An Introduction To Pencil and Crayon Drawing

An Introduction To Pencil and Crayon Drawing Learn To Draw With Graphite Pencils, Crayons And Colouring Pencils ChaptersUsing Graphite Pencils To Create Texture And DepthDrawing Lifelike Pictures With Colouring PencilsChoosing And Sticking With The Best BrandThe Benefits Of Basic Drawing MaterialsStarting To Draw With Basic MediumsMost art teachers would advise starting to draw with a basic medium, like pencils, and mastering a set of drawing techniques before even considering moving on to more specialist tools.For example, you can learn to draw incredibly detailed drawings using just a humble pencil from your pencil case (with a rubber sometimes permitted for those easy-to-make mistakes).Graphite pencils, just like their lead alternatives, can be used to create a range of markings so whether you wish to create a contemporary sketch or a traditional, true to life observation, you can achieve almost any finish by manipulating your tool. Pencils are a great way to produce rough sketches but also a tool to practice techniques in blending, and create simply tones and shades in your drawing - techn iques you can also use in charcoal drawing, but without the dust.For instance, try applying different amounts of pressure or smudging the product on the paper or even  scratching some of the pigment off at  the point of the pencil to create a powdery medium to work with.Important Questions Before You StartBefore you start sketching, you should first of all consider a number of factors:The type of drawing you want to produce,Whether or not your background will stay white (if you have started off with a white surface),The type of paper you want to use,What medium or combination of mediums will you use.These are basic questions you should be asking yourself each and every time you set out to draw, but do also allow yourself some freedom as an initial idea might evolve into something far greater.Using just a pencil, you can make a drawing look 3-dimensional. Photo credit: pedrosimoes7 on VisualHunt.comGoing back to the idea of rubbing out unintentional markings, some tutors will discour age you from altering any part of your work once you have out pencil to paper. Instead, they will encourage you to work with what you have produced and keep on striving in your technique to improve it until you are happy with the result.You can’t create a perfect image in a matter of minutes, and even professional artists get it wrong sometimes, but ideas grow and you need to be patient in trying to get what is in front of you to resemble what you want it to.Drawing Lifelike Pictures With Colouring PencilsColouring pencils, more so Crayola crayons, are often associated with toddlers or school-aged children but interestingly the tools are used by many successful illustrators. All you need to do is search for the #pencilart  or similar on Instagram in order to see some truly stunning images of artwork created with the modest medium.Furthermore, coloured pencils are a popular choice for children’s book illustrators and general immustration, along with oil pastels, mainly due to the soft appearance of their application. Designers and architects also consider wax crayons as their friend as they are so easy to use and add a touch of colour and a rough texture to any sketch or design.While it is unlikely that you will learn to draw with crayons, as they don’t offer much in the way of definition or precision, you could be asked by a tutor to create a drawing using colouring pencils.You can use colouring pencils to create colour, shape, light and dark. Photo credit: ElizabethHudy on VisualHuntA particularly good use for colouring pencils, due to their thin and detailed appearance on application, is drawing animals. Debra Kauffman is an artist who specialises in drawing strikingly realistic images of all types of animals. She is so influential in the field of colouring pencil art that she has published books with tutorials on how to draw animals.Choosing And Sticking With The Best BrandWhile it may seem odd, a 2B pencil from one art supply brand might be completel y different to another. Just think of it as being like buying clothes from different high street shops in the same size â€" they are almost never perfectly true to size!You can research the best brands of mediums online or ask someone who has experience using them, but the best way to decide which is right for you is to actually try them yourself. Get a good feel for what they are like to hold, how smooth the application is and so on. Even the tiniest elements can make a big difference in how happy you are drawing with them.If you feel comfortable using a particular brand, then you will be more confident and this will be reflected in your drawing.The Benefits Of Basic Drawing MaterialsAbove all, just like drawing in pen,  one of the biggest positives of materials such as crayons and pencils has to be the cost.Most grocery stores will stock a range of art supplies, with colouring pencils and crayons included. Some of the larger superstores may even offer a range of graphite pencils a s well as a larger selection of alternative materials.Most supermarkets will sell basic art supplies like pencils and crayons. Photo credit: WrightstyleLtd on VisualhuntIn addition, the nature of these mediums means that they can be used on equally inexpensive surfaces  like ordinary white paper (again, most shops will stock packs of printing paper). There is therefore no need to go out to specialist art stores and buy special textured paper or card, which will ultimately keep your costs down.This is particularly useful if you are already paying for a drawing tutor or are taking part in drawing classes.With accessibility and cost at a low, these mediums are perfect for beginners or for those turning to art as a hobby or pastime.Take drawing lessons  across the UK with a personal tutor from Superprof:Drawing courses LondonDrawing courses Manchester

