Step 1 For this still life tutorial I chose to draw a zippo lighter. I have drawn them quite a few times in the past but I always enjoy them. The first step was getting an outline. I also marked off where some highlights will be.

Step 2 I began drawing from left to right, top to bottom. Working this way, I never have to rest my hand on a finished part of a drawing. I carefully drew around the highlights with a mechanical 3B.

Step 3 I continued on drawing the flint and starting the metal. I noticed some highlights around the holes in the metal so I drew around them. When drawing highlights, compare them to eachother to make sure they are pure white. You will find that some highlights are not pure white.

Step 4 I came across a brilliant highlight in the metal and when comparing to other light parts, I saw that the holes in the metal should be lightly shaded. This made the highlight stand out more too.

Step 5 The top of the lighter was done at this point. I compared tones to eachother and tweaked parts that needed lightening or darkening.

Step 6 It was time to move onto the bottom part of the lighter. I started this off by laying down some B graphite. The zippo had alot of scratches in it that I wanted to show so I started making little random highlights all over. There was another highlight on the left side so I drew around it.

Step 7 The bottom part of the zippo is lighter on the left side and darker on the right so I began laying down some 3B on the right side and blending it into the left. I did not use blending stumps for this though. Blending stumps would give too smooth of an effect so I just used some good old fashioned cross hatching here. There were some highlights in the darker/right side also but not as bright as on the left so I pulled those out with an eraser.

Step 8 I worked on the scratches on the lighter for quite a while until I liked how they looked. I made sure to really look close at my reference to see how they actually appeared. There was some indirect light on the right side of the zippo so I rendered it lighter.

Step 9 I moved on to the lid closing mechanism at the top of the zippo. I made sure to draw around the highlights on the rivet.

Step 10 Next came the lid. I started drawing the darkest parts of the lid and drew around the highlight.

Step 11 I filled in the rest of the lid using a 3B with a cross hatching technique. There were a couple highlights on the lid so I pulled them out with a kneaded eraser. I then layed down some 3B for the cast shadow under the lid. I always blend my shadows because I think it makes them look better. Almost done now.

Step 12 I finished the drawing off by drawing the bottom of the lighter. I used a B pencil for this. After that I blended the cast shadow under the bottom same as I did for the last step. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

I hope this tutorial has helped you in some way or another. I can explain how I do things all day but the basic idea of drawing is to just understand how tones flow and to train your eye to see what others don’t see.

Source: http://www.dueysdrawings.com/

Learn how to draw this mansion.

In this section, we’ll show you how to draw this mansion. You can draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor, or you can print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Here, we’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it. Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray.

Step 1: Sketch various rectangles to form the basic shape of the house. Draw a horizontal line on each side of the left- and right-hand rectangles for the ground.

Step 2: Add second lines to the top rectangle. Draw the roof with two straight and two diagonal lines that meet. Sketch long horizontal lines across the center for the banisters. Connect them on the sides with straight lines.

Detail the lower part of the house with more horizontal lines. Use one horizontal line and two diagonal lines for the basic shape of the stairs. Add the left-hand roof with straight lines that meet.

Step 3: Draw two chimneys with straight lines. Add columns with double vertical lines. Sketch the windows with rectangles. Add a set of lines outside each window for the shutters. Draw four sets of double vertical lines with double arches over them for the door. Repeat the same figure above the door. Add shrubs with curly lines.

Step 4: Add railings with short vertical double lines. Finish the columns with odd U-shaped figures on top. Use rectangles for the window panes. Draw connecting rectangles for the stairs and two diagonal lines for the walk. Use rectangles and squares for the panels in the doors.

Step 5: Shade the roof with uneven horizontal lines. Detail the chimneys with diagonal lines. Add short horizontal lines to all the shutters. Shade the arches and side windows with dark zigzag lines.

Your drawing is finished! Even if you don’t get it right the first time, keep practicing until you’re happy with your drawing.

Source: http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Learn how to draw these castles.

In this section, we’ll show you how to draw castles. You can draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor, or you can print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Here, we’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it. Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray.

Step 1: Draw the basic shape of the building using a rectangle, a box, an odd-shaped rectangle for the roof, and two straight lines on the left side that meet as shown.

