Drawing People in Context (with Bold Color!)
Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!
In today's video, I’m recreating one of my favorite sketchbook drawings from a recent trip to Gran Canaria (Spain). I didn’t film the original, so I thought it would be fun to draw it again, using the same materials and walking you through my process.
I’ll show you how I start with the main figure (because people don’t wait!) then build the rest of the scene around him.
I’m using Winsor&Newton designers gouache, a Staedtler Pigment liner with chisel tip (waterproof), colored pencils, and some crayon to add bold color and playful texture.
Along the way, I talk about how I mix colors, why I make certain artistic choices, and what I remember from that moment on location.
Let’s see how this new version compares to the original. And more importantly, let’s have fun drawing!
Looking for more tips? Watch my video How To Bring Depth And Liveliness Into Your Drawings
Does the Spanish vibe of this drawing taste like more? Join me in Spain in September to fill your own travel sketchbook!
Materials used in this video:
Hahnemühle Watercolor pad
Staedtler Pigment liner with chisel tip 0.3-2.0
Winsor&Newton Designers Gouache*
Pentel Aquash Waterbrushpen
*Gouache colors in my Art Toolkit box:
Prussian blue
Cobalt turquoise light
Opera pink
Naples yellow
Raw sienna
zinc white
Here's an assignment for this week:
Find a spot where you can observe people (at a café, a park, or a street corner.) Or use a photo for reference instead. Start your sketch with a person, because you'll have to draw them first before they leave. Then build the scene around them. Try using bold colors. You can also add texture with colored pencil or crayon. Just use any materials that you have. Have fun!
