1 Learning how to sketch is about making iteration.

We try, we do mistakes, we adjust… we retry… and so on. That’s how we keep learning and get better at anything. If you want to learn the violin, you have to try, explore and train your ears. So you will fine-tune. Same for drawing.

Kimon Nicolaides Gesture drawing.png
Kimon Nicolaides – Gesture drawing without an eraser

I was reading an article from my friend Roy Pallas, blogger and illustrator from Blog-ledessin.com.

He was talking about Kimon Nicolaides, author of “The natural way to draw”. The author recommends to do not look for perfection.

“The earlier you do the 1000 mistakes,
the earlier you get rid of them and reach your goal.”
– Kimon Nicolaides


2 You do not need any eraser to sketch.

Kimon Nicolaides also recommends learning drawing without an eraser (a method I totally share as well) – we shouldn’t erase our mistakes but correct them. We can better keep track of the mistakes.

Sketch with no eraser.png
You will learn faster without an eraser – keep track of your mistakes.

3 Do not draw with contour, but gesture drawing.

I didn’t know much about Kimon Nicolaides, but he seams sharing a similar philosophy as mine – especially about gesture drawing. It’s about sketching with your feelings, not by contour – so your lines are dynamic and convey emotion. And I like to import this technique for Industrial design sketching, fashion design, concept art, urban sketch… That’s actually what I tell my students from my course [Sketch like the Pros].

See also  How to Draw a Cube (2-Point Perspective)
Leonardo Penaranda - Sketch Random design sketching - student sketch like the pros
Leonardo Peneranda – Student of [Sketch like the Pros], 3rd module.
Put your pencil aside – make a try at sketching with a ballpoint pen only!
It’s pretty fun. The whole idea is to start any sketch with light pen pressure. Soon you will gain a lot of accuracies.

Have fun! And let me know how things going in the comments below.

Take care.
Cheers,
Chou-Tac

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Hello! I'm Chou-Tac, a Product Designer from France.

If the sketching methods I’ve acquired aid me in my life and in my industrial design career, I believe that they can also help you reach your dream goal as a student or professional designer.

Leave a comment in the blog or send me an email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com : )

Chou-Tac

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  • John Trant: “UK Teaching Design Looking for accessible tutorials to help train studentsSep 14, 17:32
  • Ummugulsun: “Hello, I’m Ummugulsum, 26 years old, and I am from Wales. I studied design 4 years ago but never went…Sep 14, 06:46
  • Ummugulsun: “Hello, I’m Ummugulsum, I am from Wales. I studied design 4 years ago but never went back to it after…Sep 14, 06:46
  • Hend Faiad: “I am from Egypt. I’m 30 years old. I want to learn to sketch to be able to demonstrate my…Sep 14, 01:29
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  • Maria: “I am a 71years old woman from the Netherlands. I teach people how to draw. And I am staying curious…Sep 10, 21:22
  • Nam Binh Trinh: “nothing beside learning to sketchSep 10, 21:01
  • Liana: “I’m from Canada. I have success with my drawing and watercolours but my perspectives are still really weak. You are…Sep 9, 22:25
  • Irene Sharkey: “I am from Canada. I am in my 70s. The process intriques me. Scrolling I found a link. I want…Sep 9, 21:41
  • Kit: “Challenge myself to sketch wellSep 9, 15:31
  • Nasser: “Hi, im a data scientist from kuwait, im 44 , i used to be an artist back in the day…Sep 9, 11:35
  • kunal singh: “HelloSep 8, 20:26
  • Sally Cespedes: “helloSep 8, 12:11
  • Shyam u tiwari: “I come from IndiaSep 7, 14:39
  • nainsuk: “thank you!Sep 7, 05:07
  • Aniket Dash: “I come from India. I am 25 years old. I want to sketch cars and consumer electronics. I discovered this…Sep 5, 17:18
  • Georgia: “Alabama, USA… 43… I want a relaxing hobby and also to be able to sketch castle ruins when I visit…Sep 5, 09:03
  • Z: “.Sep 3, 08:28
  • Pamela: “Photography isn’t as satisfying as I thought. Looking at other peoples sketches lets me feel more connected to a place…Sep 3, 02:13
  • Ale: “Mexico, 41 Love to draw, love art Finding ways to study Nicolaides, via Google ;)Sep 2, 22:19
  • Federica: “Parma, Italy – 43 yrs old personal enjoyment i was serching for learning how to draw shadowsSep 2, 14:38
  • Z: “*Sep 2, 10:11
  • sunghun: “1) I live in Seoul, South Korea and I am 40 years old. 2) I want to express my ideas…Sep 1, 16:39
  • Alicja K: “Such a thoughtful breakdown! I really like how you frame the pencil as a safe space for exploration and the…Aug 31, 02:39
  • Alicja K: “What a beautiful read! I love how you highlight sketching not just as a tool but as an emotional language.…Aug 31, 02:37
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