More Two Minute Gesture Drawings

I worked on this week's elephant sketching challenge today and produced several two minute 1/4 turn gesture drawing attempts. I tried several different approaches. I drew from the computer and from life. I even pulled out my old easel and set up the elephant on a ladder with a presentation board behind it on a table to isolate it from the background. I dug out my old Conte' Crayons from college and did one series with a reddish colored iron oxide one. They are a soft, waxy pastel type stick. They are very messy, so I don't think I'll be doing more of them in my sketchbook. I have some other paper I want to try them on though. The drawings in this photo were done in my bigger 11" x 17" sketch pad using a soft 5B drawing pencil while standing at the easel with the object at about eye level.

Drawing Exercises for Improving Your Skills

There are several easy exercises that are very beneficial to developing the skill of drawing. Today I did a blind contour drawing from life. I used one of my potted flowers as a model.

Drawing elephants is fun and easy too! Because of their unique shapes, seeing them seems easier to do. I've used my figurine elephant collection on numerous occasions in my workshops as models. One of my favorite exercises is to do 2 minute gesture drawings with them. We turn the object 1/4 turn after each two minutes is up. In just eight minutes, you should have four different views. It's a great exercise to get you loosened up and really makes you see shapes instead of things! I've taken four different shots of our red elephant here and I hope you will try this exercise for our next sketching challenge. Even if you have no intention of turning it in, just do it OK? Eight minutes is all you need. And all you industrious people, please feel free to finish and add some details to your favorite pose. You will have to use your imagination and some artistic license as this elephant is not very detailed.


See more information about doing these exercises on your own here. 

Rose Sketch

This quick sketch was done holding my pencil like a wand. If you haven't tried using a pencil this way yet, why not give it a try. You might be surprised with the results.

A Two Minute Pineapple Gesture Sketch

I've been doing a lot of quick gesture drawings lately. I hope to convince you that drawing doesn't have to take a big chunk of time out of your day. If you were to practice quick gestures for five minutes everyday, I believe you'd see improvement in no time.

Blue Heron Sketches

More two minute gesture sketches! Today here are drawings of a miniature blue heron wood carving. I added some color with loose strokes to give them some character.

Colorful Cardinal Drawing

Today I had fun with the Cardinal gestures I posted on Monday. I played with a variety of colors and just let things happen. If you try this practice, you'll find it yields many benefits. When you are doing an actual painting, you will have more confidence from your sketching experiences which will result in a freer more flowing piece.

Remember to visit www.DrawingEveryday.com to see these posts archived in in chronological order.

Two Minute Rabbit Sketches

Four Two Minute Gesture Drawings

Here are four two minute gesture drawings of a Cardinal figurine. This is a great exercise. After each two minutes is up, turn the object 1/4 turn. You can accomplish a lot in a very short time this way.