The Secret to Drawing Overwhelming Detail!

How often do we not draw a scene that really appeals to us because parts of it are just too full of detail we know we could never draw properly? Hear the secrets of an artist with a reputation for capturing detail effectively. The principles are demonstrated with a field of flowers, but with additional explanation after that, with a detailed interior architectural scene.

[@richvirtue6014]

I learned more in this single video than I could have ever imagined.

[@stephentraversart]

Brilliant! A win for us both. 😀

[@rlrihards948]

This is some professional artschool stuff you are learning also.

[@JustAnUnnamedCat]

​@@rlrihards948 yeah, its one of the most advanced tutorials ive seen

[@Overxpossed]

lol me too...

[@otterlyoliver]

This absolutely blew my mind. This is basically just a psychology hack. Your brain doesn't immediately start assessing every detail of a scene, it captures a few prominent details and then just assumes the rest. The fact that you draw the main details in the foreground lets your brain fill in the "gaps" in the background. This is genius.

[@stephentraversart]

Although it is faster than drawing everything, I think it actually achieves the realism result in usually after better than drawing more detail, which can introduce a look of artificiality to a scene. Have fun playing around with it in your drawing. 😀

[@fredericapanon207]

@@stephentraversart I see a lot of parallels between your ink drawing and the matte painting that was for backgrounds in movies. When you look at them up close, the effect of detail was created through gobs & dots of paint as applied by brush bristles.

[@BelindaShort]

It's like neuroscience, we try to fill in all the information. Our eyes are constantly doing this.

[@stephentraversart]

@@BelindaShort So I'm really a neuroscientist?😁

[@marnierose5361]

Unless you're Autistic in which case you notice all the details 😞

[@Kerlasia]

When I first started digital painting, I sat for hours drawing every individual blade of grass in a field while thinking "this is crazy, how does anyone do this?" ....They don't. At some point when I learned that you're not meant to include every single detail of a scene, it was a game changer. Painting became far less intimidating - in fact, I enjoy it now!

[@stephentraversart]

Excellent! Some things seem so obvious once we know them! And can really change our experience. Hope you have many more ‘aha!’ moments. 😀

[@000JAV_QwQ]

@@TentacleShark Ai prompters: "See, i'm making art 😎"

[@spacificnocean8534]

Took me nearly 10 years to figure out making digital artwork is essentially two things. The first is figuring out how to adapt your artistic skills into whatever softwares you learn. The second is simply finding more and more shortcuts for every last thing you do. Eventually making pieces just becomes a culmination of all the shortcuts I have previously figured out.

[@gogauze]

​​@@spacificnocean8534'd characterize them more as techniques that line up with what the human brain expects to see when it processes an image, rather than a scene irl that you witness with the eyes. They save a ridiculous amount of time as well. But, in the case in the video, the usefulness comes from extreme detail causing the brain to not know where to start digesting the image, creating an uncanny valley situation.

[@AshLordCurry]

You can make custom paintbrush in digital painting!

[@williamdrum9899]

I realized this not too long ago. "This isn't a tree, it's just a bunch of lines!" And that's when it hit me, that sometimes in order to make something look better you have to make it look worse. What a paradox.

[@stephentraversart]

Maybe not worse, but certainly different. 😁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. 😀

[@RubenDuenas1]

"Its just a bunch of lines" definitely just sounds like what art is

[@blixserium733]

It's like a controled chaos

[@MegaGDestroyah]

@@blixserium733p

[@joeebaggahdonutz]

Not even on topic. But if i had a rock band Comtrolled càos ŵould definitely be the name. So there's that . . Ò o​@blixserium733

[@danielwilliams7161]

It seems like the contrast of detail vs non-detail creates a pleasing tension/relief relationship in a drawing. In the first drawing there's so much chaos in all the weeds that my eyes tend to rest on those simple flower shapes. Whereas in the second drawing, there's plenty of white space so my eye is drawn to those little islands of architectural detail. I guess that's why my usual strategy when adding detail (just scribble all over the place) doesn't work. You need contrast to give the eye a place to rest.

[@stephentraversart]

Yes, giving the eye, and brain, places to pause and collect meaning is vital to avoiding the tangle where we give up and see nothing. Hope you have fun (and success) experimenting with this technique. 😀

[@MossyMozart]

@Daniel Williams - HA! .^_^.

[@kt0117]

it's for the exact reason you state that it's generally a good idea to either have detailed shadows OR detailed highlights - because if you add a ton of detail both, typically the end result is flat and overworked (unless you're going for that effect, or attempting photorealism) - TL;DR you're exactly right that contrast is very important to composition!

