I believe that encouragement is one of the most valuable gifts we can receive, and this art course is designed to offer just that. Whether you're 5 or 95, the principles you'll learn here are timeless and universal. I've found that art and design skills can be quickly grasped by anyone with average ability, and as you progress through these steps, you'll see your drawing and artistic skills flourish. We begin by honing our pencil work, focusing on the fundamentals of shapes, proportions, perspective, and the magic of light and shade to bring your drawings to life. As you advance, you'll explore the vibrant world of color, enhancing your ability to convey action, character, and emotion. We'll build confidence with pen work, delve into the expressive potential of pastels, and eventually embrace the fluid beauty of watercolors. Finally, we'll venture into the rich textures of oil painting and mixed media. This journey is crafted to inspire and encourage you every step of the way, and I am thrilled to be part of your artistic growth.
This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.
Use your sketching pencil to draw the eyes of the teddy bear. Press quite hard and draw a small circle for each eye. Add a sparkle by drawing a small square of light near the top of each eye. Leave a little moon shape of light at the bottom to create a shiny effect.
Add the Nose
Draw the shape of the teddy bear's nose, making it appear shiny by adding a small shiny patch on top. Curve the nostril down and leave a bit of light on the underside to suggest light bouncing off the table.
Create Fluffy Cheeks
Use a back-and-forth line technique to draw the slightly fluffy cheeks. Angle the lines outwards to give a fluffy appearance.
Draw the Head and Ears
Identify where the light is coming from and draw lines flicking upwards on the top of the head. Make these lines long and varied in length with spaces in between. As you move into shadow areas, draw lines closer together. For the ears, leave spaces at the top for light and darken the bottom for shadow.
Add Fur Details
Draw little furry lines around the eyes without covering them. Add fur poking out from the arm and front paw. Draw the foot with spaces for light and flatten the fur at the bottom where it sits on the table.
Pro tipLeave spaces between lines in areas where light hits to create a sense of lightness and texture.
Embark on your artistic journey by honing your foundational skills with pencil work. Begin by mastering shapes, proportions, and textures, and gradually incorporate light and shade to bring your drawings to life. As you progress, introduce color to your pencil drawings to express emotion and character, and experiment with pen, wash, and pastels for added depth and detail.
Warm-up exercises are essential to train your hand-eye coordination and build confidence. Start each session by practicing simple patterns, focusing on accurate replication and proportion. This preparation will enhance your control and precision as you move on to more complex subjects, such as still lifes and detailed compositions.
As you refine your drawing, pay attention to the big shapes and sub-shapes within your subject. Use light lines to sketch and adjust proportions, and gradually add details and textures. Remember to incorporate shadows and highlights to enhance the three-dimensional quality of your work. With practice and patience, your drawings will become more expressive and realistic.
Points to remember
Start with pencil to build foundational skills.
Always begin with a warm-up exercise to improve control.
Use your fingers to measure consistent distances.
Measure new elements against existing shapes for accuracy.
Use halfway marks to guide curves for perfect circles.
Draw lightly to allow for easy adjustments.
Leave spaces between lines where light hits for texture.
