Simplifying the Hardest Drawings in the World
If you’ve ever tried drawing, you know that it requires a keen eye, skill, and patience. While some subjects may appear simple, others test even the most seasoned artists. Today, we focus on a few subjects such as human figures, animals, glass, eyes and facial features, hands and feet, automobiles, flowers, and water. These collectively make up a huge chunk of the hardest drawings in the world.
1. Human Figures
Drawing human figures is undoubtedly difficult. But why is it complex? It is due to the intricacies of human anatomy, varying poses, and different proportions. In addition, if you are attempting a gesture drawing to capture movement and emotion, it adds another layer of difficulty. To successfully ease your attempts focus on the following.
- Study Anatomy: Familiarize yourself with the human skeleton and muscle structure. Understand how the body moves through joints.
- Practice Gesture Drawing: Make quick sketches of human figures, lasting only a few minutes to sufficiently capture the pose without getting worried about the details.
- Use References: Try taking help from photographs or live models to study human figures.
2. Animals
Animals are unpredictable. Every species of animal is different in anatomy. Each animal has unique proportions, textures, and movements, making it difficult to achieve a lifelike representation. But worry not, if you have the following checklist.
- Study Animal Anatomy: Like human figures, you need to be aware of the skeletal and muscular structures of the said animals.
- Observe Behavior: It demands a field trip. Spend time watching animals in their natural habitats or at the zoo, carefully grasping their movement and form.
- Texture Techniques: Practice rendering fur, scales, or feathers using cross-hatching or stippling.
3. Glass
Drawing glass is notoriously difficult due to its transparency and reflections. Hence, any artist who attempts it navigates light refraction and reflections. Here’s what you should know about.
- Focus on Reflections: Pay attention to how light interacts with glass. Remember, you need to double down on your subject.
- Use a Limited Palette: To convey the transparency of glass, use a limited colour palette, focusing on shades and highlights.
- Practice Still Life: Set up a still life with glass objects. This controlled environment will serve as baby steps.
4. Eyes and Facial Features
The eyes are the windows to the soul, and successfully illustrating their depth and emotion is challenging. Additionally, drawing facial features requires precision to convey character and likeness.
- Start with Basic Shapes: Break down the features into basic shapes. For example, draw circles for the eyes and ovals for the nose and mouth.
- Pay Attention to Proportions: The positioning of eyes and facial features is crucial. Make sure the space between them is adequate.
- Focus on Detail: Shading and texturing are your friends as they bring depth to the eyes and facial features.
5. Hands and Feet
Hands and feet are among the most complex parts of the human body to draw. They are meticulously detailed, combined with the range of positions they can adopt, making them a true challenge for artists.
- Practice Individual Parts: Focus on drawing hands and feet separately. Their length may confuse you at first, but pay attention to the proportions.
- Use Models: Referencing real hands and feet, either your own or those of others, can provide valuable insights.
- Experiment with Poses: Draw hands and feet in various poses and angles to get a comprehensive picture.
6. Automobiles
Automobiles are a blend of geometric precision and organic curves. You need to make sleek lines and reflective surfaces of cars, which is a daunting task, especially when considering perspective and depth.
- Basic Shapes: Break the car down into basic geometric shapes to get the proportions right.
- Master Perspective: Using one-point and two-point perspective, you can make an accurate automobile drawing.
- Focus on Details: Pay attention to automobiles’ reflective surfaces and details like headlights and tires to add realism to your drawings.
7. Flowers
While flowers may seem simple at first glance, their delicate structures and small details pose grave challenges. You need to convey their soft texture and their unique arrangement, which shall be easy with the following pointers.
- Observe Different Varieties: Study various types of flowers to understand their unique structures, designs, and shapes.
- Layering: Use layering techniques to create depth and texture in the petals and leaves.
- Experiment with Colors: Since flowers are vibrant and colourful, a good blending technique for realistic colour gradients is the best way to go.
8. Water
Water is fluid and reflective, making it a challenging subject to draw. Whether it’s the stillness of a lake or the movement of waves, mastery over drawing water requires understanding its properties.
- Observe Reflections: Just like glass, you need to understand how light reflects on the surface of water and how it interacts with objects.
- Experiment with Textures: Through washes or stippling convey the movement and texture of water.
- Practice Different Forms: You must draw water in various forms, from still ponds to flowing rivers, as each is different. Don’t forget to draw a couple of ripples.
Image Courtesy – SkillShare