Stop drawing stiff. 3 Tips and 1 simple exercise to help you loosen up

[@debh3404]

PERFECT for people like me who has arthritis in my thumbs and wrists.

[@alphonsodunn]

I’m happy it happy it can help🙂🙏

[@seroromix]

This really helps me change my perspective on drawing. just started getting back into it after 15 years off. i definitely have a perfectionist mindset right now. thank you this video and love the books by the way

[@seroromix]

@@adlibra1 trying too. im actually in the process of making a manga i've finished the writing process for it. now going back to drawing has been fun and challenging.

[@alphonsodunn]

Congratulations! Keep going!💪 Please share the info when its done

[@seroromix]

@@alphonsodunn ty and will do!!!

[@alphonsodunn]

I advise you take it slow. Build on your skills little by little, and start with the fundamentals first. And most of all, try to have fun along the way. Thats key. A few tips: Try finding samples to study and learn from as reference. Don't set the bar too high. You dont have to over render or perfect anything. The story is most imporrtant. The story dictates the style.

[@barblallier9413]

​@@alphonsodunn The process is important! I'm still learning,,progress! Tx for this!

[@CinzaChumbo]

I've always had that problem... my drawings tend to come off as stiff; I get way too "retentive" in the act of putting pencil to paper. Sometimes wonder if we end up like this out of a sense of having to do everything one hundred percent straight out of the gate. A kind of shame foisted on us, which turns into toxic perfectionism. Thanks for the video, Mr. Dunn 🙋‍♂ Your videos are always a pleasure to watch!

[@yngvarsskald]

We always do some mistake 😢, but more important it is to learn to notice one's own mistakes and realize the causes of mistakes, and then correct them😊

[@alphonsodunn]

agreed 100%

[@mariehamm]

Great video! Parallel with calligraphie fluidity. Build structure, then details. Embrass the chaos. Let your line explore Thank you, Alphonso!

[@jeffk7881]

A lot of really good life lessons tied up in this one! Thanks for another great class

[@alphonsodunn]

🙂🙏

[@teckpohchoo7462]

Exactly what I need to get out of my stiff drawing! THANK YOU, Mr Dunn!

[@RoseAnneLivao]

Great tips, Alphonso!👌 I’ve always struggled with stiff lines, but your exercise really helped me loosen up and feel more free in my drawings. Keep these amazing tutorials coming! 🙌

[@imawesomeyourenot]

Another great vid! Very good tips to go over many times! Another thing I've had to wrestle with over and over is for sure along a few of your points: the mistakes i make and see in my own art, not anyone I've ever shown any of my art to, has EVER noticed those "mistakes"...unless i mention or point it out. As well as 9 times out of 10, even when i point out that "i messed up this one part, or there's this one thing..." ect. They will shrug it off, because it wasn't there for them until i pointed it out and/or they dont even care!! THEY can see it as one big finished thing, not that one little error. Its a difficult thing to overlook, but it saves a ton of self-grief in my head about my art. That being said, i strive to be as perfect as possible, but i have to let things go sometimes. Lol, Its really hard to do though lol.

[@alphonsodunn]

Yea we often create and then make the “mistakes” bigger in our minds. Sometimes its enough to just make mental note and move on

[@williebraxton1988]

Thank you Alphonso. You always inspire me when I want to quit. Keep doing the good work.

[@alphonsodunn]

Never quit! Never quit! Never quit! 💪

[@EvyDevy]

Thanks for this. Gonna work on drawing more loose and free instead of thinking i need percise lines. And bigger drawings!

[@cha-cha1345]

I honestly needed a video like this for a while the timing of it was uncannily perfect XDD thank you so much especially for talking about the pitfall of wanting every line, every work to be the highest quality possible. i realized that kind of thinking is what causes me to stop drawing for long periods of time and prevent myself both from learning, exploring, and finding joy in my drawings. like, i said, i really needed this and i hope i can remember these lessons for a really long time. thanks!

[@2010ymg]

This advice is priceless for those like me, who don't know HOW to build confidence. It's a key word. Thank you so, so much! 🙂

[@craftergin]

I made a loose drawing just last night. I plan to watercolor a fossilized bat as part of my Halloween phase. I have a reference photo, but none of the people who are going to potentially see this painting will know what a fossilized bat looks like. Realizing that, I felt quite free to draw loosely and get the general impression of the bat fossil. So I'm totally on board with this video. Thanks Alphonso!

[@alphonsodunn]

I love that idea! 👏

[@ConcreteKingzOG]

Very good information i love this art school and its for free learned so much from you and my kids 2

[@alphonsodunn]

Awwww that’s wonderful

[@cyborgzulu2011]

Thanks for sharing. Your books have really helped.

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks much 🙂🙏

[@lisahodge7541]

Great Tips very helpful thank ☺️ you

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks much and you're very welcome

[@Boruto1923]

Alphonso.... Thanks for tips. Have a great day ahead.

