*raises hand*

I would second that, Viola?, if it doesn’t bother you. I mean, not teaching per se, but how and whatnot. *facepalms* Because I totally didn’t just say teaching in other words. Sorry, I’m not talking straight at the moment. 

Thanks, coyote, I think... :P

Oh yeah, having artists do drawing tutorials would be fun! I, personally, am okay at drawing, but anatomy is... Not my strong suit. Also faces. And hands.

*blinks* Hm. Maybe? I don’t know if I can, to be honest, but I guess I can try giving you some tips. *clears throat*

Okay, so. For a finished drawing I’ll think about the composition, posing, etc. for a few seconds, then go in with a Bic mechanical #2 pencil (HB if you’re using drawing pencils, the standard hardness) and sketch it out.

I know a lot of people make their sketches really rough, but I put in all the details, because when I start inking I tend to forget to look at it from further away now and then, so if I don’t I end up with lines where I don’t want them. An eraser is usually handy. It’s also good to check your proportions around now. Eyes about one eye apart, elbows level with the waist, hands about the size of the face when spread, and I’m sure there’s more but secretly I just eyeball it. Things often go awry but I retain a lot more fluidity and sanity. If I’m working with tricky poses, I like to reference images online or in the mirror. It’s pretty fun. Then, inking!

I use Pilot Precise black ballpoint pens, extra fine, non-retractable. The paper I’m using has a huge impact on inking. Sometimes the ink will dry very slowly and make not smudging it hellishly difficult, sometimes it’ll bleed and go further than I want it to... and occasionally it’ll be perfect, but not for pencil or colored pencils. But enough of that. Inking is also kind of tricky. Reading the webcomics Stasis and Sakana and doing the Inktober challenge has taught me a lot. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how to explain it. Be careful with your strokes, I guess, but also don’t go too slow...? And for heaven’s sake, employ line variation! That’s when a line is thicker in one part than another, and is often used to emphasize curves, shadows and motion. Also hatching and crosshatching can be useful. This part is very relaxing. It’s so final and clean, I love it. I haaate having to wait for it to dry before I erase the pencil and color.

Next I erase the sketch. Erasers are important, they’ll affect your paper, and that’ll affect your color. I have no idea what brand my eraser is but it looks and works like a mechanical pencil. I think Staedtler (is that how you spell it?) Mars plastic erasers are pretty good, too. The ones on the ends of Bic and Ticonderoga pencils are good too, but will likely not outlast the pencils themselves. Also be careful not to crease or rip the paper, although I’m sure that’s obvious. 

As I’m sure you know, I use colored pencils, Crayola’s set of 50. I honestly think I need to work on my coloring; I don’t know anything about the theory of it. Except that shading can be done with darker, similar colors rather than just grayed versions of the same one or black for a brighter feeling, or opposite/complementary colors for... something? Like blue shading will imply yellow light. I go with my gut on color balance and palette choices. Pay attention to how much pressure you’re applying and try to keep it even; this will make the color even. Also try to color in the direction the object is moving, especially when you’re doing hair or something without too much ink. You can add softer details at this stage; gradients, freckles, patterns... it’s nice. 

I can’t say I believe telling you about how I draw is going to help you learn nearly so much as practice and immersing yourself in the work of artists you admire. You know how when you’ve been reading or listening to one kind of thing for a really long time, you start speaking and writing like it? It’s the same with drawing. If you look at one kind of style for a long time it’ll start to filter into what you draw. I collect from webcomics, mostly. There are some that have styles very similar to my own, more than you might believe. I think the only reason I can call my style my own is because of the specific blend of influences I have, including life. I draw myself and my surroundings a lot. I’ll also look at stuff and immediately start thinking about what kind of strokes with what materials could reproduce it, what combinations of colors could minic it most closely... Seriously, practice and sketching will be your most useful tools, your most powerful weapons alongsde your eyes. 

I’ll add more if I think of anything. Don’t get your hopes up for a step-by-step “how to draw x”. Maybe look up Bob Ross. He paints, of course, but he can teach you more about colors and composition and shading, highlights, textures... oh yeah, when you have overlapping stuff, the hidden parts are still there, so make sure your lines are continuous. You can sketch the hidden stuff in and erase it later if you want.  

You’re welcome!

Thanks, Viola, that was really helpful! I have two more questions if you don’t mind my asking. Do you have any tips for 3/4 drawings? I’ve been struggling with them lately. And also, hands. I have a lot of trouble with hands. Any tips for those?