Drawing

is fun!
Bittu Sahgal 
...................................................

P erhaps the most valuable asset to

your experiments and observations on

wildlife is your notebook. In its pages you
record facts, behaviour patterns, changes,
colours, unique characteristics, habitats and
descriptions of the various things you study;
perhaps you make an odd rough sketch also
of the shape and form of the animals and
birds. These sketches will help you keep a
visual track of all that you see, and if they
are accurate, what a help they can be!
Drawing can be great fun! But it's not so
easy to draw well. Sometimes the simplest
(usually the best) sketch is the most difficult
to draw. It requires a lot of patience and a
lot of determination. And as you get the
hang of it, you'll find that drawing becomes
easier and the results more satisfying. It's
important to draw simply and quickly, for
your subject may not necessarily be willing to pose for you - it may be a frisky squirrel, shy of the
extra attention, or a mother monkey wary of your intentions as good as they might be!
There is no special manner in which to hold your pencil, brush or crayon. Only, see that you do not
press down too hard on the paper. One very essential lesson to be learnt is never overdo your efforts,
as many of us are tempted to put in, "Just one more stroke", or "Just a little extra shading". The
simpler and cleaner the drawing, the more effective it will be.
While drawing, proceed step by step. Here are a few easy ones towards helping you draw, but
remember, the ultimate results will depend on your ability to take in shapes and forms, and your
perseverance. Never take your work too seriously or else you will be too easily discouraged. Not
everyone is a budding artist! If you spoil your drawing it will only be part of your training.
Your first step is to watch your subject carefully, trying to determine its most essential shape. Draw
the left lines first, if you are right-handed and the right ones if you are left-handed.
Then mark off the basic proportions the head, the arms and any other object. This will help you
organise the forms, and help you prepare for further additions.
When these lines are drawn you will see your subject emerging. If you have to make any changes,
make them now. If it looks wrong somehow, scrap the drawing and start afresh. Otherwise continue
filling in details like the features, hair, ears, etc.
From now on, your main concern is filling in the details-keeping the simple rule of avoiding
overdoing it, in mind.
You will soon have a complete reproduction of your subject. Filling in will be the same if you are
using pastels, a dry brush, oils, water-colours or a pencil.
While observing wildlife in all its diversity, you'll find that certain animals call for more curved lines -
for example a squirrel. Your curves must flow. Don't restrict your lines - there will always be as many
possibilities as you have ideas in your mind. Your outlines should be faint; should you have to alter
them, it can be done cleanly. Try blending strokes with your finger if you are using a pencil or
charcoal. This smoothens and softens the image.
An animal like the elephant that possesses thick hide will require generous folds and strokes. Notice
the way the animal's limbs bend. Have you noticed that the back legs of an elephant bend in the same
fashion as those of humans? Relate each animal to its behaviour and habitat, making sure that each
ones anatomy corresponds. An elephant's trunk, flexible and strong; a camel's nostrils can be closed
to avoid sand entering them. To make each little thing as realistic as possible, practise the eyes, nose,
ears, etc., separately, till you can draw them from memory. The best way to capture a scene is by
taking a quick photograph of the action taking place or of the expression of your subject. Your pets
will be ideal, to begin with.
Expression in your drawing will go a long way in
shaping a good product. Among monkeys, for
example, expressions are as varied as the number of
monkey species there are. Some are sullen-looking,
others happy-looking and most have a sort of
mischievous look in their expressive eyes. Try to
capture these various 'moods'. For animals with
hair, like cats, choose the short-haired ones first
because you can easily make out their basic bone
structure and shape. Those with long hair have the
same bone structure, but is more difficult to discern.
While shading in the hair, follow the line or
direction of the hair, but simplify it. And remember
the golden rule - never over-shade.
Keep looking for new shapes and lines that will add
dimension, like the reverse curve line and the oval.
If some lines need strength, emphasise them-
simply. Your initial steps will sometimes make no
sense to others, but don't lose heart-as you proceed,
your form will emerge slowly. All your drawings
should remain faithful to reality. Female subjects
will usually vary from male subjects, their young
even more so. Baby deer, for instance, have spots
that vanish as they become adult. Your sense of
touch can aid you more than you think it can. If you
have felt the nose of a horse, the fleece of sheep or
the head of a child, you will be able to reproduce it
almost exactly.
Remember, the simplest form, involving your first two steps, can make or break a good drawing. It
can mean the difference between a proportionate or a disproportionate drawing. So take your time to
get it right, and if it's wrong the first few times, try again. Learning how to draw is fun, and a perfect
illustration is well worth the frustration!