Step 2: Add the building extension on the right and the towers with rectangles and straight lines. Top some of them with triangles. Sketch a horizontal line behind the building. Draw the trees with a long squiggly line that covers the entire bottom of the castle as shown.

Step 3: Draw the mountains with uneven lines behind the building. Add two towers to the top of the roof with rectangles and triangles. Draw two rectangles beneath the towers as shown. Sketch curved lines in the upper rectangle. Draw curved lines on two other towers as shown.

Add a straight vertical line at the top of the tower on the right and to the roof on the left. Block many windows using rectangles and odd-shaped triangles. Add some surface detail to the side of the building with straight horizontal and vertical lines.

Step 4: Use odd-shaped rectangles and lines to add many windows to the side of the building. Add small straight lines to the tops of most of the towers. Draw a curly horizontal line wherever the roof meets the side of the building. Use uneven ovals to form the stones on the right side of the building.

Step 5: Add texture to the castle with straight vertical and diagonal lines. Shade the tree line and the stones on the lower right-hand side with diagonal lines. In the area where there are no stones, use diagonal lines to shade the ground.

Your drawing is finished! Even if you don’t get it right the first time, keep practicing until you’re happy with your drawing.

Source: http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Learn how to draw the Eiffel Tower.

In this section, we’ll show you how to draw the Eiffel Tower. You can draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor, or you can print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Here, we’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it. Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray.

Step 1: Draw a large triangle and split it in two vertically with another line. Add a long horizontal line near the bottom of the triangle for the ground.

Step 2: Draw three sets of horizontal lines as shown. Add a small arch near the top of the triangle. Shape the tower with three sets of slightly angled lines. Add a set of vertical lines to both of the lower horizontal tiers to create rectangles.

Step 3: Draw two vertical lines under the arch. Connect them at the top with a horizontal line. Add a second line to each of the slightly bent lines as shown. Draw an upside-down Y in the top tier with double lines. Divide the rectangle near the center of the tower with a double horizontal line and a single horizontal line.

Connect the upper double horizontal line to the line above it with an angled line. Add two short vertical lines to the single horizontal lines to connect them to the lines below. Continue double lines below the second horizontal tier. Draw double angled lines below the third horizontal tier. Use curly lines to add shrubs.

Step 4: Draw many sets of double horizontal lines for the supports. Add several diagonal lines below the upper part of the tower. Detail the two lowest rectangles with short double horizontal lines. Outline the lowest rectangle. Add more shrubs with curly lines.

Step 5: Draw double X-shaped figures in all the rectangles created by the previous step. Shade the horizontal tiers with diagonal lines. Add double bent lines to the curve at the bottom of the tower and to the area above it.

Your drawing is finished! Even if you don’t get it right the first time, keep practicing until you’re happy with your drawing.

Source: http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Learn how to draw this lighthouse.

In this section, we’ll show you how to draw this lighthouse. You can draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor, or you can print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Here, we’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it. Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray.

Step 1: Sketch a cylinder in the center of your paper and a three-dimensional box to the right of it. Draw a horizontal line for the ground.

Step 2: Add a double top to the cylinder. Draw curved lines on the cylinder as shown. Put a roof on the small house with angled lines. Add rectangles for the windows. Draw two vertical lines in each window for the shutters. Sketch the door with an incomplete rectangle. Draw uneven ovals for the rocks and a wavy line for the trees in the distant horizon.

Step 3: Draw a door for the lighthouse. Finish both doors and the two windows with + signs and double lines. Add doorknobs. Draw one small and one larger rectangle on the lighthouse for windows. Add vertical lines for the railing. Sketch double vertical lines and a bell-shaped figure for the top of the lighthouse. Use a squiggly line for the waves.

Step 4: Shade the roof of the lighthouse with crisscross lines. Add more diagonal lines for the glass at the top of the lighthouse. Detail the railing with thick black lines. Add shading to the windows. Texture the roof and shutter slats on the house with horizontal lines. Shade the rocks and water.

Your drawing is finished! Even if you don’t get it right the first time, keep practicing until you’re happy with your drawing.

Source: http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Learn how to use perspective to draw this building.

It’s easy to draw both near and far objects the correct size if you use vanishing points. If you look down a pair of railroad tracks, you can see that in the distance they appear to come together. The point at which lines that are actually parallel appear to come together is called the vanishing point.

