a question about developing hand coodination

[ddekevich]

Hi everyone. I've recently started learning to draw and wanted to ask about some exercises for training the hand coordination, because when at an easel, I cannot even draw a straight line or crosshatch something or whatnot, and it freaks the hell outta me. And also I wanted to ask if there's a point in doing these exercises or the coordination would come naturally through the process of drawing.

Thanks in advance.

[bjoern3000]

AAAAGH, its the second time in my life that I double posted - again at CA

Sorry

[bjoern3000]

or the coordination would come naturally through the process of drawing.

I would say, it is this.

I also can not draw a straight line by hand - if it´s got to be PERFECTLY straigth, I use a ruler.

[Falchion]

It's something that you develop on your own. Strictly speaking, it's really freaking difficult even for professionals to pull off perfectly straight lines. Just use a ruler when you need to. Cross-hatching isn't exactly a science either. Just work at it until you figure out how you do it.

[Zazerzs]

how are you holding your drawing tool?

if you are holding it like you would hold a pen while writing you may want to switch it up to the method where you hold your drawing implement between your thumb and forefinger.

drawing straight lines is all about point to point drawing. and looking to where you line ends not the tip of your pencil.

[Lamp]

how are you holding your drawing tool?

if you are holding it like you would hold a pen while writing you may want to switch it up to the method where you hold your drawing implement between your thumb and forefinger.

Gotta second this. Personally I think that people who draw holding their pencil like they'd hold it to write are plain cuckoo.

[pegasi]

Gotta second this. Personally I think that people who draw holding their pencil like they'd hold it to write are plain cuckoo.

Why, does it really matter the way?

[Pigeonkill]

A lot of industrial designers warm up their hands. Scribbling semi circles, straight lines in rows, basic shapes, etc

Depends on what type of line work you want. Locking your elbow and using your shoulder to move your pencil is good for board line work, ex) for figure drawing.

For more precise drawing you want to use more of your wrist and pivoting your elbow. Many other subtle factors too, the grip and angle which you hold your pencil. When you draw you are basically rubbing dirt on textured surface.

Basically it comes down to muscle memory. Eventually you will find your "natural line." It's the angle which your arm likes to naturally gravitate to. Nobody has the same natural line because everybody arm is different, in weight, length etc.

When drawing, imagine going from point "A" to point "B" then go a head and actually draw the line. Feng Zhu(former concept artist who worked on Star Wars) has one method called "ghosting" where he would swing and hover his pencil over the paper, doing a mock line stroke without actually touching the paper. When he was comfortable, he would then land his mark on the paper. Sounds like a lot of work, but the guy blazes at drawing concepts like no tomorrow.

Hope this helps.

[Muscari]

oddly enough i got my hand coordination from playing guitar and piano. at any case, i guess just practicing to draw is the best way

[Xeon_OND]

I think drawing blind for a few seconds straight while looking at a subject and then check your paper afterwards to see whether the lines are accurate is a very good way to improve hand-eye coordination.

In fact, I'm practicing this now.

[Kamber Parrk]

Chop up a bunch of brown paper shopping bags for cheap paper.

Get a ball point pen.

Draw a bunch of lines, do a bunch of cross hatching.

Draw with your fingers. Draw with your wrist. Draw from your elbow. Draw from your shoulder.

Watch what's happening. See in what directions, for how far, various joints and body positions will produce straight or near straight lines.

The same way a golfer learns to whack a ball straight for 175 yards-- by trial and error application-- you'll get better over time.

[Sebastard]

I found drawing with my shoulder to be the absolute best solution for precision in drawing. It's still not "reflex" for me to draw using my shoulder, so i have to practice is mostly every day :).

Sometimes i still draw the way that i write, wrist and elbow, and it's not bad. Shoulder just seems alot better :).