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How to Draw Confident Lines - The Tapered Stroke
Lesson by
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How to Draw Confident Lines - The Tapered Stroke
Lesson by
89K
Mark as Completed
Tapered strokes are super important to create confident and visually appealing drawings. By connecting lots of small, tapered lines we can construct one clean complex line. Also, tapered strokes are essential in gestural loose drawings that carry energy and have a playful charm.
Newest
Crimson The Kitsune
2d
2/6/2023
Decided to draw different shapes with the Tapered Stroke, tell me how I did.
Crimson The Kitsune
7d
28/5/2023
I’m struggling greatly with the tapered stroke, also I think I should be doing something else a long with this.
Crimson The Kitsune
8d
27/5/2023
I tried to do some tampered strokes with Proko’s example of random doodles, the trying to do it when shapes.
Crimson The Kitsune
8d
I’ll be honest in saying I felt like I’ve wasted a lot of pages there, 2-3 at most should’ve been enough.
Crimson The Kitsune
8d
Sorry if it seems a little overwhelming with the amount of images, you don’t have to look at it if it overwhelms your senses.
Cindy Duflot
27d
Hi all, I would like to check something with you. I notice that I have a very hard time drawing a tapered stroke when my pencil is too hard. Is this "normal"? Does it make sense? Is it particular to me? Thanks for the input!
Adam Reising
2mo
Is there a video that expands on how to practice or get used to drawing with the shoulder, elbow, and wrist? Or perhaps some examples of when to shift your emphasis from big arm movements to more of the elbow or wrist? For example, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to use my whole arm for fine details, but I don't yet comprehend these things. I just know that I tend to smudge my work when I hone in on certain things because I end up bracing my hand or elbow against the paper. Thanks so much!
artpunk
2mo
Unless I missed it, this seems to be the first lesson on a technique that doesn’t give any technical advice on how to actually make a tapered stroke.
One observation from this video and the following videos is that Stan seems to be using a pencil with a more rounded tip than when doing final detail work. Is a not-so-sharp pencil ideal for tapered strokes?
After some experimenting, it seems tapered strokes can be achieved with less pressure at the beginning of the line and more pressure in the middle than back to less pressure for the “taper” when using the tripod grip. When using overhand grip it seems that angle of pencil comes more into play in giving additional control.
All of this seem right? Any technical tips from you taper stroke ninjas would be great!
2mo
Please watch the 6 Habits for Good Line Quality lesson. Specifically the "Follow Through" and "Ghosting" techniques should help you with executing a tapered stroke.
Show all replies (1)
lisa23
2mo
I feel the same way. I'm unclear on how to make a tapered stroke, too. I'm only able to taper the end of my stroke if I make a smooth, pulling motion and longer lines. If Proko could offer more detail on how to make a tapered line that would be much appreciated. Perhaps a video that is zoomed out, so we can see what his arm is doing. Otherwise, this lesson is lost on me.
Benjamin Green
3mo
What I struggle with is drawing lines digitally. I just can't get over the mental connection to the screen. I know there are screen tablets these days, but those force me to look down over the screen and I've gotten a pinched nerve in my neck from doing that. I drew with nothing but a ballpoint pen for a long time and got decent penmanship doing that, but when I try to translate that to a digital medium, I just really really get down on myself for not being able to imitate the same accuracy and line quality. I'm constantly drawing, undo, drawing, undo. Can't seem to get the line to go where I want to in my mind. If anybody has any tips on this or can relate and wants to rant, I would love to hear from you. Thanks!
Benjamin Green
3mo
Also, I wanted to comment that I think it's awesome he can draw long curved lines like that without rotating his canvas. That shows how much practice he has put into his drawing. Amazing!
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Tony Zhang
3mo
Just playing with lines!:)
Devon D. Yeider
3mo
Practicing tapered lines
Laurie
3mo
Tapered lines, and then tried to use tapered lines for some of the images in the video. I have a bad tendency to go back&forth instead of a single tapered line. I also tend to forget proportions when focusing on the tapering - probably need to box out the spaces first, even when doing tapered sketching. Anyway, the grandpa duck in the center isn't too bad.