What is it Like to Attend Western Washington University

What is it Like to Attend Western Washington University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Brianna received her bachelors degree in Spanish from Western Washington University. She is currently a tutor in Portland specializing in Spanish. See what she had to say about her experience at Western Washington University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or rural is the campus? Did you feel safe on campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Brianna: Campus is very close to everything you need, including the downtown, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. There is a great bus system that runs through campus, downtown, and surrounding areas. I never needed a car while living at college; and in fact, biking is often more convenient and fun than a bus or car! VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Brianna:The majority of my professors and advisers werevery helpful and committed to their students education, providing extra office hours when needed and good communication. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Brianna:Personally, I was not a fan of the dorms; however, many students I talk to have loved living in them! It is a great way to meet people because there are a variety of activities weekly that cater to the interests of a diverse group of students. The dining options are alright, but not fantastic. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Brianna:The Sciences, Education, and Business programs are some of the best-represented programs. I studied Spanish, and I did feel very supported by the teachers and staff. It is a small major, so you get to know everyone in your classes fairly quickly, which makes making connections with professors and other students easy. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Brianna:I made friends primarily by participating in collegiate track. Getting involved in clubs and intramural sports is a great way for freshmen to make friends. Because of students votes, we do not have a Greek life at our school. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Brianna:The Career Center is helpful for many students; however, I did not take advantage of it, and therefore I am unfamiliar with the companies who recruit. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Brianna:There are a variety of study areas at Western Washington University. There is an ideal study spot for anyone, whether it be spacious or small and cozy. The library only gets very crowded during mid-terms and finals week. There are also many other cafes and markets on campus that are great for studying (if you dont mind a little noisier environment). VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Brianna:One of my favorite things about Western Washington University is the amazing wilderness that surrounds the campus. It is an ideal place for campers, hikers, mountain bikers, sailors, kayakers, and everyone and anyone in between! I can walk outside my apartment and onto a trail that runs through the forest and leads to a lake. If you are not a big fan of the outdoors, the downtown is also a great place to be. It is only a mile from campus and so it is very easy to grab a bite to eat during a busy day at one of the many restaurants. Students are everywhere at Western Washington University. Lots of students enjoy going to the boardwalk on the bay which connects to downtown by a beautiful, lush trail. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Brianna:The student body was a perfect size for me. There are 15,000 students that attend Western Washington University; however, it feels like much fewer. The campus itself is fairly small, so you see people you know everywhere! The class sizes were ideal for me. In my upper-division classes there were on average 20-30 students. Of course the lower-division lecture classes usually had more like 60-150 students. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Brianna:One memorable experience was in my Developmental Psychology class. My professor showed a video of an elderly choir group who sings for underrepresented populations all over the world. They sang for a group of inmates at a jail immediately after one of the choir members had passed away. It was very inspiring and emotional to see the way the choir inspired the inmates, many of whom were crying and hugging the elderly folks after the performance. I found myself as well as other students tearing up. it was a very moving experience to see two extremely different populations who would normally not interact connect in such a positive and meaningful way. Check out Briannas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.