I have been taking Drawing Lessons using the Great Courses. The 6 DVD’s with 36 lessons has been working out wonderfully. Most tend to feel you have to be born with the talent, but it can be learned. Using simple geometric shapes circles, rectangles, triangles and ellipses can be a great start in creating a drawing. This is one of the many concepts covered in the Great Courses Program.
In addition, I found a couple of children’s books at the City of Camarillo Library that could be of help. “Dinosaurs! A Drawing Book” by Michael Emberley and “1-2-3 Draw Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Animals” by Freddie Levin are fun step by step books to help you draw many different dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. Both books provide the name of the animal some information and about it. Then simple line exercises that turn into a Dinosaur or other Prehistoric Beast. Draw lightly so you can erase the extra lines. Have fun drawing the size and type of shapes don’t need to be exact. And finally practice, practice, practice and you will improve. All you need is a pencil, paper and eraser.
Years ago, I took an art class where the instructor forbid the use of an eraser. I suspect her reasoning was to make you take your time with your drawings. Unfortunately, I found this it very frustrating! I was extremely happy with Professor Brody the instructor in the Great Courses “How to Draw” encouraging you to use an eraser and admitting he uses them all the time. The children’s books above require the use of an eraser. After you have created your subject, you erase all the unnecessary lines that helped you get there. Then finish your drawing however you like with shading and/or color.
We can only guess what colors the dinosaurs wore. However, their relation to birds would indicate they were probably quite colorful. So, have fun and be creative with color.
In my experience Michael Emberley’s process results in a more cartoon like drawing (see Triceratops and Brontosaurus below). Using Freddie Levin’s method can lead to more realistic looking animals especially as you continue practicing (see Deinonychus, Stegosaurus, Smilodon and T-Rex above).
I used colored pencils and sharpies to finish my drawings. I changed the positions of some of the shapes suggested in the books to give the prehistoric animals a different posture. The goal is to look at your drawing subjects as simple shapes. This will make it easier to overcome the “I can’t draw That” with “Yes, I Can”. Continue to practice and soon you will begin to see the simple lines and shapes in everything you wish to draw . Check with your local Library for these books, others or DVD’s that could help you draw.
“Encouraging the Appreciation of Art and Education through the Inspiration of Dinosaurs”
Paul & Prehistoric Pals
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