[@simonchen5284]

I also tried this when I was starting out, my detail was all over the place and it just tired me out that I gave up on the work. But after practicing with simple steches, I finally knew what I was doing wrong

[@asher7535]

⁠@@kt0117 this generation is doomed if we need a TL;DR for a paragraph that short 😭

[@DeadlyLazer]

This was pretty much the most important thing I learned in drawing. When we draw trees, we're not drawing trees, we're drawing things that look like trees. When we draw cars, we're not drawing cars, we're drawing things that look like cars. If a blob with two white dots already looks like a car, then that's a car. No need to go any further than that. Drawing isn't about detail. It's about the illusion of detail. Learning this fact immensely sped up my drawing process.

[@stephentraversart]

Sounds like a very useful understanding. All the best with your drawing. 😀

[@heikesiegl2640]

It's not a pipe, its a painting of a pipe 👍

[@en2336]

I've always struggled with being impatient when drawing and struggling with detail- my eyes just get lost in the pattern and I lose where I "am" in the drawing constantly. Thank you for helping to demystify how artists create awe-inspiring detail!

[@MegaCityPatrol]

Now this is a great point that should be covered in a video.

[@stephentraversart]

I’m glad it’s been so helpful. Staying in control is important in drawing. 😀

[@laureldavis500]

I have cataracts in my right eye,can only see light and dark, shadows and colors. So it was really interesting to look at the photo of the flowers and see exactly what you meant about the shadows creating a path for the eye to follow. So glad I found you on KZbin! Love your work!

[@MossyMozart]

@Laurel Davis - If you have US Medicare, it will cover catact surgery and a basic lens. You are probably also seeing distorted colors, which is what really bummed me out. Ask your eye doctor about it. --------- As for drawing lights and shadows vs color, in my college drawing 101 class, the instructor had us take a black & white photo and interpret the values using cut-outs made from Munsell Paper. She then photographed our efforts in black & white film to show us how close (or dismally far) we came to interpreting values. Nobody got it down perfectly and we all had a good laugh and a good lesson on values and better observation.

[@stephentraversart]

I’m glad you found me on KZbin as well Laurel. Thanks for your kind words. 😀

[@laureldavis500]

@@MossyMozart Thank you for your comments! I’m scheduled for surgery in August…there’s a very long waiting list, I’ve been waiting since December. But for now, it’s rather interesting, and annoying. But I do little sketches of what I see with my left eye, next to what I see with my right eye. Values are difficult!

[@Seneca85]

This came up in my stream at the perfect time. I have found myself getting alternatively too engrossed in detail and then, bored by the repetition necessary to complete the piece. The techniques you have shared using shape, negative space and lighter strokes- make total sense. I’m looking forward to applying them ☺️. Thank you for the excellent tutorial.

[@stephentraversart]

I’m really glad this video was so timely for you. And of course, it works for a wide range of subjects - from the ceiling of a Renaissance palace to a child’s hair - wherever we find a made of detail. If you’ve found it helpful, please tell your friends about my KZbin channel. No more getting bored with detail for you. 😀

[@sasentaiko]

I’m not into drawing but I’m a (visual) perception researcher. I loved how you explain what you see and your consciousness of how we put together a scene, how we gain information. It’s so neat listening to artists in different mediums (watercolor, acrylic, digital) and the techniques are a bit different, but it’s all meant to capture the same thing. The effects of the detail. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us all; it’s really inspiring.

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks. I’m glad it makes sense to others as well. I painted in oils ten years before I started drawing, and I know it influenced my drawing processes. 😀

[@finglucasthehobophatcat]

I have been an artist for almost 40 years and have studied countless numbers of styles from anywhere and everywhere. I have to say sir... You are one of the best teachers I have come across. Thank you!

[@stephentraversart]

That’s very generous of you to say Lucas. It’s so encouraging for me and motivating to keep going. All the best with your drawing 😀

[@andrewlyon8924]

The way I like to think about it is that detailed art like this isn't meant to spoon feed the viewer with all the tiny details, but rather to give enough context to direct their imagination to the details you implied. It's really clever, and I think a more extreme example would be how people can use just a few lines and negative space to give the illusion of a complete shape. The more I learn about the clever ways that artists are able to use negative space and implied details, the more I really admire art as a whole.

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks for your thoughts Andrew. Yes, negative space is one of the big underestimated aspects of drawing I think. 😀

[@Ari_Madrid]

If you’re interested, I recently learned about Alex Nino and I was blown away by his negative space art. It would be a worthy google search if you’re into that ^~^

[@mwiltfang4618]

Drawing the effect of detail rather than all the detail itself makes perfect sense to me. That's exactly how the human eye and brain take in and process very complex and detailed images in order to not be overwhelmed by the detail- - "you can't see the forest for the trees". It's a bit of a metaphor for how we should move through life in general. Unfortunately, people who can see "the big picture" are comparatively rare.

