How to create an emphasis drawing

Welcome! This blog post features a guided tutorial of how to create a drawing using the principle of design, EMPHASIS, to render an eye catching FOCAL POINT. The goal of the project is to render at least 4 still objects realistically with only 1 object being in color to make it POP! This lesson helps artists to build craftsmanship skills using pencil and colored pencil.

This tutorial will walk artists through an example of a composition of cherries. To sketch, a grid will be used to help aid in accuracy. This project can be customized by artists to show a variety of still life objects (as seen in the student examples shown here).

Hey educators! Scroll below for a ready-for-the-classroom lesson of this project available for purchase!

DRAWING PAPER SET UP:

Prior to beginning, determine what size picture plane is desired.

REFERENCE IMAGES:

The tutorial below uses the following images for reference.

STEP 1:

Use pencil and ruler to very lightly draw out a gridded picture plane. 

Refer to slide on image size for measurements.

STEP 2:

Next, very lightly sketch the contours of your subjects using the grid reference image of your choice.

Keep it light ‘til you get it right!

Consider which object you will make your FOCAL POINT using color to draw attention to it.

STEP 3:

Once your contours are accurate, erase out the remaining grid lines. 

STEP 4:

Use pencil to shade your 1st object. 

TIP! To avoid smudging, work from left to right if you are right handed. Reverse this if you are left handed. 

STEP 5:

Shade your 2nd object. 

STEP 6:

Shade your 3rd object. It’s coming along!

STEP 7:

Finally, use colored pencil to finalize the last object that will be emphasized with color! Refer to the image in color to aid in color accuracy. 

Be sure pencil lines are barely visible before using colored pencil.