How to Draw Exactly What You See

Learn how to slow down and translate the world around you onto paper using simple observation techniques. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Make a frame. Cut a small square hole in the middle of your piece of cardboard. Hold it up to your eye and look through it at your object. This helps you focus only on what you are going to draw.
2. Find the big shapes. Don't worry about details yet. Look at your object and ask yourself: Is it mostly a circle, a square, or a triangle? Lightly sketch these basic shapes on your paper to build the foundation.
3. Measure with your pencil. Hold your pencil out at arm's length. Close one eye and use your thumb to measure how wide or tall a part of the object is. Compare that to another part of the object to see if your drawing matches the proportions.
4. Add the details. Now that you have the basic shape, start adding the smaller lines, textures, and shadows you see. Keep looking back and forth between your paper and your object frequently.