Drawing Basics
Getting Started
Lines
Shapes
How Perspective Works
Bonus Content
A beginner's guide to sketchbooks and paper with lotsa juicy info about paper types, texture, weight, archivability and most importantly, how to avoid the common mental pitfall of sketchbooking. I'll get you started on the right path with sketchbooks so you can focus on improving your drawing skills. And you can treat this lesson as a resource you can come back to in the future when you need to refresh your memory of drawing paper.
Next week we’ll have a premium-only comprehensive beginners guide to Pencils, Erasers, and Sharpeners!
Newest
@kontrafiktion
6d
Hi Stan, any way to switch off the background music? I find it—even though it is not really loud—quite annoying. I have to concentrate quite a lot to filter it out (I am over 50, so that might contribute)
@kontrafiktion
3d
Aah, later videos don’t have music. That’s a relief. Hope it stays that way
@vidar
13d
(If you dont want to read all this, go down to the summary at the end)
What sketchbooks should I buy to draw with? I am a complete beginner but I have drawn from time to time. I think I like slightly thicker paper? I have these writing blocks at home and I like number 1 more(20g heavier) than number 2. So I guess I should go with heavier.
But I have one problem. I was in a 8 week(once every week, so 8 times) drawing beginner class a year ago. And I remember hating it because the teacher never really taught us beginner stuff, he just had us draw still-life(without teaching us how yo make lines, hwo to shade, etc...). But thats not why I hated it. I remember feeling fear because I didnt know "how" to make the lines I wanted and "how" to get the still-life to my paper. Here is the thing I hated, I felt like my paper was different from the other peoples paper, like my paper showed through more, more white spots and I didnt know how to fix that. So I guess my paper texture was too rough?
I had to smudge it out to fix it(and it still showed sometimes) while the other people didnt have to.
[Summary]
Short version of all text:
What paper should I get? I like printer paper, a little heavier paper, but not too rough paper(I think?, probably like smooth)
@zionastar
12d
if you can, go to an art store and touch the paper in the sketchbooks there. i like a thick, smooth-ish paper and tend to go towards a mixed media sketchbook because i like to use markers and the occasional bit of ink wash or liquid graphite for fun.
i don't know what's available to you, but digging through my various sketchbooks strathmore fine or medium tooth drawing or sketch paper would likely suit your tastes. or if you're wanting bigger sheets i think they use "smooth" for the texture identification on those. bristol paper is also quite smooth, and it's nice and thick (270 gsm, nearly as thick as watercolor paper) if you really want a thick one lol.
do you know what kind of paper you had in your class?
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Brando Gould
21d
*HOT TAKES ONLY*
Do you draw on the front and back of your sketchbook pages or just the right side?
Art Stark
20d
Sort of Warm Takes
Front & Back: I was nearing the end of a sketchbook which, upon review, did not have the precious, 'record of progress' drawings I had hoped for. Many of the pages were 'meh.' So, when I came to the end, I turned the sketchbook up-side-down and began numbering the pages in the opposite direction. As an added bonus, I'm feeling like I'm getting more for my money.
Front & Back: I have a mini-sketchbook for when I'm out and about. Many of the drawings are two page spreads (because, um, it's a mini-sketchbook).
Front & Back: My Proko Class Sketchbook is a chronological record of the Drawing Basics Course. The left side started out as notes and the right side as sketches. Though, I find myself mixing everything in a mess of sketches with notes. Either way, both sides of the page to keep a sense of chronology.
So, how are you handling this philosophical conundrum?
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Jacob Ibáñez
24d
One thing I like to do with my sketchbook is to draw actors and actresses I see while watching TV, but often times is very difficult and frustrating, I don't know if this is a good exercise, does anyone else do it?
@umerijaaz
26d
Hi, I am a newbie and interested in learning to draw but I have this paperlike-notebook called remarkable 2 and I usually sketch on it, Do I need different kinds of pencils to follow this course or using such tech help me get better aswell. I am asking because I dont know if there are different levels of sharpness or lead that one needs to create good sketches. Any guidance in this regard would be helpful:)
Brando Gould
21d
Nope! Stan goes over lots of different materials you can use to do the assignments, but the only thing required is paper and a pencil
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Bart Dirks
1mo
Hello everybody, i am new here 😀. I have a general question : how can i prevent the drawings in my sketchbook from smudging after i have finished on them? I want to use all the pages in my sketchbook but after a while they smudge the drawing on the opposite page. Thanks in advance! ❤️
1mo
Hey, @Bart Dirks, welcome!
