FREEHAND DRAWING AND SKETCHING

This page is a collection of links to exercises that build freehand drawing and sketching skills. The exercises linked here focus on conventional media - paper, pencils, charcoal, etc.

Examples of drawing and sketching

Drawing Negative Space (a standard exercise used at the University of British Columbia)

Contour Drawing (a standard exercise used at the University of British Columbia)

Contour and Blind Contour Drawing: Part of the Figure Drawing Lab by created by R. M. Larmann at the University of Evansville

Gesture Drawing: Part of the Figure Drawing Lab by created by R. M. Larmann at the University of Evansville

Copying Drawings of people (a standard exercise used at the University of British Columbia)

An explanation of perspective basics. (illustrated description by Robert Gardiner at the University of British Columbia)

Sketch simple shapes using perspective (a standard exercise used at the University of British Columbia)

Simple still life arrangements in perspective (a standard exercise used at the University of British Columbia)

Sketching buildings and furniture (a standard exercise used at the University of British Columbia)

Drawing in One-Point Perspective by Harold Olejarz ("Step-by-step instructions for basic one-point are presented on this site. The first section presents key concepts in one-point perspective.") 

Preliminary Set Sketches (a standard exercise used at the University of British Columbia)

Light and Dark Studies of a"simple set" (a standard exercise used at the University of British Columbia)

Welcome to the Figure Drawing LAB. By R.M. Larman at the University of Evansville. "This site is devoted to better understanding of the elements that make up the human figure and how to better portray them. It is intended as a resource for artists and art students who work with the human form."

Preliminary costume sketches (in progress - exercise used at the University of British Columbia)