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks so much. Have a wonderful week : )

[@stephanieh930]

Ooh, go big, great tip! I can see how it's helping my sketch, thank you!

[@istg_fr]

You really teach so well! I'm learning to draw and this helps me so much.

[@barbaravoss7014]

Thank you for your excellent encouraging tutorial!

[@zylcjusz2344]

Exellent content Mr Alphonso. I want every line to be just correct...and it takes away this joyful mapping out the info which I look for :) I usally feel more natural when drawing on bigger format when I can be more phisical. Thank you.

[@Omarcomics911]

thx for ur tips

[@sheilagilleland4312]

I love these videos to learn by. Thank you !

[@joicel.oedayrajsinghvarma2224]

Dear Mr. Alphonso, you are great. I enjoy all of your videos and tips.

[@AnnapurnaEnjoyer]

I love your art! great tips

[@andyquinn1125]

Thank you Mr. Alphonso. I can't think of a better lesson on drawing. I need to keep this advice first and foremost in my mind.

[@whatifitnt]

🎉 Love this ❤ Thank you 💝

[@alphonsodunn]

Very welcome! 🙂

[@fibonacci4888]

Thanks a lot for these tips and exercise recommendation ! Sounds reasonable and I'll include such loose activities, e.g. as counterpart to the exercises I'm currently doing acc. to your work book.😀

[@kathiecopeland5169]

I think this info will really help me. Thanks

[@cleytonpaulino4356]

Nice! Help me a lot ^^

[@alphonsodunn]

Awesome! 🙂

[@guilhermeverga7630]

Just found your channel. It's great. Keep up the good work.

[@ArtsandOthers-f8]

Beautiful work❤❤❤

[@mh8704]

Your videos are always useful! Thanks!

[@carrotstache]

Thank you so much for this video! I've been too focused on analysing my references and creating precise drawings, that I forget to loosen up and capture the general feel of things

[@ΓιώργοςΜαυρουλέας]

After seeing hundreds of painting or drawing tutorials, I can say that yours are the best. I see only yours and practicing on them

[@KingKooba22]

PROFESSOR DUNN IS BACK

[@alphonsodunn]

🙂🙏🙏🙏

[@AroWolfArts]

Drawing loosely, my biggest weakness. Definitely have to try it more often, it's just so difficult for me.

[@alphonsodunn]

It can be done, but try working on it little by little. Start with your grip

[@AroWolfArts]

@@alphonsodunn Ye,I'll try my best. Thanks for the encouragement.

[@quietspark8703]

The most important lesson I learned that snapped me out of being fixated on accuracy: drawing is supposed to be fun. Draw like you don't care!

[@Rayne_Tarot]

Dear alphonso i would like to thank u for your videos that helped me improve on my fashion drawing skills. I woul like to ask you if it's possible to make some videos about rendering fabrics with colors such as fur, silk, chiffon and etc looking forward for your reply ❤

[@soupbonep]

Drawing loose is what I do. Draw soft, make mistakes, erase, draw again, go darker and touch up shading. Of course, there is a lot of correcting! Then I ink it. But this idea of drawing big is a great tip for me because I need to practice using my whole arm instead of wrist and elbow. That said, I need to get to the stage where I don't need to draw loose and can put down a line with confidence.

[@Bodycam-uploads]

Can you make a how to on drawing texture of a rock or like skull texture with pen please

[@frikobraun]

Dang, here EARLY EARLY... love your vids, thank you

[@alphonsodunn]

Early birds.... 🙂

[@alfonsodevivo8388]

Hi, thanks for the answer, so are you telling me that a diagonal line next to a vertical (longitude) describes the latitude? , or does it have the ability to describe both directions at the same time? ... Do you think that using the diagonal gives a more dynamic hatching than using vertical and horizontal in the description of the shape? So if I use as you say in the videos first the vertical hatching combined with the diagonal and only to reinforce the chiaroscuro the horizontal stroke is it a correct reasoning? Or are there cases (always in the description of the shape) in which it is better to use vertical and horizontal? Sorry for all these questions but I am very interested in the topic and thank you for your patience.

[@gustavopires56]

teacher does You do Automátic drawings?

[@japangator]

I'm not sure if you'll see this, but I came across a few of your videos tonight and I watched them from beginning to finish, because you're the only person I've listen to so far on KZbin, that focuses on talking about "why" loose drawing is so important, and also pointing out the issues and mistakes people do with rigid drawing. I'm almost 2 years into drawing characters, and sketching is still to this day, one of the most painful and unfun parts of the process. And that sucks because that's literally at the very start of any drawing process. I thank you so very much for preaching about the benefits to loose hand sketching. I believe you might have helped me understand what I was doing wrong all along

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks so much for this message. I’m glad you were able to get some value and have a greater appreciation for the importance of sketching and being loose. I hope you will eventually enjoy it even more and really see how liberating it actually is. Sketching should be the phase of a drawing, where we should be loose mentally, not only physically. It should be the phase where we experiment and explore ideas and try things out. So, continue to indulge and enjoy the process and I wish you all the best.

