If you want to conscientiously improve your line quality, there are certainly ways of doing that, but it does gradually get better on it's own too. The biggest difference you can make as a beginner is learning to interpolate instead of extrapolate. Exterpolating is where you take a spray and pray attitude, draw a bunch of lines, pick the one that's the closest fit, and then awkwardly erase the ones that don't This is the "feathering" which is such a prevalent problem. Interpolation is actually learning to make the line go where you want it to by mentally plotting it out in advance. Beginners usually think about where the line starts, but aren't very specific about where it's supposed to end up, which forces them to use guesswork. So an easy fix is to lightly place a dot where the line i supposed to go before drawing it. The same can be done even with complex contours by simply adding more dots and joining them up. If one dot still doesn't get the line in the right place, draw another one in the middle closer to where the line starts. Making a connect the dots puzzle to produce art sounds ridiculous but it does hit the nail on the head when it comes to the feathering problem. It's like using the pen tool in Photoshop.
4:28 Study from Jeff Watts Line Quality 5:35 "There are musicians who imitate and study their favourite musicians" 5:56: Great draftsmen to study from: Jacob De Gheyn II, Guercino, Albrecht Durer, John Tenniel, Beatrix Potter
rendering in pen and ink by Guptill helped me so much i cant even express it. Its not just about ink... it is really book that will change the way you think
I'd also recommend the new Book: 'Framed Drawing Techniques: Mastering Ballpoint Pen, Graphite Pencil, and Digital Tools for Visual Storytelling' by Marcos Mateus-Metre
Prefect analogy Marshall, that's exactly what I was thinking then you said it. You put scales into context and create instead of just mindless scales up and down the registry.
I am a disabled artist and using my entire arm for drawing is not a possibility for me. That being said, I do not have a problem drawing straight lines using wrist only. I usually draw very slowly which causes no issues with my line quality, and even improves my straight lines. It makes no discernable difference in my curved lines. It makes no difference between circles, ovals, ellipses, squares or triangles. On extremely long lines, because I am methodical in lifting my pen from the paper, I can reposition paper or my arm, pick up the line where I left off without a detectable stop / start point. As with any other style of drawing, it just takes practice. Advice such as you must use your whole arm if you want to draw a circle is bad advice for anyone who has a disability that involves the shoulder or the neck. There are other methods that work equally well for those who either by necessity or choice keep their wing tucked in and not flapping about as if they are ready to fly.
Marshall: "Just imitate a bunch of their lines [artists you admire] until you feel like you own it, then move on to the next one..." Couldn't agree more. Thank you, guys!
I agonized for years trying to learn how to get the interesting line quality that I saw in old master drawings. I think the best way to learn it is by copying their drawings as best one can then try to apply what one learns in ones own drawings. I think some of the best books on the topic are those by Robert Beverly Hale.
Do you think conscious tracing helps with line quality since your just focusing on the lines rather than having to worry about other stuff like proportion or anatomy?
I found using a g nib dip pen and ink the most helpful to practice with. It's very unforgiving because it requires your angle and pressure to be consitant to achieve line weight and quality. But once it starts to click, its super satisfying.
Boy, Marshall has just a crazy impressive memory.
You can tell he truly loves art
What was crazy about his memory here?
If you want to conscientiously improve your line quality, there are certainly ways of doing that, but it does gradually get better on it's own too.
The biggest difference you can make as a beginner is learning to interpolate instead of extrapolate.
Exterpolating is where you take a spray and pray attitude, draw a bunch of lines, pick the one that's the closest fit, and then awkwardly erase the ones that don't
This is the "feathering" which is such a prevalent problem. Interpolation is actually learning to make the line go where you want it to by mentally plotting it out in advance. Beginners usually think about where the line starts, but aren't very specific about where it's supposed to end up, which forces them to use guesswork. So an easy fix is to lightly place a dot where the line i supposed to go before drawing it. The same can be done even with complex contours by simply adding more dots and joining them up. If one dot still doesn't get the line in the right place, draw another one in the middle closer to where the line starts. Making a connect the dots puzzle to produce art sounds ridiculous but it does hit the nail on the head when it comes to the feathering problem. It's like using the pen tool in Photoshop.
It took me 1.5 years to come up with the same idea (yes, I'm a bit slow)
Thanks for the advice, it makes the peterhan stuff make more sense
Thats a great way of explaining it. Thank you!
thank you for this extremely helpful comment! 🙂
I will go from searching lines all over my page to searching dots all over my page
We want Draftsmen! And more Marshall singing...
