How to Draw Freehand Straight Lines - Easy Straight Lines Without A Ruler

[@juniperlabor3489]

Sir Stephen please put hashtags to your videos to help your video with the algorithm. So that many newbie and aspiring artists find your videos.

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks. I’ll look into it Juniper. 😀

[@atashahroudi188]

You have masterfully addressed all problems that I had when drawing. Nice tips Stephen I thank you so much❤

[@stephentraversart]

Happy to help!😀

[@deborahbarrett9609]

Wow! Thank you so much Stephen! I am so thankful that I found your channel! I am not even finished watching this video and I have been practicing my lines-. I HAVE NEVER DRAWN STRAIGHTER lines before!! THANK YOU , THANK YOU!, You are the BEST teacher !!! I just may improve my drawing with your guidance!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉!!!!

[@stephentraversart]

This is so satisfying to hear Deborah. Congratulations. I’ve just posted a video to celebrate my first million views on KZbin with my considered top three tips from all the advice/ teaching that I’ve given in over 470 videos. Have a look if you’re interested. 😀

[@OishiTae5]

I have admitted to my dream course , Architecture this month. Your channel is boosting my confidence 10000 times better. it's so helpful for me. Thank you very much!

[@stephentraversart]

Congratulations, and I’m so happy to have helped in any way. All the best with your course. 😀

[@kyoglesage]

Excellent info, thank you. I was relieved to see that, while drawing from the shoulder, you still rest your hand on the page! I’ve filled numerous A4 pages yesterday and today with my attempts at drawing straight lines but all of them done without resting my hand on the page and, boy, has my hand gone walkabout over and over again. OK. It’s literally ‘back to the drawing board’ for me with hopes of better results and less frustration. Thanks, from a newbie drawer, ex-Sydneyite now in Perth, into it on the cusp of clicking over the 76yo mark.

[@stephentraversart]

Is Perth much warmer in winter than Sydney? I think people pay more attention to my drawing sometimes than I do! I couldn’t have told you that, but I’m sure you’re right!!😀

[@DawnDavidson]

Nice tips! As someone who does Zentangle, I don’t make very many long lines. But *consistency* is absolutely crucial! Remembering to keep my hand relaxed is something I need to focus on, often. In Zentangle we do turn our tiles, which helps with taking advantage of our “best” direction for drawing lines. I will say that from over here, based on this sample only, I’d consider your best direction left to right across, not top to bottom as you said. Your horizontal lines actually seemed more consistent to me! But I agree that your left to right diagonal (pushing) is better than the opposite (pulling). I generally prefer that direction, too. Normally I prefer organic tangles, but today I did a lot of work on an unusual piece for me which is a huge number of repetitive lines. So this is a timely video in my feed! Thanks for your instruction!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Dawn. Yes, my horizontal lines are stronger than my vertical ones, I meant within each of those options, so down was better than up. There certainly are lots of lines in Zentangle, so consistency must be fundamental. Thanks for your thoughts. 😀

[@justmejhbmed9778]

So useful Stephen. You explanation reminds me of a golfer doing a ‘dry run’ before putting the ball, or the tight-rope Walker keeping his/her eye on the END of the rope they are walking to rather than where their feet are! Never thought of it being useful for drawing lines. Great . Thanks again. Jim

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it worked well for you. Thanks for sharing 😀

[@jordanhatch9913]

I think the part about using your whole arm and shoulder were very helpful, along with what direction is most comfortable were most useful. 😊

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it was helpful!😀

[@rashmitamhankar853]

Thank you very much for such an amazing video. The importance of the Movements of various mussels helps me a lot.No body told this before.

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it was helpful! Have fun experimenting with it. 😀

[@RatusMax]

These tips help me even though I digital paint. If I move too slow with the digital pen, the pen jitter starts to show (it's wavy lines that appear because the refresh rate from point to point isn't every pixel but from square grid to square grid and it makes a zig zag or wave between pixels when moving slow with the pen). I have to move fast enough that the screen sees it as a straight line but have enough control to start and stop the line. I wish I had the confidence that you have with your lines. I know it will take some time for me to get that feel. That's why I love this channel. Your help me get better overall. Knowing how the line will fall helps me avoid that jitter and cleans up my art skills at the same time.

[@stephentraversart]

Perhaps drawing a line is like diving. We just have to commit and leap straight out. No half measure. Mine aren’t always correct, but I’ve learnt they don’t look at bad at the end. We all have to learn to use our favourite drawing tools, so keep at it. Even two different brand pens handle very differently. Keep drawing, Ratus, and make sure you have fun. 😀

[@dmjune1]

I just started doing mostly urban sketching this year. This is very useful information to me. Thank you.

[@stephentraversart]

That’s great David. Encouraging to hear. 😀

[@muhammedanees1002]

My paper is full of lines after watching this vid. now ive mastered it. TYSM.

[@Taichientaoyin]

Stop lining around lol

[@stephentraversart]

Great to hear. All the best 😀

[@stephentraversart]

No reason you have to. 😀

[@stephentraversart]

😀😀😀

[@fanatlarge]

Well, that comes just in time! For a while now I'm noticing how wobbly my lines are, and came here to ask if others have a similar experience. One reason may be the arthritis which makes my hands a bit clumsy, but maybe there's also something else - lack of practice, lack of attention? Thanks to this video I have understood that it is mostly my vertical lines that are off and *very* wobbly, while the horizontal lines are much better. That observation will help a lot with intentional practice and workarounds like turning the paper. Thank you, Stephen, that was a very valuable lesson.

