![rapid sketch by pencil rapid sketch by pencil](https://image.freepik.com/free-vector/elephants-sketch-by-hand-pencil-drawing_114122-1529.jpg)
This fact makes memory drawing a very important exercise. Then take the object back out and compare.īear in mind that unless you are doing contour drawing, most all other drawing is technically memory drawing, even if the time between observation and drawing is only a mico-second. Begin sketching what you recall about the subject until you have exhausted your memory. Look carefully at your subject for one minute, then put it out of sight. Memory Drawing ExercisesĪ very important exercise for increasing your powers of observation and your memory. 5 second sketch on the left and 30 second sketch on the right. Keep repeating the same circular motion for about 10 seconds then start another one. The circle should be around 4 to 6 inches in diameter. Holding the pencil lightly on the paper, start moving your whole arm quickly in a circular motion. Also, practice holding the pencil gently and working with light pressure. Just make sure you use your entire arm when you do these you should be able to feel it in your shoulder. There are several great variations on this exercise as described below. Now that you have practiced sketching in straight lines, let's on circular motion with ellipses.
![rapid sketch by pencil rapid sketch by pencil](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a8/26/78/a82678d392bc62dc05c233d89eac8c92.jpg)
Do this exercise again going in a counter-clockwise direction around the square. This is why it's important not to rotate the paper. The object of this exercise is to get comfortable moving your pencil and arm in other directions besides just left to right. Keep repeating on this same square until you cannot see the dots anymore. Next, go from the lower right dot to the lower left, then finish the square from the lower left to the upper left. Then, without rotating the paper, draw another line from the upper right dot to the lower right dot. Starting at the top, draw a quick, light line from the left dot to the right.
![rapid sketch by pencil rapid sketch by pencil](https://i.pinimg.com/474x/b4/57/bd/b457bdad6da9598c21d4c4bb28abda61.jpg)
Taking the above exercise a step up, this time draw four dots on your paper so they form a square. See the types of pencils, charcoal, and paper I use on the Drawing and Sketching Resources Page.