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Animals, Creative Techniques in Animal Photography, drawing animals, drawing instruction, drawing lesson, drawing tutorial, eraser drawing, Eraser Drawings
Eraser Drawings from a Photo Reference
First, though, a note on copyright. Illustrators and artists have long relied on photographic references when drawing or painting animals. It’s important, though, to be sensitive to the photographer’s copyright when you draw from a photo found in a book or online; basically, you don’t want to copy any image exactly, especially if you plan to sell your artwork. (The copyright issue is one reason I don’t often draw and paint realistic animals; when I do, it’s usually just for my own personal practice in my sketchbooks so that I can take this knowledge to any stylized creatures later.)
Copyright law is complicated! But my understanding is that I can rely on photographs to remind me of certain features of an animal, but it’s best to first look at a large selection of photographs so that you can really get a feel for what the animal looks like, as a whole. Then, pick one or two images in similar poses to work from, and make your drawings from those (but with all the other animal knowledge tucked inside your head and hand). Also, I tend pick fairly generic poses, looking only for animal clues (I wouldn’t copy a photo’s composition, for example, unless I asked permission from the photographer.)
In the end (and you’ll see at Step 8, below), there’s always a point where I abandon my reference and finish the drawing on my own, giving it little touches that may or may not be in the photographic references.
Supplies Needed:
— a piece of tissue paper or regular white computer paper
— mechanical pencil with eraser
1. Decide on an animal to draw and go to the library or online to find photo references. Spend a few minutes looking at a large variety of images before deciding on your pose. Pick one or two images to work from (I worked from a book I found recently at a thrift store: “Creative Techniques in Animal Photography“).
2. While looking at your reference, scribble a mass on your paper with your pencil.
2. I don’t usually get very far before I start erasing. Using the pink eraser on the end of the mechanical pencil, first lightly go over your graphic lines with the end/flat part to “smear” them, then start digging down deeper on lighter areas with the sharper edge. Vary your eraser pressure to achieve different lights and darks.
3. More pencil lines…
4. … and more erasing. Back and forth, back and forth.
6. Every so often you might need to use a piece of scrap paper to “clean” your eraser off.
7. Even when working specific features, just pay attention to lights and darks as much as you can; try not to think “eye” or “nose,” but just look at the shapes. In this case I had to keep going back in with more graphite to try to pull out the eye and nose, because I kept accidentally over-erasing. Just keep working the eye, for example, until it “feels” right.
8. Keep repeating Steps 3-7 until you are satisfied. There is usually a point toward the end where I abandon my reference altogether and just look at my drawing: Does it work? If not, I will add, subtract, or smear the graphite until I like the result.
Here’s the final, scanned with a white piece of paper tucked behind the tissue paper to show the contrasting values.
Art Giveaway!
Today I’m giving away this erased cat, which was drawn from imagination using the techniques, above:
So leave a comment below for your chance to win! I’ll pick the winner randomly on Sunday, October 7. The winner was, incredibly, commenter #1 — Paige!
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This post is part of a Two-Week Book Release Celebration for my new book, “Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals: A Mixed-Media Workshop with Carla Sonheim.” For the schedule, which includes book and art giveaways, contributing artists features, tutorials, and assignments, click here.
You are so generous! Thank you Carla (-:
Love your work, and that dog is just too cute.
Another suggestion on photograph sources – you can search online for copyright free images. Love the shaggy dog!
Thanks I really appreciate all the suggestions you are giving us. Looks a little bit beyond me right now but still will give it a try.
This technique was like magic for me – it freed me from the mental blocus I experience in front of a blank sheet of paper. Wonderful, Danielle Ouellet
I love all your simple techniques and the amazing final results!
Another wonderful technique to try! Thank you! I love the kitty!!
This cat has something of an owl … hahaaa … I love it a lot, I wished I could meet you in person, you are such a lovely artist with a great sort of humor.
Meooooowwww … come kitty kitty, come to me ☺☺☺
♥ Manuela
Amazing tutorial! I can’t wait to try! This blog celebration has been wonderful. Thank you so much for doing it!
I had done something in a creative therapy section, but i didn’t liked it at all, your way is much better, love it.
great tute and such an awesome cat you’ve made!!!!
i’m still impressed of your talent.
thank you for sharing the picture of yours and the tute.
by the way, great to remember us all of the copy rights of using other artist work. I have seen things that i thought that’s not right anymore. so this is a good thing of you!!! Hey have a great fun weekend;-D
How much fun, I just love your blog and would love to win an autographed copy of your book. But one way of another I will have a copy.
That dog is so adorable. What a cool idea. Have your new book on my wish list 🙂 Christmas is coming!
This technique will work so well to draw my dogs! Thanks for posting it. Did you use a .5 mechanical pencil, or would this work better with a 6B pencil?
What a cool technique! I look forward to trying it soon.
Love these eraser animals – will have to try some of that.
what a great technique – thank you.