Drawing a building requires two vanishing points — one on each side of the building. These two points represent the point where the horizontal lines of the building would come together if they were long enough.

In this section, we’ll show you how to use perspective in your drawings. You can draw the building below freehand while looking at your computer monitor, or you can print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Here, we’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it. Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray.

Step 1: To use perspective when drawing a simple building, draw a straight line across your paper. The line will represent the horizon, and points at either end of your line will be your vanishing points. Then draw a vertical line extending through the horizontal line to show the front corner of your building. The front corner will be the tallest edge because it is closest to you.

Step 2: If you draw a straight line connecting the top of this vertical line with the left-hand vanishing point, and then draw another straight line connecting the top of the vertical line with the right-hand vanishing point, those two lines show the proper angle for the roof line. Connect the bottom of the vertical line with both ends of the horizontal line. Now you have drawn the proper angle for the bottom of the building.

Step 3: Between these diagonal lines, draw another vertical line about halfway on either side of the center line. These are the left- and right-hand sides of the building.

Step 4: To draw something parallel to the roof line of the house — the tops of windows, for example — draw a line from the front corner of the building to each of the two vanishing points. This shows the correct angle for other lines parallel to the top and bottom of the building.

Step 5: Finish the building by adding windows, a door, and a chimney. Erase unnecessary pencil marks. Now you have a realistic-looking structure that you can build on!

Your drawing is finished! Even if you don’t get perspective right the first time, keep practicing until you’re happy with your drawing.

Source: http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Learn how to draw this cathedral.

In this section, we’ll show you how to draw this cathedral. You can draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor, or you can print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Here, we’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it. Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray.

Step 1: Draw three connected rectangles, with the center one being larger than the others. Sketch two diagonal lines in each that intersect in the middle. Find the peaks of the steeples by drawing vertical lines through the center of each X.

Extend these vertical lines past the tops of the rectangles. Draw a triangle and a rectangle over the left-hand rectangle and a triangle over both the center and right-hand rectangles. Extend a line over the center of the middle triangle.

Step 2: Divide each triangle into fourths with straight lines starting at the peak. Draw a horizontal line over the center triangle to form a cross. Add V-shaped figures and straight lines to the left-hand triangle to form a turret. Define the surface with double horizonal lines as shown. Extend two short diagonal lines from the bottom corners of the building. Connect them with a horizontal line.

Step 3: Add columns with single, double, and triple vertical lines. Top the columns with odd U-shaped figures. Draw one long and one short line under the turret. Add two vertical lines under the right steeple. Sketch one horizontal line across the lower columns on the left.

Step 4: On the left-hand side of the cathedral, draw double arches. Finish the cross with a short vertical line. Sketch double arches over the central part of the building. Detail them with curly lines. Add a wheel-shaped figure with spokes to the center and add curly lines underneath. Top it with a V-shaped figure.

On the right-hand side of the cathedral, draw one double arch and two sets of arches with odd-shaped tops. Add U-shaped lines to two of them. Sketch a zigzag line for the ground behind the cathedral. Finish the steps with long horizontal lines whose ends point downward.

Step 5: Shade the roof with diagonal lines and the windows with crisscross lines. Add connecting half-circles to the top front of the cathedral.

Your drawing is finished! Even if you don’t get it right the first time, keep practicing until you’re happy with your drawing.

Source: http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Learn how to draw the Taj Mahal.

In this section, we’ll show you how to draw the Taj Mahal. You can draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor, or you can print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Here, we’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it. Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray.

Step 1: Draw a horizontal line on the bottom of the page. Add a double set of horizontal lines above it. Sketch six sets of double vertical lines perpendicular to the double horizontal lines. On the outer left- and right-hand sides, sketch slightly bent lines to connect the two sets of double vertical lines as shown.

Connect the middle two sets of double vertical lines with intersecting horizontal lines. Add two more horizontal lines to connect the tops of the remaining vertical lines. Draw a double set of horizontal lines on the rectangles as shown.

Step 2: Add ovals to the tops of the four posts. Draw a horizontal line through the center of each oval. Sketch a slightly curved line connecting the two center ovals. Draw the center dome with a half-circle. Add a second curved line and a horizontal line underneath the center dome as shown.

