How Drawing helps you become a better painter — and how to build up your drawing muscles

by Karen Lynn Ingalls

Pencil drawings of pears • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

Sometimes painters tend to get so absorbed in color and pigment and texture that they forget to take time to sit and just draw (yes, I know whereof I speak).

But drawing is not only helpful, but essential, as a foundation for painting, no matter what kind of painting you do. And there are many different ways to approach your drawing.

My brother and sister-in-law sent me some pears for Christmas, and, of course, I couldn’t eat them until I’d at least drawn them. So, the other day, I drew some of them (making time lapse demo videos, of course) in different media and styles.

Pen and ink drawings of pears; the one on the far right done with a brush pen • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

Here are some of the results — at the top of this post, from left to right:

• Pencil drawing with shading
• Pencil drawing with shading, using a stump (tortillion)

And just above, from left to right:

• Pen and ink drawing with crosshatching
• Loose, gestural pen and ink drawing with cross hatching
• Brush pen contour drawing with shadow

If you don’t have the time or space to paint, quick sketches of whatever you’ve got nearby are a great way to keep making art. And the more you do, the stronger your drawing muscles will get. 

(A neighbor on NextDoor, online, said she could send her inner critic hiking up the Oat Hill Mine Trail here on the edge of town, and let it strengthen its calves — and exercise her drawing muscles at the same time. How’s that for staying in shape during quarantine time?)

6" x 6" drawing done during evacuation from the Glass Fire, October 2020, of the view outside the hotel window. Drawing materials used were: ink pen, watercolor pencils, and a water brush pen on watercolor paper, with a piece of cardboard for a drawing board. • © Karen Lynn Ingalls

The more you draw, the more it will help you see things closely. So, whatever you feel like painting — whether it’s pears or oak trees; people, dogs, or cats; vineyards or shoes (hey, the latter make good subjects for drawing); or the most glorious imaginary thing you can think of — developing a drawing practice will make your paintings stronger.

Just think: you can work out your drawings and paintings, your drawing muscles, and your inner critic’s calves at the same time, all from home. How’s that for an exercise program?

Now... where's my bamboo pen? I haven't used that in a while.... 🙂