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Table of Contents
How to make an awesome pencil sketch of any photograph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Step 4: Edit the image into a great-looking black and white photo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Step 8: Trace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Step 9: Prepare your work area and prepare your source materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Step 10: Sketch! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Step 11: When you are finished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
Image Notes
1. I recommend you get everything in this picture if you can.
2. Be sure to get "drafting tape." If you use any other kind of tape you risk
destroying your hard work when you go to peel off the protective tracing paper
from your final work.
Image Notes
1. foxtail comes in handy for brushing off your paper without smudging what you
have sketched
2. I only use four pencils, but you can buy nice little sketch pencil sets that have
many more, and you can see which you like best.
3. Prismacolor makes the best portable pencil sharpener. Not only does it not
break your lead tips, but it keeps the shavings from messing up your pencil case
by keeping the mess enclosed.
4. pencil shading stumps are the SECRET WEAPON to reproducing
photographs as sketches. Learn to love them.
Image Notes
1. A dry cleaning pad is a must for starting and finishing your work.
2. "Tuff Stuff" eraser is great for precision erasing. I slice the tip off of mine at
an angle and use it for fine line erasures.
3. Erasing shields can really come in handy when getting eyes, mouths and
noses perfect.
4. A kneaded eraser is great for "toning down" darkened up areas uniformly.
Image Notes
1. A big pencil case is handy for all your sketching materials.
2. A smaller, enclosed pencil case is good for the pencils and erasers only, it
keeps the graphite from getting all over the inside of the big pencil case.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
Just press it down like it is silly putty and you are trying to copy a comic, and
then lift it up and your whole area is a bit lighter.
5. White vinyl erasers do a great job of removing graphite without staining
bright white paper.
6. The General makes a nice triangular eraser that is easy to use.
Image Notes
1. This is what my sketching kit looks like all assembled.
Image Notes
1. The easel and drawing board are a great way to display your final work.
2. The portfolio bag is an awesome way to store all your art stuff in one place in
between drawings. The easel breaks down easily and can get folded away and
stored in this, too. Plus when you get some time to sketch it is awesome to take
your stuff to a park and sketch outside when the nice weather arrives.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
Step 4: Edit the image into a great-looking black and white photo
Use your simple editing software to first change the photo to black and white, and then play with the brightness and contrast until you get a great-looking black and white
image.
This is a very imortant step. As you adjust the image, you may want to increase the contrast a bit more to give it a more "edgy" look. This step is lots of fun, because you
get to plan what your final sketch will look like by playing around with the variables. If you are a photoshop guru you can really get something interesting.
Here is what I did with my photograph, by tweaking it in iPhoto:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
Image Notes
1. Here is where it tells you what the dimensions will be. Use this info to plan so
your final sketch will still have a little white space around it so you can frame it
when you are through. (You will want to frame it, trust me!)
2. Click the toggle arrows to input the number of pages wide you want your
image to be.
3. Select paper choice here.
4. Be sure to watch as your image gets sliced up. This will give you a great idea
of what you will be working with size-wise.
Image Notes
1. 4 pages of a PDF file image. The margins are set so you don't lose any of
the image when it is printed. Gotta freakin' love Blockposters.com!
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
Image Notes
1. Place your papers onto your sketch pad to check size before you cut and
tape. Remember your final sketch will be the exact size of the image on your
papers you printed out.
Image Notes
1. I use a pair of scissors to cut my images. Sometimes I will run down to the
kinko's by my house and use their roto-trimmers to get a straight cut.
Image Notes
1. I like to assemble my posters on my stove top after I cut the margins off.
Notice I kept the margin around the outside edges of the whole image intact.
This is so I have somewhere to tape initially.
Image Notes
1. I usually tape the edges of where 2 pages meet first. I line up the image with
one hand...
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
Image Notes
1. ... and take a sticky-side-up piece of scotch tape in the other hand and slide it
under the seam and press the paper down to the tape. Then I fold the tape up
and over the edge.
Image Notes
1. Another technique is to stick the tape facing up on the underside of one piece
of paper, and then line up the mate and press it down onto the tape.
Image Notes
1. After you press the paper onto the face-up tape, simply fold over the rest of
the tape onto the top of the poster.
Image Notes
1. After I get all of the seams taped at the edge, I usually put one piece of tape
where any 4 pages meet. Because we are going to be tracing this image, it
doesn't matter if you tape the front or the back of the paper.
Image Notes
Image Notes
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
1. I usually put my big strips of tape along the seams on the back of the paper. I
do this so I can use the same poster to look at when I am drawing.
