5 Secrets to Better Nature Drawing       back to show page

1.  Beautiful Curves

Remember, that in nature, all living things are composed of beautiful curves, . . . there are no staight lines in the living world

 

2.  Create smooth and even shading

The eye goes to the thing that's wrong. Therefore, when you are shading, eliminate attention stealing irregular surfaces which force the brain to pay attention, just in case it's important

 

3.  Creating illusions of depth

Light curves around objects, therefore, whether you will ever see it or not, the edges of objects have a very subtle blur. If you use this in your drawings of things that are in front of other things, and leave a small gap between the forward object and the one behind, you will naturally create the illusion of layers

 

4. Changing Values

To accentuate the varying depth of objects, always vary their values. Objects with the greatest difference in values will appear far apart. Objects with identical values will appear flat. You can use this to move objects in your drawings forward and backwards in relation to other objects. However, the effect is strongest when the objects are overlapping.

 

5.  Intermixing Colors

In nature, there are no scandalous colors. Within any flower or tree, for example, the pinks, greens, yellows and reds all get along. That is because the parts of a plant are genetically related. If you apply this concept to your color drawings, when you intermix even the smallest amount of the other colors in any plant or flower with all the other colors, they will then all be related. This helps to make them feel more reflective of natures wonder.

When you do this you will:

  • add more vibrancy to your colors

  • while at the same time making them rest with one another.