Different Types of Drawing Styles
LINE DRAWING
While lines form the basis of all drawing styles, line drawings use contours without shading to create memorable sketches. If you really want to exercise your drawing skills, try continuous line drawing. In this exercise, the pen or pencil never leaves the sheet of paper, so the end result is formed from one single line.
DOODLING
While we may think of doodling as a mindless past time, this type of drawing is a wonderful way to let your subconscious mind flow. Great artists like Leonardo da Vinci are known for their doodles, which populate the margins of his notebooks. Illustrator Vincent Bal plays with the shadows and shapes he finds in everyday like and transforms them into whimsical works of art with his doodles. Meant to be executed quickly and with simple, clear lines, doodles are wonderful, immediate impressions of the world in front of us.
CARTOON
Cartoons have a long history, dating back to print magazines in the 19th century when they were used as satirical and comical illustrations. Cartoon illustration is a large category, having evolved over time. Some different cartoon styles include caricature, anime or manga, and classic Disney. Playing with cartoon drawings means liberating yourself from hyperrealistic representations, while still attempting to capture the essence of a figure in a semi-realistic manner.
POINTILLISM
While we often associate pointillism with the post-Impressionist paintings of Georges Seurat, it’s a technique and style that also works well for drawing. By stippling hundreds, or even thousands, of tiny dots, artists are able to build up light and shadow. The results can often be shockingly realistic, with viewers only realizing that dots—not lines—were used when looking at the finished artwork closely.
PHOTOREALISM / HYPERREALISM
For artists working in a photorealistic or hyperrealistic drawing style, patience is key. Hundreds of hours can be passed in front of any artwork in order to polish to a level where it looks like a photograph. While portraiture is a popular subject for hyperrealist drawings, you don’t need to limit yourself. For instance, artist Cj Hendry uses colored pencil to draw colorful blobs on paint that look so real, you’ll want to dip your paintbrush in them.
ARCHITECTURAL
This type of drawing can be extremely technical, but no less artistic. While architectural drawing is a skill often honed in the design world, non-architects are still able to create stunning artwork. Whether drawing an exact replica of a historical building like Notre Dame or creating your own fantasy piece of architecture, precision and attention to detail are necessary.
ANAMORPHIC
Another technical style, 3D drawings require mastery of perspective to create depth and illusion. While it may take some practice to get the hang of, the results are stunning and surprising works of art that will delight viewers. Sometimes called anamorphic drawing, there are lots of great YouTube drawing tutorials that can help beginners get the hang of this style.
FASHION
Used by designers to get their ideas down on paper, fashion illustration often calls for quick, gestural drawings that convey the essence of a garment. These drawing typically feature long, elongated figures to mimic the height of models and, as the focus is on the clothes, not the face, facial features are often lacking or minimal. Within fashion illustration itself there are many different styles, some rougher and others more polished.
