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Helen's Drawing / Sketching Blog

By Helen South, About.com Guide to Drawing / Sketching since 2002

Beginner Drawing Exercise - Wire Drawing

Saturday April 26, 2008
Whenever I start teaching a group of new students, the first thing I get them to do is to draw a picture of their own hands. This is to serve as a reference point, so they can see how much they improve over the term. If I had enough mirrors, I would ask them to draw a self-portrait, as portraits are challenging and a real test of drawing skills. If you are just starting out, you might like to do a self-portrait - just do your best with whatever pencils you have, and file it away for later!
The first actual drawing exercise I get students to do is the Wire Drawing Exercise that I learned from Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner. Because the wire doesn't 'look like' anything, it isn't frightening for the beginner, and is excellent for developing the hand-eye connection. Give it a go!

Comments

April 29, 2008 at 5:42 pm
(1) johanna Prinsloo says:

Since I saw this exercise I am using it for my students. It is to take a line for a walk. The wires is always in my studio. Try to put the wire in front of a mirror and do the right brain exercise by drawing it with the left hand. I am doing a selfportrait by pasting a wet paper on the one side of the mirror and let them draw there portraits with acrylic paint onto the paper. Wonderful results and much fun.

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