Updated Articles and Resources

By Helen South, About.com Guide since 2002

What is a Mandala? Created: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
What is a Mandala? Find a brief definition of 'mandala' and learn more about its meaning and symbolism in traditional and contemporary use.
Figure Drawing Mistakes Created: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
figure drawing mistakes
How to Learn to Draw Created: Thursday, September 29, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
I'm trying to learn to draw, but don't know where to start. I'm trying to draw a great portrait and can't get it to look like the person, and when I try to draw a person, it looks like some sort of...
Draw a Cute Tree Frog Created: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Draw a cute tree frog
How to Draw Eyes Created: Monday, October 08, 2007 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Improve your eye drawing by following this detailed tutorial exploring eye anatomy, proportion and drawing techniques.
Pencil Shading Exercise - Shading an Egg Created: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Learn Pencil Shading step one - setting up your subject ready to draw. Setting up a super-simple still life of an egg to shade in graphite pencil. Find out what you need to do this simple and effec...
Charcoal Drawing FAQ Created: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Charcoal Drawing FAQ - frequently asked questions about how to draw with charcoal and conte. Get tips about improving your charcoal drawing technique with these questions and answers.
Drawing Glossary Index Created: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
The Drawing Glossary - Alphabetical Index. Find the drawing term you're looking for and check spelling and pronunciation in this index of drawing terminology and jargon.
Doodles and Zentangles Created: Thursday, January 31, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Are Doodles and Zentangles the same thing? What is the difference? Why do some artists love Zentangles while others seem to take offence at the very name?
A Family Portrait Created: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
A beautiful family portrait drawing full of laughter.
Heart Symbols and Meaning Created: Sunday, March 31, 2013 Updated: Sunday, March 31, 2013
What do hearts mean as a symbol in art and drawing? Here is a look at some commonly used heart symbols and their meaning and interpretation
Why Painters Should Learn to Draw Created: Monday, April 20, 2009 Updated: Sunday, March 31, 2013
Can you be a good painter if you can't draw? Of course you can, but learning to draw will enrich your painting experience on many levels. Even if you never really master the drawn line, the drawing...
How To Draw A Cartoon Fairy Created: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 Updated: Sunday, March 31, 2013
Follow along as we use easy, step-by-step instructions to teach you how to draw a cartoon fairy.
Doodle Symbolism - Stars, Hearts and Others Created: Monday, January 12, 2004 Updated: Sunday, March 31, 2013
symbolism of doodles - interpreting the meaning of doodle drawings and symbols in drawing - psychoanalysis of drawings
Colorful Cartoons Created: Monday, March 11, 2013 Updated: Monday, March 11, 2013
A reader's colorful cartoons, complete with detail and landscape.
What is Art? Created: Friday, June 22, 2012 Updated: Sunday, March 10, 2013
What is art? There are many answers to that question, depending on your point of view, your personal perspective. Most of them are valid in one way or another. Here's my reasonably learned opinion.
Where to Begin with Doodling Created: Friday, March 01, 2013 Updated: Friday, March 01, 2013
Where do you start with doodling? Anywhere? What if you want to make it more than a scribble in the margins? Here's some tips on getting started with doodling.
Renewing Creative Energy Created: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 Updated: Thursday, February 28, 2013
Suggestions to help artists get over boredom, repetition and the blank page blues
Formats for Doodles Created: Thursday, February 28, 2013 Updated: Thursday, February 28, 2013
Which is the best format to choose for doodling? Well there isn't one really, but there are many great choices. Here are some ideas to help you choose which one to use for your doodles.
What is a Working Drawing? Created: Thursday, January 31, 2013 Updated: Thursday, January 31, 2013
What is a working drawing? Find out what a working drawing is in different contexts, with links to examples.
Portrait of Bob Dylan Playing Guitar Created: Friday, January 18, 2013 Updated: Friday, January 18, 2013
pencil sketch of Bob Dylan playing guitar.
How to Title Art Created: Monday, August 25, 2003 Updated: Tuesday, January 08, 2013
How to you you choose a title for your art? What you title your drawing or painting tells your viewer how to approach the piece. Here are some tips on how to name your artwork, drawing or painting.
Palimpsest - Meaning and Examples Created: Thursday, September 27, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, January 08, 2013
What is a Palimpsest? Find out the meaning of the word 'palimpsest' and its context in art and art history.
An Introduction to Contour Drawing Created: Thursday, January 22, 2004 Updated: Sunday, January 06, 2013
Contour drawing is basically outline drawing, and is the way most beginners start learning to draw and sketch. Learn more about contour drawing and how to develop your skills.
Doodle Symbolism - Arrows Created: Sunday, January 11, 2004 Updated: Wednesday, January 02, 2013
The symbolic meaning of arrows in doodles, drawings and dreams.
Doodle Symbolism - Houses Created: Monday, January 12, 2004 Updated: Wednesday, January 02, 2013
The meaning and symbolism of houses in doodles and drawing.
Symbolism - Boxes and Three Dimensional Forms Created: Sunday, January 11, 2004 Updated: Wednesday, January 02, 2013
meaning of box doodles - interpreting and analyzing the meaning of three-d doodle drawings and 3D symbol analysis in drawing
Symbolism - Geometric Shapes Created: Sunday, January 11, 2004 Updated: Wednesday, January 02, 2013
the meaning of shapes - interpreting the meaning of geometric shapes, doodle drawings and symbol analysis in drawing circles and squares
Doodle Symbolism - People, Faces and Features Created: Monday, January 12, 2004 Updated: Wednesday, January 02, 2013
meaning of people and face doodles - interpreting the meaning of doodle drawings and symbols in drawing - psychoanalysis of drawings of faces
Doodle Symbolism - Mark Making and Line Weight Created: Monday, January 12, 2004 Updated: Wednesday, January 02, 2013
symbolism of doodles - lineweight and mark making - interpreting the meaning of doodle drawings and symbols in drawing - psychoanalysis of drawings importance of marks scribbles and style
Symbolism - Abstract and Random Shapes Created: Sunday, January 11, 2004 Updated: Wednesday, January 02, 2013
Interpreting the meaning of abstract shapes, doodle drawings and symbol analysis in drawing random forms
Doodle Analysis and Interpretation Created: Saturday, January 10, 2004 Updated: Wednesday, January 02, 2013
doodle interpretation - discover the meaning and symbolism of doodles. Why people doodle, what the shapes mean and how to interpret doodle drawings and scribbles.

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