1. After the image is all taped together, lay it out onto your sketch pad to make
sure it is the size you want it.
Image Notes
1. Taped up poster MUST be taped FLAT to the window. Don't worry about
making it level, just tape it up there very flat so there are no waves in it.
Image Notes
1. It'll probably take you 10 - 20 minutes of concentrated tracing to finish. Place
your drawing high enough so that you can comfortably get to all areas of the work
without breaking your posture. Your back will thank you and your hand will be
more steady.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
Image Notes
1. Before you tape down the sketch pad paper, line up your image so it is exacly
where you want it. You don't want your final drawing lopsided or off-center, or
else it will look gay when you display it on your easel.
Step 8: Trace
Tracing is an artform all unto itself.
There are several rules that you should follow at this point to ensure you get the most traced lines possible.
1) Sketch as lightly as possible. The truth is, no matter how lightly you sketch, as soon as that paper leaves the window and goes to your working surface, the lines will
look about 3 times as dark as you thought you drew them. Experience will correct this.
2) Sketch any "meaningful" landmarks or contour you can see in your original. This includes outlines, major value changes, or anywhere you can see a clearly defined
border between a lighter or a darker area. You ever see a topographical map? That is what your drawing should look like once it comes off the window. With a very
detailed road map sketched out, filling in the details is about as difficult as doing a coloring book.
3) Don't take the paper down off the window until you are done tracing. Trust me on this. Once that paper comes down, if you see a detailed area you forgot to trace, you
will never be able to "line it back up" on the master. Once it is down, it is down. You will have to run with it.
Image Notes
1. Concentrate on the clear areas where light and dark meet. Don't try to
sketch in what you "think" is there.
Image Notes
1. Notice how I am not "pencilling in" where I think the arms and legs are. I am
only tracing the boundaries between light and dark. This will make your final
drawing excellent.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
Image Notes
1. WAY too dark to start sketching but you can see the types of lines you want
on your sketch.
Image Notes
1. Notice these clamps. There are (at least) two different styles of clamps for these
drawing easels. I actually prefer the big clamps like the ones that are on the
standard clipboard. This style I think actually does a better job but the clamping
mechanisms get bent very easily and snag your portfolio tote often. I normally
wouldn't have bought this style but this one was on sale for $5 so I couldn't pass it
up. But if you buy one like this, make sure the clamps are not bent or broken
before you purchase it.
2. Hard to tell here, but my "light trace" came out very dark. It always does but
don't sweat it. We will be lightening up the whole drawing with a dry cleaning
eraser pad in the next step.
Step 9: Prepare your work area and prepare your source materials.
As far as work area goes, I like a nice adjustable drafting lamp clamped to the table I am drawing at. Or I like to go to a picnic table with my sketch board in my
neighborhood park. Take your pick. Make your work area comfortable and convenient.
Try to do your entire drawing in one sitting. In order to do this, gather everything you think you may need for the next several hours and place it within arms reach.
I like to have the following at my side when I am sketching:
- Cooler with soda and ice
- My cell phone
- My ipod and stereo
- Trash can
- all my art supplies
- some food or snacks for brain energy, you'll need it
As far as source material goes, here is what I suggest you gather:
- The photograph master you originally chose
- A second b&w PDF poster that has been cut and taped with all the tape on the back side, and no gaps between the seems, so you have a clear full-scale master to refer
to as you draw.
If you have a video camera, it is also a cool thing to set it up as you draw so you can end up with a cool video of you drawing whatever it is you are drawing. Edit it in your
editing program and speed it up and whoever you give your drawing to will be fascinated to see the work you spent on it.
So, once everything is assembled and you are calm and relaxed, it is time to start sketching. FINALLY! Just let me say that because you have spent all this time doing all
this prep work, the final sketch will be fun, quick, and satisfying because your results will not only impress those around you, but you will probably amaze yourself as well.
Ready to start sketching? So am I, lets do it!
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
2) Start sketching by lightly filling in the darkest areas first. If you are sketching a portrait of someone, start with the pupils of the eyes, taking care to NOT darken the
highlighted portions where a white circle or crescent appears. Nailing down the exact location of this little patch of white is the trick to making your drawing's eyes look
right.
3) Don't try to draw the item in your picture, instead simply try to make dark areas dark and light areas light. Don't draw what you "think" is there, draw what you "see" is
there.
4) Never brush off eraser shavings or dry erase particles with your hand. ALWAYS use your foxtail.
5) Build up the dark areas slowly. I like to build up my drawing in layers.