[@JKP-v9e]

Do you have a tutorial where you show how to draw an item not from your imagination, but actually looking at them? And how to approach it? Hope that makes sense.

[@mr.pickles9791]

Well, i always felt that i was stiff. With this video im trying to be more looser, thanks Alphonso!

[@alphonsodunn]

Much of it, is in the mind

[@pandoraedwin1222]

That "going big" part really got me lol

[@-BubbityBubs-]

❤💖🩵🧡💚 ALWAYS!

[@mayyu_arts]

I have a question sir to get into loose drawing mode should you do a warm up first or is this a warm up!???

[@InspireHealthSystem]

Fantastic advice for a beginner like myself! Thank you! 😊❤️ Off I go, shopping for a larger drawing pad & start a daily practice! 💃📒✏️

[@bumboklaattv3326]

Nice explanation... Vottee

[@williamramos3350]

Really enjoy how you are breaking the process down. Been seeing some of your other videos and It has helped me immensely. Thank you.

[@fishingwithmyflydown1271]

Just checked out your pen and ink a simple guide book from the library and it is really well done. I will be buying a copy for my library.

[@sadiqmirza4424]

❤🌹

[@TigerStormArt4]

So beautiful!❤

[@matteoooo4791]

Maaan I dont have pencils with such long tips, I dont get the same results 😢

[@alphonsodunn]

You dont need them, just a preference developed offer the years

[@josephmerced9762]

This is going to help me a lot I haven’t drawn in years so it’s hard trying to get back into it.

[@johnnicol5009]

So you think you will be doing any more watercolor and ink videos again in the future? Really enjoyed those as well and would look forward to more of those.

[@adambotley3601]

Hi when is your 3rd book released?

[@hammill444]

Well, that’s easy to say- especially when you are an artist who can render great images either way, stiff or loose.

[@alphonsodunn]

You're right it's easier said than done, but it can be done slowly. Take small steps. Being loose is a forgiving way to draw, especially if youre a perfectionist

[@hammill444]

@@alphonsodunn But here’s a question: in your opinion, is it easier to sketch freely if your writing pad is on an easel, or flat on a table? It seems to me it seems more natural and less restrictive to do on the easel, for whatever reason.

[@Buefried]

my video quality is so bad i cant see anything he drew on the big sheet of paper lmao

[@alphonsodunn]

Lol I think there’s a way to fix that

[@Buefried]

@@alphonsodunn no haha yeah i know im kidding lmao

[@Buefried]

this genuinly made me laugh thanks for responding lmao

[@mauriciosik]

MAN, SINCE THAT DRAWING OF THE BURGER I HAVE ONLY THOUGHT ABOUT EATING, THIS VIDEO OF YOURS IS VERY GOOD, BUT WHEN WILL A VIDEO OF YOU DRAWING A PIZZA COME OUT?

[@alfonsodevivo8388]

Hello , in some your video and in Book in the page of accentuate the form , you speak about using vertical and horizontal Line for describe latitude and longitude of a form or plane, but the diagonal Line (45°) what aspect of the form do they describe? I whait your answer and thanks for your work.

[@alphonsodunn]

Hey thanks for your comment and that’s a great question. Diagonal lines are so invaluable because they enable you to describe the latitude and longitude directions of the form. They can be used to either reinforce or replace horizontal and vertical lines.

[@alfonsodevivo8388]

@@alphonsodunn Hi, thanks for the answer, so are you telling me that a diagonal line next to a vertical (longitude) describes the latitude? , or does it have the ability to describe both directions at the same time? ... Do you think that using the diagonal gives a more dynamic hatching than using vertical and horizontal in the description of the shape? So if I use as you say in the videos first the vertical hatching combined with the diagonal and only to reinforce the chiaroscuro the horizontal stroke is it a correct reasoning? Or are there cases (always in the description of the shape) in which it is better to use vertical and horizontal? Sorry for all these questions but I am very interested in the topic and thank you for your patience.

[@alfonsodevivo8388]

@@alphonsodunn Hi, thanks for the answer, so are you telling me that a diagonal line next to a vertical (longitude) describes the latitude? , or does it have the ability to describe both directions at the same time? ... Do you think that using the diagonal gives a more dynamic hatching than using vertical and horizontal in the description of the shape? So if I use as you say in the videos first the vertical hatching combined with the diagonal and only to reinforce the chiaroscuro the horizontal stroke is it a correct reasoning? Or are there cases (always in the description of the shape) in which it is better to use vertical and horizontal? Sorry for all these questions but I am very interested in the topic and thank you for your patience

[@joshuaudia7123]

Please are you in favour with Grind Methods?