I wanted to talk about the importance of shapes. A lot of people struggle with drawing and we put pressure on ourselves about getting details in right away. It is more important to get the general shape down. We know from a very young age what a dog shape looks like, what a human shape looks like, what a tree shape looks like, etc. These are shapes that we learn to identify early on and quickly.

The best way I know to successfully draw these elements is to look at that shape, get the general shape down, and fill it in more like a silhouette. Do not worry about detail, get the general shape down. You may have to practice getting the general shape down without adding detail repetitively. It is the opposite of how our brain works.

To get the general shape, you also need proportion. You need to know how far the beak of the bird is from its belly (or any shape). Try this out first before you start getting any detail in. Detail will slow you down and freeze you. Go for the shape and repeat this over and over. I believe you will have much more success long term. If you have trouble painting cars, draw a whole bunch of cars by the shape and silhouette. Focus on the shape first, then the details later on. A simple pencil and paper will work really well. Just keep focusing on shape; it will get you to where you want to be with your drawing.

If you’d like to learn more with me, join me through my video downloads, free webinar, or podcast.