Now, it’s time to draw? Almost. But you need less-frustrating tools and an EASIER start.

Part 3 of 9

Alright, class, it’s time to plan the materials you need and get a bunch of them. Get them in bulk if you need to. You don’t want a supply crisis holding you back and have you thinking this is your one chance. Just don’t use the plain school-lined or copy paper—you see enough of that every day, so get something better, preferably acid-free.

I recommend 0.3 or 0.5mm mechanical pencils with 4H lead or lighter (5H, 6H, 7H… but still enough so you can make out the details). You’re done with constantly sharpening wooden pencils and watching how hard you press against the paper. Mechanical pencils with special leads keep the same point and they’re always light, easily erasable strokes. You’ll need that since you’re putting a certain amount of graphite on a really big or extremely small sheet of paper, and you’ll be erasing as much or even more than you’ll be drawing.

I’m pretty sure a man was punched in the face over the “Tuff Stuff” version of this.

In that vein, buy a variety of white erasers in different sizes: No more using the one on the pencil. I use thin mechanical pencils and erasers more than any other for precise edges. Then, you can go back to your trusty #2 for the dark lines if you want.

Now, it’s time to imagine what your final artwork will look like. What is your subject(s) doing? Walking? Running? Declaring bankruptcy?

Draw a very tiny figure, not even an inch big, in the corner of your paper. Instead of adding details to a normal-sized sketch that wasn’t in the right pose or angle to begin with, here is the rehearsal before the rehearsal. You can draw the tiny example multiple times and choose your favorite or keep sketching and erasing your small blob until it looks how you want. This is your active brainstorming.

These art blobs are officially copyrighted property of Life Forever, LLC

While you’re doing this, you gotta remember the environment your subjects are in. I’m sure a majority of your works are set on this blue, watery planet, so make sure gravity is actually happening: Clothes and hair should be hanging off the body in a downwards direction. If in space, tailor your art to the idea that there’s no such thing as “up” or “down.” If you’re depicting movement, your completely motionless artwork still has to show that. Try doing poses in the mirror and bring that realism to your sketch. If you can’t afford a mirror, *hire a film crew to create illegal action sequences out on the street and use some stills from the video. That way the contact, expressions, and incarceration are extremely realistic! 

*Life Forever, LLC does not condone taking this action and will laugh at any and all idiotic attempts.
Adapted from DeForrest: Volume One, 2015