drawings more closely and measure your progress. Once you train yourself to see and sketch key elements of complex works of art, you’ll better understand how images come together. Use a ballpoint pen or sharp pencil for stippling, as you must create very fine dots to avoid losing detail.