How to draw anything (in 1 step)

23 Aug 2008

Almost all of us have our own weaknesses when it comes to illustrating particular subjects. I, personally, can not draw a horse to save my life. I can’t imagine a situation where the difference between my life and death depends on my ability to draw a horse, but still, it’s haunted me for years.

I’ve talked about my lack of ability to draw horses to many of my artist friends and peers. To my surprise, many of them recounted me their own secret, shameful inabilities to draw all sorts of subjects including hands, proportions, machinery etc…

I then realized I was not alone in this. We all have our Achille’s heel, and I wanted to help all of us.

So a while back, I asked users here to email me illustrations they just could not finish due to their own personal weaknesses, or to send me any illustrations for general critique on areas that could use improvement. So that maybe I could find a common thread in all of our inabilities.

And it dawned on me. All of our problems could be solved with one simple technique:

Practice? No.

How To Draw Anything in One Step

You may be asking, “How could you possibly learn how to draw anything and everything in just one step? Are you a moron?” And if you are, there is no need for childish name-calling. Let’s be civilized adults here.

Follow along as I teach you how to draw everything, in this tutorial.

Step 1. Draw a dog covering the thing you can’t draw.

Don’t believe this works?

Remember how I asked users to send me their problem illustrations? Well, let’s test it out firsthand, shall we?

Brandon Kobayashi from Burnaby, Canada sent me this email and his illustration of a woman sitting on a tree stump:

“I often find myself having difficulties drawing human feet. Do you have any tips on how to improve my ability (or lack thereof) in that department?”

Sure there is, Brandon. Just follow my tutorial and you will be set.

Step 1. When finding you can’t draw feet, conveniently enough, a dog decided to rest at the woman’s feet the day the portrait was painted.

Melanie Goode of Auburn, WA, wrote me asking for help on this particular image:

“I don’t seem to have problems drawing bodies, but I am mystified when it comes to getting the proportions of a human face just right.”

Well, Melanie, I see you’re off to the conventional start by adding in the guidelines for the facial features. Most art instructors teach this very method. But I find it’s a lot easier if you follow my tutorial.

Step 1. Pretend a dog ran across the woman’s face the day she decided to lay in the grass.

At this point you’re probably wondering, “Wow, this is great! But will this technique work in different illustrative styles, as well?” Why, thank you for the compliment! And yes, it will work in all illustration styles.

For example, Ken Tanaka from San Diego, CA sent me a cartoon image of a solider he wanted depicting an M-16 machine gun.

Step 1. I have never personally been interested in drawing weaponry, but even with my lack of experience I was able to use my own tutorial to complete the image of a soldier holding an M-16 machine gun. (Who just happened to be walking along the direct path of a leaping golden retriever.)

And people of all ages can do it, too.

Wendy Lee of (address undisclosed) sent me a drawing by her 6 year old son and told me how he loved to draw dinosaurs and wants to learn to draw them more realistically.

Well, first off, dinosaurs do not talk, smile, nor has there ever been (in any official documented report) a dinosaur that existed labeled a Kevinsaurus.

So how will my system work on a 6 year olds drawing? Very well, actually!

Step 1. As we can add multiple dogs to cover the child’s numerous, major technical flaws.

So, there you have it: The be-all, end-all of illustration tutorials.

With my method, I guarantee you’ll find yourself with a newfound ability to draw anything and everything you can imagine on this big, round Earth. Including the Earth.

Q: “What if my weakness IS drawing dogs?”
A: It’s time to change hobbies.