Hey everyone. I am in the "high-end" woodworking field and have been taking a lot more time to draw and sketch out ideas etc... I love the authentic look of a sketch but do lines get straighter on their own the more you draw and sketch? Just curious? Thanks for the tips...advice...
LOL... NOOOOO..at least not mine, I have recently (very recently) started using this thing called a ruler..It was useful for digging things out from under the couch for years, then these guys here on drawspace taught me another use for it..'drawing a straight line'
NOOOOO..at least not mine, I have recently (very recently) started using this thing called a ruler..It was useful for digging things out from under the couch for years, then these guys here on drawspace taught me another use for it..'drawing a straight line'
It's best to just invest in a ruler.
Has anyone else notice that if you draw a picture where theres a straight line, you can usually do it easily. But if you actually TRY to draw the line...your hand starts shaking like a horse on amphetamines.
Toni.
Has anyone else notice that if you draw a picture where theres a straight line, you can usually do it easily. But if you actually TRY to draw the line...your hand starts shaking like a horse on amphetamines.
Toni.
There's nothing wrong with rulers 
If you want to draw straight lines freehand, there are some approaches which might help:
Most people who are untrained/self-taught think of drawing as being similar to writing - they sit hunched over the paper, hold the pencil tightly at the tip like they were signing a cheque.....
but....
If you want to draw straight lines freehand, there are some approaches which might help:
Most people who are untrained/self-taught think of drawing as being similar to writing - they sit hunched over the paper, hold the pencil tightly at the tip like they were signing a cheque.....
but....
- hold the pencil at the back end, lightly like someone conducting an orchestra
- get back, away from your drawing. (Ideally, get it on an easel, or attach it to a wall, at eyelevel, and and stand, at almost arms-length from it).
- Try to be relaxed, and move your arm from the elbow and the shoulder to draw the lines, not from the wrist
- do "draw-to" - make a light mark at the position where you want the line to end, then put your pencil where you want to begin from, and move it rapidly to the end position - you may find it helpful to practise this a couple of times in the air first, with the pencil-tip not touching the paper, before actually drawing the line.
QUOTE (dcorc @ Aug 25 2009, 08:29 AM) 
There's nothing wrong with rulers
If you want to draw straight lines freehand, there are some approaches which might help:
Most people who are untrained/self-taught think of drawing as being similar to writing - they sit hunched over the paper, hold the pencil tightly at the tip like they were signing a cheque.....
but....
If you want to draw straight lines freehand, there are some approaches which might help:
Most people who are untrained/self-taught think of drawing as being similar to writing - they sit hunched over the paper, hold the pencil tightly at the tip like they were signing a cheque.....
but....
- hold the pencil at the back end, lightly like someone conducting an orchestra
- get back, away from your drawing. (Ideally, get it on an easel, or attach it to a wall, at eyelevel, and and stand, at almost arms-length from it).
- Try to be relaxed, and move your arm from the elbow and the shoulder to draw the lines, not from the wrist
- do "draw-to" - make a light mark at the position where you want the line to end, then put your pencil where you want to begin from, and move it rapidly to the end position - you may find it helpful to practise this a couple of times in the air first, with the pencil-tip not touching the paper, before actually drawing the line.
hmm..sounds quite interesting..I think I will give it a try..thanks
LOL, nope, I have been drawing for a long time and I still can't draw a straight line
You guys are hilarious! Thank you for all your comments. Sounds good! I personally love the authenticity of a real sketch with crooked lines but I have no problems with the ruler. I just will be needing to put out some fast sketches for clients and thought maybe my lines would get a little better.
QUOTE (golfiscool @ Aug 25 2009, 04:24 PM)
LOL, nope, I have been drawing for a long time and I still can't draw a straight line
That's encouraging, I think.
QUOTE (dcorc @ Aug 25 2009, 08:29 AM)
There's nothing wrong with rulers
If you want to draw straight lines freehand, there are some approaches which might help:
Most people who are untrained/self-taught think of drawing as being similar to writing - they sit hunched over the paper, hold the pencil tightly at the tip like they were signing a cheque.....
but....
If you want to draw straight lines freehand, there are some approaches which might help:
Most people who are untrained/self-taught think of drawing as being similar to writing - they sit hunched over the paper, hold the pencil tightly at the tip like they were signing a cheque.....
but....
- hold the pencil at the back end, lightly like someone conducting an orchestra
- get back, away from your drawing. (Ideally, get it on an easel, or attach it to a wall, at eyelevel, and and stand, at almost arms-length from it).
- Try to be relaxed, and move your arm from the elbow and the shoulder to draw the lines, not from the wrist
- do "draw-to" - make a light mark at the position where you want the line to end, then put your pencil where you want to begin from, and move it rapidly to the end position - you may find it helpful to practise this a couple of times in the air first, with the pencil-tip not touching the paper, before actually drawing the line.
That sounds good! I like the idea of putting the drawing at eye level and standing. Like I said below, I love just the authenticity of a sketch but I have no problems with rulers. I just like to draw something decent for a client and not have to take too long with a ruler.
Thanks!
QUOTE (oliverandjazz @ Aug 25 2009, 08:00 AM)
LOL... NOOOOO..at least not mine, I have recently (very recently) started using this thing called a ruler..It was useful for digging things out from under the couch for years, then these guys here on drawspace taught me another use for it..'drawing a straight line'
NOOOOO..at least not mine, I have recently (very recently) started using this thing called a ruler..It was useful for digging things out from under the couch for years, then these guys here on drawspace taught me another use for it..'drawing a straight line' You are hilarious! Yes the ruler is a great thing!
LOVE your quote by the way!
If you focus on the end point instead of your pencil or the line itself your line will become much straighter.
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