Tracing to learn - fast

[Karin Wells]

Here are the kind of drawings I am talking about. Even doing a convincing tracing/copy isn'that easy. But if you try, you could learn things like:

Anatomy

Composition

Lessons in drawing drapery

Sensitivity of line

The principles of the general division of light and shadow with the importance of the unity of patterns in each.

Something about the principles of warm and cool colors.

You can also see the beauty of working on a toned surface...and not just using an ordinary pencil on white paper...

And here's how to do it...find a picture in a book that you like. Choose to learn from the best. Go get a colored Xerox blow up so you can see it and copy/trace/grid it...or whatever. You can be your own critic...if your rendering doesn't look like the original...try again until you "get it right."

Note: If you try this and it just doesn't work for you...stop immediately and take somebody else's advice.