[@stephentraversart]

Great to hear there’s some helpful points in the video for you. Sorry I can’t help with the arthritis, but I have read that continuing to move joints is important, so keep drawing. All the best. 😀

[@ljupadin25b44]

thank you a lot, this really helped me

[@stephentraversart]

Excellent. Thanks for sharing 😀

[@wandersg]

Thanks for the video. I have just started sketching and has a problem drawing straight lines. Now after watching your video I am so excited to give it a try. Thanks!

[@stephentraversart]

Fantastic. Think of these exercises like practicing scales for the piano. A little bit of time practicing frequently will have a huge impact improving your drawing. Instead of doodling at odd times you can practice straight lines! All the best with it. 😀

[@wandersg]

@@stephentraversart I hope I can one day draw like you 😃

[@stephentraversart]

I hope you draw better!😀

[@Galaka100]

6th tip is gold. Thanks!

[@stephentraversart]

Excellent Gary. Now you get to spend it. 😀

[@andziamikolaj9799]

damn, i hit a low and thought to myself "what artist am I If I can't even draw a straight line", a silly thought really, but your video lifted me up and I learned helpful tips: thank you!

[@stephentraversart]

Brilliant! All the best with your drawing into the future. 😀

[@mateusnicolau1710]

Thank you, that was a lot of good tips, exactly what I was looking for (because I was unsure were to look while drawing the line).

[@stephentraversart]

Great to hear Mateus. Just what I was hoping for from it. 😀

[@Alessiucciocaro]

Thank you very much. I'm going to use all of your tips!

[@stephentraversart]

Great!😀

[@sylviachengfalkstrom7190]

Thank you for sharing Stephen. I will practice for sure

[@stephentraversart]

Excellent Sylvia. 👏

[@nightowl5395]

Have just come across your videos....I am watching and listening intently 🧐 Thank you so much for creating these tutorials 🙂

[@stephentraversart]

Welcome aboard my channel. Have fun with them. 😀

[@middleofdecember9862]

finally found a method that works for me, thanks!

[@stephentraversart]

Great to hear!😀

[@janvangils5560]

a great clear video by a good speaker, lovely work

[@stephentraversart]

Much appreciated Jan😀

[@Dea-tk8gz]

Excellent tips!!! Thank you so much! ❤❤❤

[@stephentraversart]

Glad they were helpful Déa😀

[@ranjitashah839]

Thanks sir this a very nice video

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure Ranjita. 😀

[@babawawa1953]

Great info. Thank you very much.

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it was helpful!😀

[@Doc2rjae07]

Amazing class Stephen 🙏🏾💯

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Mashah

[@lbuxani]

Valuable tips. Thanks 👌

[@stephentraversart]

Thank you. 😀

[@lessname2184]

thanks for the video, quite helpful

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure 😀

[@sridurga6720]

Thank you sir, nice tips 🙂

[@stephentraversart]

No worries 😀

[@Mr.Architecture]

It was a very interesting video, my dear friend, I hope you will always be successful

[@stephentraversart]

Thank you. Much appreciated 😀

[@redezekieloctavio2852]

Thank you internet drawing grandpa

[@stephentraversart]

Haha, 😆, my pleasure. 😀

[@deborahbarnes8475]

Awesome ❤

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Deborah 😀

[@ranger2316]

Thank you!

[@EchoesOfTheDeep]

Great tips ! I have a question : Do you encourage to draw from the shoulder only for straight lines or for everything ?

[@stephentraversart]

For straight lines, generally, the more of the body we use, the more effective our straight lines will be. With short lines, such as in hatching, it quick gestural lines, this may not be the best option. But if we are familiar and practised with drawing from the shoulder, then we have the ability to choose the best option for the circumstances in front of us. 😀

[@red-ward-studio]

These tips have helped me improve from being about 8 degrees off when drawing a ~15cm line to about 4 degrees off, but now I'm finding my lines are "pulling" towards me starting ~7cm along the line, does anyone have an idea what could be causing this?

[@stephentraversart]

Sounds like you start to draw from the wrist rather than using your whole arm from the shoulder. Sitting too close it too far from the table can also make it hard to get a clean, even movement of the arm. 😀

[@deborahbarrett9609]

I also LOVE your voice!!

[@stephentraversart]

What can I say?! 😅

[@Ani.me_006]

Nice work good luck

[@stephentraversart]

Thank you for saying so. 😀

[@sherryscoloringandpaintingcorn]

That would tear up my shoulder tho so i dont know how much i could do that tbh

[@stephentraversart]

May not be a good idea for you then. Just use as much of your arm as you gently can - but try and avoid drawing from your fingers and wrist. 😀

[@rustythecat2163]

Good advice not to draw from ”your fingers and wrist”! I do that to often. Now, after this video I will try to be aware of this tip. Thank you. I also need to slow down when drawing lines of any length and strive for precision. Am to much in a hurry when drawing lines. You are a master which is something I will never be but I enjoy sketching very muchnand want to improve. We appreciate you Steven! Thanks!

[@rafid077rafid2]

Im here cuz my graphs look trash

[@stephentraversart]

Hope it helps. 😀

[@jL-pf1go]

hahahaha, but their not straight,!

[@stephentraversart]

They work for me 😀