This exercise looks complicated but it’s not, so don’t panic. Work slowly and spread the steps out over a few days if you want to. Nothing has be be perfectly done, and your drawing skills will get a good workout no matter how this turns out.
You’ll need 2H, HB, & 2B pencils, a sharpener, and a kneaded eraser.
Make The Beginning Line Drawing
Horizontal Lines
Draw a few horizontal lines an equal distance apart.
Vertical Lines
Draw a few vertical lines.
Diagonal Lines Left
Now draw diagonal lines through the points where the horizontal lines cross the verticals.
Diagonal Lines Right
Then draw diagonals in the opposite direction.
Add Shading
Hatch Pattern
Fill each triangle with one value using one pencil in this pattern.
To keep the texture consistent, make all of the hatching with a flattened pencil point. Make a flat tip by first sharpening the lead and then running it back and forth over some scrap paper. To use it, bring the flat point directly down to the drawing without shifting your grip on the pencil.
Pyramids - Flat
Your drawing should look similar to this after you’re through. You can see some depth beginning to form, but the drawing is still pretty flat overall.
Crank It Up And Feel The Burn
Gradation
Using the same pencils, gradate each side of the pyramids with the darkest part at the bottom, but this time use a sharper lead. The smaller point will fill more of the paper grain than the flat point did and that will darken the hatch.
If you need to lighten a dark blotch or smooth out the gradation a little, pinch the kneaded eraser into a point and “tap“ the hatch until it lightens. If you rub the graphite with the eraser, it’ll smear the texture and there’s no way to fix that.
Pyramids - 3D
When you’re done, you should see some very developed form that makes the pyramids pop out of the paper. If not, go back and darken the bottoms of the gradations more and don’t pull any punches this time. Timid shading leads to washed-out drawings.
Stay strong, draw well, enjoy,
c
Thanks for posting the 3D Pyramids. It was a good exercise for me. I always look forward to your next posting. M.Cline
Glad you enjoyed it Marvin!
I’ve always wanted to be a good drawer. I’ve been trying to teach myself how to draw for a few years now. Been using numerous how-to books that I bought but I think I’m learning too many approaches. I’m confusing myself and growing discouraged as I don’t see any true progress. Then I put it down for months, start again with the books. Then I put it away for months as I grow discouraged again. Saw your online drawing blog a few weeks ago. I decided to give the 3D pyramid sketch at try. I messed up the triangles on the first attempt. Did it correctly the 2nd time and I really enjoyed the process and liked results. I lost track of time and almost forgot to put dinner in the oven. I will definitely come here to learn more!
Hi Marty,
I think that about half of learning to draw is knowing how to make the pencil do what you want it to do. Gradations, hard and soft edges, controlled blending, mixing pencil grades, all of these technical skills are essential to creating a good drawing. The “Art” part comes later, after you’ve learned to do these things without thinking about them. A good grasp of technical drawing skills makes drawing easier and much more spontaneous too.
I’m glad you had success with the pyramids!
That looks soooooooo cool I’m going to try it. I’m getting way better at drawing. My parents still havent given me any lessons and im doing really well i did your cat drawing
This site is very nice..
I used to draw a lot when I was a kid.But due to my father’s extra stress on study I dropped it.And now I can’t even find a tutor for myself.When I see other people’s work it makes me happy as well as incredibly sad,because I was never given an opportunity to learn drawing.Your techniques are really great.I hope soon I’ll be able to draw like real artists.
Thank you so much making these free tutorials.Other tutorials on internet cost a fortune and I can’t afford that.For me sources are best.I’m grateful to you forever,for what ever you are doing for people like me.
Thank YOU Mimi for saying such kind words about my tutorials. Don’t worry, you’ll be able to draw well after you’ve practiced regularly for a while. Drawing isn’t difficult, but it does take a lot of practice to learn how and a lot of practice after you know how to stay in shape!
So, practice as much as you can. Don’t worry if you don’t think your drawings are very good. They’ll improve if you keep at it because drawing itself will always be your best teacher.
My pyramids look like pancakes but I’m trying! (very trying I’m told)
but at 78 it’s relaxing and thank you for your lessons.
Thanks Graham. If your pyramids look like square pancakes :) … you might need to check your values. Make sure the darkest is very dark. Really push it to the fullest black you can make.
I want to mention an odd thing that happens when you’re drawing too. Sometimes the drawing will suddenly look flat even though you thought you were developing the depth well. It seems to me that when this happens our minds are simply seeing the drawing as it really is and not implying any depth or space. This is actually a good thing because seeing things as they truly are is a one of the most important drawing skills, but it can be surprising when you see your own work flip from thee dimensional to flat!
Anyway, the best thing to do is take a break if the drawing suddenly ‘flattens,’ or take a look at it from a different point of view.
I’m looking forward with anticipation to improving my drawing skills with your expert advice. It’s the firsttime I have visited your web-site. Thank you so much.
Hi Graham,
This lesson is so popular that I’m going to have to create other exercises like it, so stay tuned for those. Thanks for stopping by.
Carol,
I am the manager of a senior center. We have just started using your lessons to learn drawing/shading. We position a table up to the computer on Monday afternoons and do one step at a time. Thank You!!!
We can’t afford a teacher and I have not been blessed artistically. Your site is a blessing to all of us! Rhonda
Hi Rhonda,
Thanks so much for telling me this. I’ll be picturing all of you pulled up around a computer and following along when I write my next tutorial. :)