TRY THESE FUN DRAWING ACTIVITIES

Shading
Adding shading and shadows is one way to help give your art a 3-D look. Follow these steps to learn how this is done.

Start with a basic egg shape. Relax – not all eggs are shaped the same! Any simple shape will do.		Add some lines that define the contour of the object. Contour lines follow either the edge or the internal shape of an object.		Decide where the light is coming from. Here, it is coming from the upper left side of the object.
Shade the opposite side of the object. You can use cross hatching, parallel lines, dots, squiggles . . .		Add a shadow on the ground beneath the egg using the same technique.		Try some overlapping: add another object behind the first one!
Add a horizon line to locate your objects in space.		Add any details you like. There must be a baby bird in there!

Perspective
Here are some other tips for giving your artwork that 3-D look by adding a sense of depth.

Starting with two shapes that are exactly alike (there’s that egg again!), we will make some changes to increase the perception of perspective.		Closer objects are lower on the paper.		Forms close to the viewer tend to obscure and overlap more distant objects.
As objects recede in the distance, they appear to become smaller.		Converging lines lead toward the vanishing point along the horizon line where the sky meets the earth.

Colors and details start to disappear when distances increase, too. Why? This is called atmospheric perspective. The more atmosphere you must look through to see something, the more visual “interference” there is. Atmospheric conditions (usually moisture in the air) cause distant objects to appear hazy and lighter than those in the foreground.

Texture
Texture tells us visually what an object might feel like. Often texture is accomplished by using different types of drawing tools and papers. For instance, crayon on watercolor paper gives a bumpy appearance. But many textures can be simulated just by how the marks are made on the paper.

Here are some of the strokes used to create textures. Try combining different strokes to develop the effect you want.

Hatching Hatching is horizontal or vertical parallel lines that vary in density. It can convey the idea of shadows, or it can distinguish between light and dark areas.		Contour Hatching Contour hatching involves lines that follow a shape or pattern to convey fur, feathers, softness, roundness, or other characteristics of the shape of an object.		Cross Hatching Cross hatching is used as shading, and also defines light and dark areas.
Stippling Stippling uses the repetition of dots to convey a sense of smoothness.		Scumbling Scumbling adds shading and value, and is ideal for bushes or other background material.

Notice how these different techniques can be used to define the natural shapes of these plants.


You can use more than one technique on a more complicated subject, like this duck.


See if you can identify what techniques were used to apply texture to this duck.

Observation
One of the best things you can do to improve your drawing is to practice – and practice observing what it is you want to draw. Get outside and look closely at nature, and observe the wildlife. Take notes and draw quick sketches. A journal is a wonderful way to track your progress!