#060 Placement on the Paper | Drawing a Tiger from the Front
DRAWING REFERENCE: A photograph of an animal from the front, or use our tiger!
YOU'LL NEED: drawing paper 9x12 inches or copy paper, pencil, eraser
Hi and Welcome
Have you ever noticed that an object can look completely different when viewed from a new angle?
Today you'll watch me draw a tiger from the front and discover how careful observation and measuring can help us draw what we actually see, not what we think we know.
Today You Will
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Observe a tiger from an unusual front view.
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Use your pencil to compare height and width.
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Build the tiger with simple shapes.
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Make corrections as you draw.
What You'll Discover
When we see a tiger from the side, we know its body is much longer than its height. But a front view shows us something very different!
This is why observation is so important. Instead of drawing what you remember about a your subject, draw what you see in front of you.
Keep checking your measurements as you draw. If something looks too wide, too narrow, too tall, or too short, or tilted in the wrong direction, stop, erase, and make a correction. Artists often adjust their drawings as they work. And today I'll show you that even when you think the drawing is finished, you can go back into it, erase, and redraw a major feature like the face!
Why This Matters
Learning to observe carefully helps you draw objects from any angle, even unusual ones. Measuring teaches you to trust what you see rather than what you assume. Making corrections is an important part of the drawing process and helps your work become more accurate. The more you observe, measure, and adjust, the stronger your drawing skills will become.
Happy Drawing!
- Brenda Ellis Abbey
If you want more great drawing, painting, and sculpture lessons, check out our art books for Preschool through High School ages.