Sketch a sideways V-shape on each side of the large dome. Add vertical lines underneath. Top each V-shape with a dome. Add arches with double curved lines and pointed tops. Use straight horizontal lines underneath some of the arches as shown. Detail the surface with vertical and horizontal straight lines and rectangles.

Step 3: Cap the domes with odd-shaped V-figures. Add a half-circle to the top of the center dome. External a short vertical line from the top of each dome. Detail the surface with straight vertical and horizontal lines. Draw an arch for the doorway. Add a curved line to the top of the arch. Use straight vertical and horizontal lines for the door.

Step 4: Detail the center dome with curly and dashed lines. Begin the grillwork with straight vertical and horizontal lines that intersect. Draw a double arch over the doorway and two horizontal lines underneath it. Add an arched doorway with a curved line over the top of the arch. Detail the base with two squares in each rectangle.

Step 5: Shade the center dome with curved, straight and broken lines. Draw curly lines over all the arches. Shade the windows on the side domes with diagonal lines. Add a heavy black line to the bottom of each. Draw bars on all the arches that have grillwork with intersecting horizontal and vertical lines.

Shade these arches with crisscross lines. Use straight horizontal and vertical lines to finish the details on the doorway. Shade the upper left-hand half of the doorway with crisscross lines.

Your drawing is finished! Even if you don’t get it right the first time, keep practicing until you’re happy with your drawing.

Source: http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Learn how to draw the Sydney Opera House.

In this section, we’ll show you how to draw the Sydney Opera House. You can draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor, or you can print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Here, we’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it. Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray.

Step 1: Sketch the basic shape of the building with two horizontal lines, rectangles, and triangles.

Step 2: Add different levels to the rectangles using straight lines. Form arches on the triangles and below using curved lines.

Step 3: Detail the arches using curved lines that join at the top. Draw a curved line under the lower left-hand arch. Add additional curved lines to the arches on the right-hand side as shown. Draw straight horizontal lines to two sections of the left-hand rectangle. Sketch an odd-shaped diamond. Add the door with an incomplete rectangle.

Step 4: Sketch ribs on the arches with curved lines. Draw squiggles for the water line. Detail the building with rectangles, a V-shaped figure, and horizontal lines.

Step 5: Finish the drawing by adding many straight vertical lines for the wood and arches. Draw diagonal lines inside the arches and windows to show depth.

Your drawing is finished! Even if you don’t get it right the first time, keep practicing until you’re happy with your drawing. A classic diner is a great place to meet for food and fun. Learn how to draw a diner in just five steps in the next section.

Source: http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Learn how to draw this diner.

In this section, we’ll show you how to draw this diner. You can draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor, or you can print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Here, we’ll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it. Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray.

Step 1: Use the exercise on perspective and vanishing points to establish the basic shape of the diner.

Step 2: Sketch the shape of the windows, door, and side details using the rules on drawing lines that are parallel to the basic structure found in the introductory exercise. Add curly details to the roof as shown.

Step 3: Establish the sign over the diner and the stairs using the rules on vanishing points. Draw the shape of the stairs using three lines that meet at the right-hand side. Add steps with straight lines. Separate the windows with straight single and double lines. Draw two rectangles for the glass in the door. Add odd-shaped figures for the pipes on the roof as shown.

Step 4: Print the name of the diner on the sign. Detail the roof with four curved lines and odd-shaped figures. Draw horizontal lines in the windows for the shades. Add a short vertical line ending in a blackened circle underneath. Detail the side and front with double lines.

Draw curves at the top and bottom of the door and two horizontal lines in the middle. Use straight vertical and horizontal lines for the banister. Add a line parallel with the bottom of the front of the building for the parking lot. Extend parallel straight lines for the parking spaces.

Step 5: Shade the pipes on the roof with diagonal lines. Add grillwork to the windows with intersecting vertical and horizontal lines. Finish the banister with vertical lines. Add blackened lines to the sign and parking spots for shading.

Your drawing is finished! Even if you don’t get it right the first time, keep practicing until you’re happy with your drawing.

Every bustling metropolis boasts skyscapers of all sizes. Learn how to draw a skyscraper in only four steps in the next section.

Source: http://www.howstuffworks.com/