4:28 Study from Jeff Watts Line Quality
5:35 "There are musicians who imitate and study their favourite musicians"
5:56: Great draftsmen to study from: Jacob De Gheyn II, Guercino, Albrecht Durer, John Tenniel, Beatrix Potter
rendering in pen and ink by Guptill helped me so much i cant even express it. Its not just about ink... it is really book that will change the way you think
Oh hey, I found Rendering in Pen and Ink for $2.99 in my antique store, and I’ve been getting ready to go over it.
Man ive seen all of draftsman twice and i still watch these clips when you post them 💕
We do the same thing haha
The book Marshall recommended is just amazing,what a great person you are Marshall
I love the pain recommendation I do this myself and I recently have taken up silver and metal point where you also have to be precise with lines
I'd also recommend the new Book: 'Framed Drawing Techniques: Mastering Ballpoint Pen, Graphite Pencil, and Digital Tools for Visual Storytelling' by Marcos Mateus-Metre
Prefect analogy Marshall, that's exactly what I was thinking then you said it. You put scales into context and create instead of just mindless scales up and down the registry.
I am a disabled artist and using my entire arm for drawing is not a possibility for me. That being said, I do not have a problem drawing straight lines using wrist only.
I usually draw very slowly which causes no issues with my line quality, and even improves my straight lines. It makes no discernable difference in my curved lines.
It makes no difference between circles, ovals, ellipses, squares or triangles. On extremely long lines, because I am methodical in lifting my pen from the paper, I can reposition paper or my arm, pick up the line where I left off without a detectable stop / start point.
As with any other style of drawing, it just takes practice. Advice such as you must use your whole arm if you want to draw a circle is bad advice for anyone who has a disability that involves the shoulder or the neck. There are other methods that work equally well for those who either by necessity or choice keep their wing tucked in and not flapping about as if they are ready to fly.
I feel lucky to have studied under both Jeff Watts and Stan. Life-changing experience going to the Atelier
Marshall: "Just imitate a bunch of their lines [artists you admire] until you feel like you own it, then move on to the next one..."
Couldn't agree more. Thank you, guys!
I love you 2 together. It makes learning so fun.
Thank you. Guptill's book is on archive.
can't wait for the next season!!
I agonized for years trying to learn how to get the interesting line quality that I saw in old master drawings. I think the best way to learn it is by copying their drawings as best one can then try to apply what one learns in ones own drawings. I think some of the best books on the topic are those by Robert Beverly Hale.
Hell yeah!! Now I can try improving my lines
Thx draftsmen
We are the art students, your style will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
now, let us prepare ourselves with an inking pen, paper and some ink
Best art podcast on the internet!
Great video! I’m going to apply it to my work and share it with my students.
it would be so cool stan if you and marshall did an episode just drawing, talking about the process. i've never asked for anything 😀
I find this very helpful! Thanks a lot!
Great show, guys! Heard about it a while ago, now I am a regular here.
It has been 2 months already?
Time flies.
Where can we get a Proko shirt? Love it!
You can get one here - th-cam.com/users/ProkoTVstore
Does Jeffrey Watts have books about drawing/illustration? Like those examples in the video?
Not sure about a book, but he does have a TH-cam Channel.
what is name and book referenced at the 1:35 mark? Thanks!
Marshall sounds like space ghost haha
Check out Urs Graf too.
Do you think conscious tracing helps with line quality since your just focusing on the lines rather than having to worry about other stuff like proportion or anatomy?
Ay
agh i tought it is a full new draftsmen
Who artist have same style sketch as guercino?
I draw with my wrist a lot and I just move the paper around to get a straighter line
1:08 I still do this 😔😔😔 but I'm learning to break the habit
nice :)
Thank you fathers-
Try large print calligraphy
Who,s artwork are the drawings of the thumbnail of?
Jeffrey Watts
@@Draftsmen Oh... It looks like Charles Dana Gibson's art. I thought it was from his work.
Thank you both for sharing your knowledge, btw.
I thought the first hashtag said inequality for a sec. Stan and Marshall talking politics?I was so confused
Do you know other artist just like Guerchino?
what helps me with line variation is holding my pencil sideways, then when i want fine lines i hold it upright
One problem with me is that my lines always look dirty...
Hobbyist here. The day I become a maven I will have you to thank.
5:55
Try writing the N word over and over again. Worked for me.
💀
Wait did writing words really help?
I found using a g nib dip pen and ink the most helpful to practice with. It's very unforgiving because it requires your angle and pressure to be consitant to achieve line weight and quality. But once it starts to click, its super satisfying.