Realistic drawing tips, advice, and tutorials reveal how you can draw realistically in pencil.
Expert advice from a super-realist professional graphite artist
I can show you how to draw water in pencil. There are rules you can follow, tools you can use, and drawing techniques that will allow you to draw realistic water with relative ease. Many artists find drawing water difficult, yet with a little knowledge and some patience you can …
Most of the drawing tutorials you’ll find online are filled with cartoonish sketches by people who really haven’t mastered their craft. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to create a lifelike baby elephant my way, using nothing more than a few pencil grades. I’m going to take you …
No one taught me how to draw texture in pencil, I discovered it by trial and error. Back in the day, there were no online lessons, only books, and most were useless. It’s not much better now, and that’s why this post will help you get results faster. Drawing texture …
It takes time and dedication to learn how to draw realistically. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but if you have the desire to give it a go, the rewards are worth the effort. Drawing realistically requires a keen eye and a super steady hand, along with the ability to concentrate …
Finding animals to draw in the wild takes time, money, and a lot of luck. It’s a luxury that most of us can’t afford. Yet, there is an obvious alternative. Zoos, sanctuaries, and rescue centers solve this problem. You get close-up views of your chosen subjects and the chance to …
Drawing realistic animals requires more than just artistic talent—it’s about capturing the essence of the creature in every detail. In this article, I’ll show you how I transform simple reference photos into realistic pencil drawings while sharing insights into my drawing methods along the way. From breaking down textures to …
This is my collection of realistic elephant drawings, all drawn from my own encounters and experiences traveling through Africa and Asia over the last few decades. Through this selection, I aim to share my fascination with these remarkable animals. I share a few personal stories, and offer some insights into …
Drawing realistic grass is easier than it looks. With the right techniques and understanding of its structure, anyone can create detailed and convincing grass in their drawing. These are the main methods. Draw realistic grass by sketching short crisscrossed lines for short grass or long curved lines for tall grass. …
As an artist who occasionally makes hyper-realistic art, I hear the same old angst-ridden question: “What’s the point of hyperrealism? You might as well take a photo”. Is hyperrealism art or a skill? I think I’m well placed to answer that question. Hyperrealism is an art form if the artist …
How do you make flat, lifeless, pencil shading look like a three-dimensional shadow? In this post, I will teach you how to draw realistic shadows in pencil the correct way. When drawing shadows on a flat plane, the depth is created by making the inner shadow area slightly lighter than …
The web is dominated by cartoons and drawing tutorials by people who really can’t draw very well. I’m going to show you how to draw a realistic giraffe with a pencil. In this tutorial, I will show you my process in reverse. First, we will start with the interesting bit …
Ever wondered how artists draw those tiny white lines in a pencil drawing? How do you draw whiskers? It looks insanely difficult, doesn’t it? But in actual fact, it’s incredibly easy, once you know how. There are three reliable ways of creating white lines in a pencil drawing. Score the …