How to Sketch

Co-authored by Kelly Medford

Last Updated: February 2, 2023 Approved

Sketching is the practice of drawing a rough outline or rough draft version of a final piece of art. Sketching can be used in preparation for a large piece of art, or to just get an idea of how something will look. Whether you're sketching for fun or for a project, learning the proper technique can make the practice much more enjoyable.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Practicing Sketching

1
Get the right materials. Just like with any art form, it is difficult to sketch when using poor quality (or the wrong) materials. You can easily find all the proper sketching materials at a local arts and crafts store.^{[1]
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Research source} Spend a few dollars and gather up all the right materials, including:
- H pencils. H pencils are the hardest pencils, and are used for sketching thin, straight, non-blend-able lines. These are mostly used for architecture and business sketches. Get an assortment including 8H, 6H, 4H, and 2H pencils (8H is the hardest, 2H is the softest).
- B pencils. B pencils are the softest pencils, and are used for making smudged and blurry lines and for shading your sketch. These are the favorites of many artists. Get an assortment including 8B, 6B, 4B, and 2B (8B is the softest, 2B is the hardest).
- Fine art paper. Sketching on regular printer paper may be easy, but the paper is thin and doesn't hold the pencil as well. Use fine art paper with a bit of texture for the easiest time sketching, and for the best overall appearance.
2
Practice some hand movements, before you start sketching. For example, you can draw circles or horizontal lines for five-ten minutes to warm up your hand.

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3
Start with an H pencil. Use light strokes with loose hands. Move your hand very quickly, using minimal pressure, almost glossing over the page without stopping. Get comfortable with the paper you are working with. At this initial stage, you should barely be able to see the strokes. Consider this to be the foundation of your sketch.^{[2]
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4
Use the darker 6B pencil for the next stage. When you achieve the perfect shape in Step 3, you can then define your strokes more precisely with this darker pencil.^{[3]
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Research source} Keep adding details. Start adding inner shapes. Make sure they are to scale. For example, when drawing a parking ramp, you want to make sure that the entrances and parking spots are the appropriate size.
- When you are finished using this pencil, you will notice smudges on the pages since the lead on this pencil is softer than the previous one. Remove all smudges with the eraser.
- Make sure you use a soft eraser like the putty eraser so that your erasing does not rip off the top layer of the page. The putty eraser will lighten your lines, not completely eradicate them.
5
Add further details. Perfect your lines and presentation until you are satisfied that you have captured the perfect representation.
6
Seal your work. When you have completed your sketch, apply a fixative to seal the image.
- Use a mirror when drawing. Periodically, look at your drawing and the thing you are drawing in the mirror.
- Leonardo DaVinci did this and recommended it.
- It helps to see your drawing differently and note the mistakes.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Learning the Basics

1
Try doing a gesture drawing. Gesture drawing is a form of sketching where you use continuous movements and connected lines to draw your subject, without ever looking at your paper. Although it sounds difficult, it can help you to get a good idea of the basic forms in your drawing, and help to set a base for your final drawing. To do a gesture drawing, look only at your subject and move your hand accordingly on the paper. When possible, avoid lifting your pencil and use overlapping lines. Later, you can go back and erase the extra lines and perfect your sketch.^{[4]
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- This is good practice for a sketch - kind of like a pre-sketch.
2
Don't press too heavily. A sketch is intended to be the base or draft of an image. Therefore, when you start your sketch you should use a light hand and lots of short, quick strokes. This will make it easier to test out different ways of drawing a particular object, and will allow you to erase mistakes much easier as well.
3
Choose your subject. For beginners, it is easiest to sketch from a live model or an image, rather than by using your imagination to create an image to draw. Find an image of something you like, or look for an object or person around you to draw. Take several minutes to study the subject prior to beginning to sketch. Pay attention to these things:^{[5]
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- Find the source of light. Locating the primary light source will determine where you sketch the lightest and where you sketch the darkest.
- Look for any movement. Whether actual movement from a real-life subject or perceived movement in an image, determining movement in your subject will determine the shape/direction you make your sketch strokes.
- Pay attention to primary shapes. All objects are made up of a combination of the basic shapes (square, circle, triangle, etc.). Look for the shapes that underlay your subject, and sketch these first.

Expert Q&A

Question

What can you use to shade evenly with a pencil?

Kelly Medford
Professional Artist
Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art.

Kelly Medford

Professional Artist

Expert Answer

You can use Prismacolor ebony pencils. They are very dark and smooth and great for shading evenly in pencil.
Question

What is the best way to scale a drawing?

Kelly Medford
Professional Artist
Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art.

Kelly Medford

Professional Artist

Expert Answer

You can buy a wheel that shows the ratios to scale a drawing. Then you will not have to do the calculations.
Question

How do I sketch real people's faces?

Community Answer

Usually you would want to start with basic shapes, then put in details. Do it step-by-step until you think it looks good, and then erase any unnecessary lines from your starting sketch.

Warnings

Having a poorly lit space may cause eye strain. Make sure you have a well-lit, spacious area.

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Soft leaded pencils smudge easily. When you are not using them, keep them in a plastic container or bag for protection.

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