6) Those pencil stubs for shading are your secret weapon. Use them to make nice blends form light to lighter areas.
7) For the most part, work from the full-size black and white poster. Try to duplicate it with your pencils and erasers.
8) Only draw for 50 minutes at a time. Take 10 minute breaks every hour while you draw, otherwise you WILL make mistakes and you will have to use your eraser more.
9) Using your eraser is a good thing, it shows that you can see a mistake and you are going to try it again. But also keep in mind that every time you erase something you
are basically negating time you spent sketching. Eraser more, and you are wasting more of your precious time. Try to really look at what you are trying to duplicate before
you put the pencil to the paper in the first place. If you don't know exactly what you are trying to draw with your pencil, the chances of you making an accurate
representation of what you are looking at is very slim.
10) Learn to look at the negative space. Instead of concentrating on where the cheek or hair is, try to draw where it ISN'T. In other words, looking at the shape of the pure
white areas will often illuminate better placement for features. If you drew a mouth or a nose, for instance, and it looks messed up, try to look at the actual shape of the
highlights that have no darkness to them and sketch their outlines.
11) Work in spirals outward from the dark regions, paying close attention to where other features are in relation to the dark areas. If a clockface was superimposed on the
dark area, where on the clock face is the next feature you want to draw? At 2 o'clock? 3 o' clock? How far away?
12) Keep your pencils sharp and work in short, light strokes, slowly building up the are to the desired level of darkness.
13) As you complete areas, take your tracing paper and your drafting tape and tape the paper over those areas so you don't rub your palm in them and mess them up.
Constantly cover up what you have already done and close in on what you have left to draw.
14) If your sketch "just doesn't look right," DON'T trash the whole thing and start over. Instead, scan that puppy in to photoshop and super impose it over the original. Set
one of their transparencies to 50% and look closely to see where it doesn't match. You may have made a few mistakes, but you probably got some areas perfect. Erase
the wrong areas and keep the good areas.
15) When you are finished, sign your work! You made it, you are now an artist and you get to sign it any way that you want. I like to sign my work with my Chinese name,
too, underneath my regular name.
And BTW, I will be putting pictures up on this instructable of my Iraq picture, I just haven't gotten to sketch it yet.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
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Comments
50 comments Add Comment
bealwayshappy22 says:
schuler68 says:
assassinazz says:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
bminty says:
your drawings are really amazing! you're very talented, haha. could i get some info on your drawing history?
vikaskgp says:
LoneWolf says:
WOW...................
SPININSPUR says:
hey....... sum good ideas,but but the idea of tracing din't appeal me man.... neway thanx.
wobbler says:
Javin007 says:
cry_wolf says:
will421 says:
cry_wolf says:
thanks =D
GallaghersEyebrows says:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
enterprising business-folk looking to sell some instructional books or videos touting some b.s. new-age method. Now I digress. Had you shown some
incredible way to render the drawing FREEHAND using the photo as a reference or visual -aide, then this Instructable would hold some merit.
laradioken says:
socherished says:
maruawe says:
smithstar4 says:
guitarman63mm says:
socherished says:
socherished says:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
KedaDibandion says:
RaNDoMLeiGH says:
kwscholar says:
Flumpkins says:
RaNDoMLeiGH says:
yup
Flumpkins says:
I don't know if I would ever write a comment that big. Not that it's a bad thing or anything.
abnor says:
RaNDoMLeiGH says:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
RaNDoMLeiGH says:
PyroMaster007 says:
I'm thinking of taking a picture of my girlfriend and i and drawing it for her birthday, what do you think?
Danielfish says:
PyroMaster007 says:
Sypran says:
I hate traceing... execept maps and such (dont want get lost do you?)
suarezani says:
Flumpkins says:
abnor says:
raje says:
abnor says:
thinker says:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/
HOW to do something HOW to get photorealistic drawings not TO DO it ITS A SUGGESTION also its hard to draw, this is quicker, and makes for a nice
gift, or for a proof of concept, to check the scale is right on a large scale drawing you are doing, to create a stencil, it has many uses other then the one
you seem to rant about
thesparine says:
abnor says:
abnor says:
Grey_Wolfe says:
Spl1nt3rC3ll says:
thesparine says:
Spl1nt3rC3ll says:
I actually use this method all the time now, I don't know any artist who doesn't.
Spl1nt3rC3ll says:
...Well, I only use it when I'm hard pressed for time, which is happening a lot lately.
Spl1nt3rC3ll says:
And again, sorry for my blatant rudeness.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-awesome-pencil-sketch-of-any-photog/