I love this tutorial. You make it so very, very easy. Thank you.
How wonderful—love your eraser dog.
Such totally cool ideas. I love your life of play and work
I love the dog! I love all of this “stuff” because it shows so much of your talent and creative nature!
you inspire me.
🙂
OK………how I LOVE the erased CAT! I want to “randomly” WIN it.
I would put it in a lovely frame & hang it proudly on the wall.
My cat “Stretchie” will be jealous. Ha.
Wendy
That tutorial blew me away! I never gave the lowly eraser the praise it deserves for being an awesome tool in any artists toolbox!
Amazing! It’s negative reinforcement – the act of removing something to achieve a pleasant or desired result!
This technique is such a good idea, it will be fun to try.
Imaginary Animals arrived in the mail yesterday and I love it! Thank you so much for such a wonderful companion to Drawing Lab. I am going to spend the whole weekend with those 2 books and just draw, draw, draw!
What a great way to draw an animal. Who knew ‘undrawing’ could be a key to success! (Many refer to stitch ripping as ‘unsewing’ in the quilting world).
What a great demo! Thanks for giving me a chance to win the cat.
Carla’s cat WOW it’s great. Now I have to spend some more time up in my art-room instead of the housework. YIPEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!
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I’ve never seen this done before, I can’t wait to try this techniques. I will use my own dog as the model. Thanks
As a middle school art teacher that is a wonderful drawing technique to add to the art program. Would love to have a piece of your work!
Wow! what fun. I am making an appointment with myself to do this this afternoon.
Thank you for sharing this.
This looks like SO MUCH FUN!!! I can hardly wait to give it a try….thanks!
I so love this technique. I have a day off, and I think I am going to have to give it a try.
a pencil and an eraser?? can you make it any easier 😉
Thank you for sharing this technique…Ive got to try. Love to win the Cat for my darling daughter-in-law or maybe me!!
Wow this is amazing! I love the cat and all of the animals that I’ve seen! The method looks so easy but I’m sure it’s not. I’ve got to get that book!
I love the dog! Thanks for sharing – this blog hop has been such fun!
wow love the dog thanks carla for another great inspiration —
Now if I can just find an eraser in this house…I think the children eat them when I’m not looking! The expressions on both animals are amazing – especially given that you’re working with eraser as much as graphite. Thank you for sharing.
Thank goodness for erasers! I never realized I could “draw” with one until your Faces 101 class. But, this technique really really employs the power of negative space. Great illustration, Carla.
now this is definitely a fun technique…love the dog and I would give the cat a very good home on my admiration wall for all to admire.
This technique is a bit overwhelming to me but I think once I try it I’ll learn what to erase or not. It’s pretty amazing what you can do with just an eraser!
I am loving all of these tutorials! I’m getting behind in trying them out, but I’m keeping them handy for sometime soon.
what a great tutorial! i want to try this. love the cat, would love to own an original carla!!! thank you.
I love your technique. Hope I win the cat!
Such a fun idea. Can’t wait to try it. Always look forward to your blog’s. Would love to win the cat. Thank’s
yeah your book arrived yesterday!
Love the eraser drawing concept and would love to win your drawing…
I LOVES this technique AND the KITTYYYY!!! your tutorial is so clear and user-friendly and inspiring….i’m off to gets me an eraser right now!
I would have loved to have you for an art teacher in high school. You make are so much fun. This is the first time I have heard of eraser art and absolutely love it. Thank you for your generosity.
Looking forward to trying out this technique!Going to be a busy weekend..so many new things to play with..
This tutorial is wonderful! I loved the class I took with you and this is really cool. I’d love to win the cat!
What an AMAZING tutorial!!! I can’t wait to try it as I have such a problem separating lights and darks and can really see this working for me with my own photos as reference… THANK YOU again! And yes, I’d love to win the cat~
Love your work Carla! You need to do one of a guilty looking beagle who popped in their owners $250 purse. Oh wait. I should probably try this technique on my own. 🙂
I love your work for making me smile…….
Another very cool technique… You are just bursting at the seams with them 🙂
Oh how I would freak out if I won that cat – thanks for the chance!
xo
Kristin
I can’t wait for the new books. I’ve really expanded my not-so-creative drawings using methods in your Drawing Lab book. Had fun with the sidewalk-crack animals … every one turns out awesome following your lesson. I made a couple of cool Picasso dogs too, just simply love the book! Thanks for the above tutorial.
I love this eraser method, I had seen this method somewhere on youtube as well = they were drawing womens hair
Carla, thanks for all the inspiration and sharing!
Wow, thanks for a chance to win some of your wonderful work!
Excellent technique and that dog (and the cat too) came out wonderful.
You have the greatest range of techniques. Thanks so much for sharing them.
Great Carla! So nice to see how your drawing is developing, I wouldn’t have thought of this technique. Fun!
Amazing technique…you certain have total command of the eraser. — Michele
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