Steven
3mo
I can't seem to start the line tapered. Ending a line tapered is easy as you flick the pencil of the page but how to start it?
2mo
Please watch the 6 Habits for Good Line Quality lesson. Specifically the "Ghosting" techniques should help you with tapering the beginning of a line.
Andrea Böhm
3mo
I have exactly the same problem. The start of the line either gets too hard/thick or the tapering at the start gets much longer than the tapering at the end.
Any advice, maybe from @Stan Prokopenko besides continuing to practice?
Canyon Braff
3mo
what helped me was visualizing / embodying the feeeling of a pendulum. start doing them reeeally slow and speed up and let muscle memory from the slower ones. start real light push real hard then flick
The guy from BluishDot
3mo
I tried to practice some loose, confident lines by referencing an image of solidified lava. It was quite fun!
squeen
3mo
I think you did well, but that's a really hard image to mentally resolve (i.e. not much contrast, few discernible silhouettes, etc.).
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Steve M
3mo
Doing some warm ups and discovered a fun warm up using loose sketching and tapered strokes for a different type of mushroom.
Marek Krząszcz
3mo
Hi all! I am going through this course using a tablet and CSP (this is my medium of choice for drawing). I have a problem with tempered strokes, and more precisely, to make my lines have a soft beginning, a thicker middle and a soft end again.
I'm wondering if I'm the only one having a problem with mapping this on a tablet or is this something normal and I should rather focus on loose sketching? It bothers me a bit.
Joel Room
3mo
I've heard it's very hard on small tablets, but it's pretty hard on paper too. I guess we have to practice our dexterity before it becomes natural.
Erin
3mo
Hey! It's been hard even on paper. Either it'll be light all the way through or only light at the end. After trying different speeds and adjusting pressure I'm slowly getting consistent tapered lines. Sorry I don't know much about digital but maybe just more practice would help. Or a different brush?
luciovm
3mo
Could someone give me some advice with this tapered lines please? I tried to use the in these drawings but I don't think I'm getting it correctly. (I will keep practicing anyway but if someone has advice I would be greatful)
Samantha Maggard
3mo
Make sure you are using your full arm from the shoulder and ghost drawing before helps. Just practicing which I believe several of his next videos will have projects geared towards line.
Jacob Allen
3mo
Thanks for sharing this! I'm a beginner so take my critique with a grain of salt.
Have you practiced just the tapered line with CSI curves outside of a specific drawing? It looks like these lines could be done with more confidence. You could do some ghosting before pulling the line.
Some of the lines appear to be a bit complex. Maybe try breaking complex contours into simpler lines.
3mo
What, no FORCE? This is our staple line so learn it and the power that lies in the line! Keep driving with that line.
pedrobranco
3mo
Holy smokes, the actual Mike Mattesi?!
Joel Room
3mo
Any tips on how to practice the tapered line with force? Looking to take your course in the future and would love to be prepared for it when the time comes.
Mon Barker
3mo
Back to the boots, attempting tapered csi….shorter lines still got a bit scratchy but longer lines feel good. Any thoughts on tapering vs ellipses and minimum line length I.e., to taper, or not to taper? That’s my question…trying to taper several lines to make a complete ellipse seems a bit pointless but I could be missing something.
Guess I should try the laces tomorrow 😭
Gene Plato
3mo
Tapered line practice. Also trying out new Koh-I-Noor woodless pencil.
Jen Trader-Morgeson
3mo
Love these freeform designs!
Jacob Allen
3mo
Wow, tapered lines makes these drawings look so interesting. Nice work!
Tuija Kuismin
3mo
How do you like the woodless pencil? I've been wanting to try them out, but haven't gotten to it yet. Is it smoother on paper than the regular graphite pencil?
Show all replies (2)
Sandro Liechti
3mo
Tried to sketch this lil fella using tapered lines. Kinda like the outcome. Feel free to critique my work. Looking forward to draw learn an practice more. :D
Devon D. Yeider
3mo
Practicing tapered lines
Tuija Kuismin
3mo
Lines became dunes 😄.
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About instructor
Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.