I know of basically two ways to prevent this:
1) Applying some fixative to your drawings after you finish them. You can probably find art fixative spray on your local art supply shop, since it's a pretty common item, or you could also try to purchase it online. Alternatively, here's a quick tip I got from an old teacher of mine: hair fixative also works just as well with graphite and charcoal, plus it smells better.
2) Sticking a blank sheet of paper (or a piece of it) on top of the drawing so that this sheet catches all the smudging and protects the opposite page in the sketchbook. When I do this, I like to use tracing paper or another type of translucent paper so I can see my drawings through it (I'm attaching an example image).
Hope this helps!
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Crimson The Vixen
8mo
23/3/2023
taking the time and opportunity to show off the results of this video:
https://www.proko.com/course-lesson/ultimate-guide-to-sketchbooks-and-paper/notes
this helped a LOT with my mental state and also figured out what i could/needed to do when buying/starting on a New Sketchbook.
Bence
9mo
I made a new sketchbook today, the previous one was full. A4 size (Fabriano 120 g, A3 sketch sheets folded in half), own binding, 160 pages in total. It can be opened completely flat, so A3-sized drawings are also possible.
scott ford
9mo
Bence love this idea how do you like Fabriano paper ?
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Gaurav Seth
10mo
Don't know why i did it
Gaurav Seth
10mo
It is bad,shaky lines
But i enjoyed it
@creativsock
10mo
Just finished with my pear and- it was fun! It didn’t take too long for me, and it’s a little bit off length wise, but, as a young artist, it came out better than I expected it would
Karen Paraskevakos
11mo
Many useful comments throughout this section. I tend to want to be a perfectionist. I need to slow down and learn to enjoy the process and realize sketching is essential and not meant to be perfect. This will be hard to overcome but is probably why I abandon my drawings so much.
Juan de Garcia
11mo
Same Here.
Juice
11mo
I play around with my new toned sketch paper and my new mechanical pencils with 2mm led. I usually sketch on white sketchpaper with a blue colerase pencil. So this is new and different . When I saw prokos DK I just wanted to draw him as well.
@creativedragonfly77
11mo
I care for someone who is housebound and have to buy art materials on line. My question is if you try a new sketchbook and for whatever reason it doesn't feel right, is it like a book that you plough through to the end or is it ok to abandon it? I know there are no right and wrongs per se. Just curious.
Juice
11mo
I plough through sketchbooks even if its not my favorite type of paper. Sketchbook is for training so I use it to get hourse of drawing and buy something else next time. But drawing paper for example marker paper that doesnt work well with my material, i abandon. Or can be used for sketch or scribbles instead
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Eric A
11mo
Trying to work from physical objects (Proko Skull) instead of photos.
Joel Room
11mo
Toned paper is so much fun!
@mikriarktos
11mo
Just playing around and getting used to my new material
Katie
11mo
I just found this (site/videos/whole thing) today, and joined today too! I am so excited to try this course! I was curious if Stan / Proko had considered making the lesson notes a pdf that we could download...? Not a need, just a thought.
Rui Pedro
11mo
It’s already available, when you’re watching a video there’s always three tabs, Comments / Lesson Notes / Downloads, go to downloads to get the notes as TxT file
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@yuzanyoshida
11mo
Trying my best to keep myself accountable and at least draw one thing everyday. Today I sketched my cat, a lot of this is fast and loose like my other sketches. However I realized I don’t know what I do with fur, I love the left side of his face came out but everything else about this sketch I hate. Again I wasn’t trying to create a final product. I’m just trying to put my miles in.
Armando Mora
11mo
very cute regardless!
Samantha Maggard
11mo
I write down on my dry erase board my goals for drawing that day. Right now I am focusing in doing 2 portrait lay ins (I will stick with lay ins only for a couple months or more) and 2 assignments from drawbox. I will continue to do these and the projects that proko puts out. It helps to set a goal, write it down and try to achieve it for that day.
Brad
11mo
I got my sketch book! Previously when drawing I would keep my pinky barely touching the desk to keep a consistent pencil angle. When I get to the edge of the page it is pretty annoying being an inch above my desk. Am I supposed to be able to draw with a hovering hand? If not, is there anyhting wrong with tearing the sketch book apart to only work on a single page at a time?
Samantha Maggard
11mo
I pull the paper out of my sketchbook too.
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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.
