Learn to draw with edges and outlines

Edges can make your drawing more convincing

My easy drawing tutorials set out below will show you how to draw using edges and outlines effectively. Edges and outlines play a crucial role in defining the structure and form of your subjects. Explore how to use them effectively in your drawing, capturing the essence of objects and figures with clarity and precision. Understand how to differentiate between hard and soft edges, and how to utilize outlines to create emphasis and define boundaries. With a keen eye for edges, your drawings will possess a sense of solidity and coherence.

Featured ‘How to Draw with Outlines and Edges’ Tutorials

Draw edges or outlines

In this comprehensive art tutorial video, designed specifically for beginners, I will guide you through the fundamental principles of drawing. With a step-by-step approach, I will unveil basic techniques that will enhance your artistic skills. I’ll start with the basics such as proper pencil grip, which plays a vital role in achieving various effects.

Additionally, I will demonstrate the art of creating precise outlines and edges, enabling you to bring your drawings to life. Furthermore, I will showcase the power of basic shading, as it holds the key to imbuing your artwork with a remarkable sense of realism. This invaluable how-to-draw video for beginners is bound to catapult your drawing journey to a promising and fulfilling start.

Draw edges without outlines

In this comprehensive art tutorial video, I’ll provide beginners with valuable insights on drawing techniques. By focusing on edges rather than outlines, I’ll guide you through a step-by-step process that is guaranteed to enhance your drawing skills. While I’ll use a block of graphite for demonstration, it is worth noting that the techniques can be replicated using alternative mediums such as chalk, charcoal, or pastel.

To create an edge, I’ll illustrate the concept of applying varying pressure with the fingers and thumb on one side of the graphite, rather than exerting equal pressure throughout. By doing so, learners can achieve a distinctive edge in their artwork. Throughout the tutorial, a variety of exercises are covered in order to provide ample opportunities for practice and reinforcement of the foundational drawing techniques.

Draw objects using edges

This comprehensive drawing tutorial is dedicated to teaching the technique of drawing with edges instead of outlines. It builds on the previous tutorial, delving deeper into the concept, guiding learners through the creation of a jug drawing, a classic subject in still life art.

Initially, the tutorial begins with an outline drawing, allowing beginners to establish the basic structure of the jug. However, the focus swiftly shifts towards utilizing edges to bring the artwork to life. By manipulating edges and employing variations in tone, the final drawing emerges with a sense of depth and realism.

One crucial aspect is the significance of understanding the direction of light. Establishing the source of light effectively captures the interplay of highlights and shading, thereby enhancing the overall impact of the drawing.

Drawing with edges can create a more three dimensional drawing

Sometimes using an outline in a drawing can make the sketch look flat. Using an edge can make your art work look more convincing and three dimensional.
One fundamental aspect of drawing is understanding the importance of when to use outlines and edges, to create effective drawings. While outlines can create a sense of flatness in a sketch, incorporating edges can bring depth and realism to your artwork. By learning how to create edges using graphite and pencil, artists can enhance their drawings and make them more convincing and three-dimensional. Learn how to create edges with graphite and pencil with these simple to follow art tutorials.

Draw without outlines

When it comes to drawing, relying solely on outlines can sometimes detract from the intended 3D effect of the artwork. However, there is a clever technique that artists use to suggest outlines and edges without explicitly drawing them. By employing this method, sketches become much more convincing and realistic. This tutorial explores the concept of suggesting outlines and edges through the effective use of lines.

One fundamental aspect covered in this tutorial is the use of lines to convey the angle of a surface and define the edges between different elements. By carefully observing the subject, whether it be a leaf, a pencil, a tube, or a flower, artists can utilize lines to suggest the shape and form of each object. This approach brings depth and dimensionality to the drawings, enabling them to capture the essence of the subject matter.

Draw with shading not outlines

If you’re a beginner looking to enhance your drawing skills, this tutorial will teach you how to draw realistic rocks on a beach using shading techniques instead of relying on outlines. By understanding the importance of identifying shapes within your subject, you’ll learn valuable drawing techniques that will enable you to create more convincing and lifelike representations.

Drawing rocks on a beach begins with the process of observing and analyzing the shapes present. Instead of focusing solely on outlines, this tutorial emphasizes the use of tone to establish form. By incorporating a tonal range and carefully defining edges, your drawings will take on a more authentic and convincing appearance. One key aspect of this technique involves altering the way you hold your pencil. Rather than using the tip, you will learn to utilize the side of the pencil, allowing for broader strokes and smoother transitions.

Draw with edges for folds

In this comprehensive drawing tutorial, which is part of my series on drawing basics, we delve into the intricate art of capturing folds in paper. The same drawing techniques can be applied to depicting folds in clothing or other similar objects. Throughout this tutorial, I will guide you step by step on how to accurately render the appearance of folded paper on your drawing surface. Mastering this method will prove invaluable in various artistic endeavors, particularly in the realm of still life drawings, where capturing the subtle nuances of light and shadow on folded surfaces adds depth and realism to your artwork.

As a beginner, it is essential to approach drawing with patience and a willingness to learn. This drawing  tutorial recognizes this and offers clear instructions and helpful tips to ensure your progress is both enjoyable and rewarding.

Paul Priestley Art’s YouTube channel offers a vast array of drawing tutorials tailored to beginners and those looking to improve their basic drawing techniques. By actively engaging with these tutorials, artists can gain invaluable insights, learn new art techniques, and ultimately progress on their artistic journey.

YouTube Channel: Paul Priestley Art

More drawing tutorials you might be interested in

Why not investigate new ways to improve your drawing techniques? Here are just a few ways you might develop your artistic creations.

  • New to drawing? Want to learn how to start drawing step by step?
  • Learn how to create great landscape drawings