Drawing: The 5 Basic Shapes

Want to learn how to draw but don't know where to start. Well let me show you how to draw almost anything with just five simple shapes. You can learn to draw almost anything you want to and continue to carry an increasing enjoyment for it. Almost everything you see around you, a house, a face, a glass, a boat, mountain, tree and so on can be drawn with these following five simple shapes. All you need is a square, circle, triangle, rectangle, and an oval.

Now when you begin drawing you can use any of the shapes that you desire. You may choose to draw something simple like a flower, some people may choose to start with an oval, and others a circle. It doesn't matter what you choose there is no right or wrong. It is what ever feels good to you. Now practice these shapes. Allowing yourself only a few seconds to lightly sketch each one. Do them many times each time a different size and a different proportion. As they say, practice makes perfect. Now don't worry if they are not exact. These are only going to be used as your basic guidelines. Concentrate only on doing them quickly and lightly. Maybe you have to go over them a few times before they look right to you.

Now for drawing more complex objects. Take a picture of whatever it is you want to draw and break it down into your basic shapes. Draw them lightly to achieve the general outline of your subject. Above you can see how I worked through a rabbit and a chicken, starting with the basic shapes of just some circles and triangles. Notice how all the sketches are less then perfect. That is because these are your practice sketches. They will get better with time. These basic shapes will show you instantly if you have the correct proportions. You will find that if you are not satisfied it is very simple to adjust the size of the basic shapes to your satisfaction.

Many beginners often try to draw a portion of the whole object and find that as they continue adding parts they have incorrect proportions and the object does not look correct. They quickly become aggravated having spent so much time on minute details only to find that it looks funny, or they don't have enough room to finish the drawing. That's why starting with simple shapes is so important for even the more advanced artists. Also by putting down these basic shapes you become enthusiastic as you see your simple drawling slowly coming to life.

Try setting yourself a time limit, maybe 15 minutes to start, you will be amazed to see how working under pressure will improve your ability. It will force you to avoid worrying about stray lines and trying to make it perfect. Instead your brain will pick out the instinctive basic lines that will produce the main shape.

Practicing these exercises continually will help you to draw and see things in a way you never have before. You will begin seeing more and more things as simple shapes instead of the complex combinations of lines and colors you were seeing before. Start looking around the room, picking out objects and deciding what simple shapes make it up. By doing this your starting a process that will teach you how to use your eye to draw. Observation is the key. The more you practice the more your brain will remember making it easier for you to draw in the future.