[@stephentraversart]

It certainly applies happily to drawing. I almost used that phrase in the voice over. 😀

[@artscience9981]

I once drew a New York City street scene, and I thought, for once I’m going to draw all the detail. As Steven says, it really is impossible! To get all the detail, your placement of larger shapes would have to be impossibly exact, and you would need to use really fine pen tips with great control of where the pen lands. I gave up on that idea about one third of the way through and fell back on my painting experience, fading out the detail in the distance and making the detailed area the focal area of the drawing. I guess you could say I kind of discovered Steven’s approach by accident. Definitely cured me of wanting to do all the detail!

[@stephentraversart]

I’m sure I arrived at it through my painting experience before I started drawing as well. 😀

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

It looks like the last drawing used 1-point perspective to great effect as well as the amount of detail held back. You're right about drawing the structure or bones of something accurately, the rest can be looser. The light. We don't see things, we see the light reflecting off things and the shadows of things. The gradient in the arch is so well done.

[@absurdtyhiggins]

Just like many of my drawing professors have told me. "You don't have to really draw it, you just need the viewer to think you've drawn it."

[@stephentraversart]

Haha. Yep! It’s all about creating effects😀

[@uwufemboy5683]

I primarily do VFX, so I didn’t think this video would be that useful to me, but boy was I wrong! You’ve given me a whole new framework to make detail in, I didn’t think a 20-minute video would be able to open my eyes like this one has. You’ve more than earned this subscription :D

[@stephentraversart]

That’s great! Welcome aboard my channel. I hope there are more eye opening moments ahead of you in my videos. 😀

[@jesustyronechrist2330]

Basically a good way of thinking about detail is treating pen marks as super small forms (like ambient occlusion) When the watercolor/marker tone is added to capture the big forms, the pencil sketch automatically becomes small forms, with the illusion that you carefully painted and drew every single form to a very precise degree. It becomes less about lines and just that line is a mark of tone, like an individual shadow.

[@stephentraversart]

I painted in oils for ten years before I started drawing. I know it has certainly helped form my process of looking at form and drawing. 😀

[@MKisJ]

GREAT!

[@thisspaceforrent5737]

This reminds me of a page from Paul Pope's comic book "THB." He drew a huge group of bicycles racing down the street, perfectly conveying the sense of motion without ever drawing a single detailed or complete bicycle.

[@stephentraversart]

Haha. That’s the way to do it!😀

[@argusfleibeit1165]

Thank you for verbalizing the process of drawing, like I never heard before. In "art classes" they seem to think you just "know" how to look and what to put down. This was stunning. Also the bit about HOW to use the pen was something never explained to me. It seems so obvious, but it you don't know, you don't know.

[@stephentraversart]

Really glad it was so helpful for you Argus. I think being a drawing artist myself probably gives me insight into the questions we ask. 😀

[@psyekl]

I needed this. I absolutely LOVE drawing intricate detail that is so tiny that no one will ever be able to appreciate it unless they zoom in or possess a magnifying glass. For my digital art, the detail is so fine it won't show up unless printed at a massive size. I need to adopt this practical method and stop wasting time.

[@stephentraversart]

We don't have to always draw this way, but it is an incredibly versatile concept applicable to virtually any subject. Have fun with it.

[@sultanofthesun2072]

Same here! I also love doing intricate drawings in traditional mediums! It does get repetitive, but I use techniques incorporating "The Illusion Of Detail" to simplify my art 😄

[@TysonJensen]

The thing I admire most about the skill of the artist is the artist knows to draw what the eye actually sees, not what the brain pretends the eye sees, but doing this while using one of those very same lying brains... it's always impressed me. I'd love to be better at it myself.

[@stephentraversart]

I’m sure you will be Tyson. 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. 😀

[@SnwDaze]

As an pretty bad artist, watching someone else's art slowly manifest is fascinating

[@marnierose5361]

Thank you, I'm learning to draw at 45 and always have been frustrated as I see immense detail, and there is either not enough time to draw that level of detail, or tools incapable of capturing the detail... always wondered what you're meant to do instead, now I know. Instead of getting frustrated and giving up, I simply need to give up perfectionism and suggest detail...this may be harder than I thought😂

[@stephentraversart]

I started at 50 - so never think you’re too old Marnie. And I hope you find this drawing technique easier than you anticipate. All the best applying it to your drawing. 😀

[@marnierose5361]

@@stephentraversart the technique isn't the hard part, overcoming perfectionism is my biggest hurdle 🙄😊

[@stephentraversart]

@@marnierose5361 I have a a few videos on dealing with this - it can be so paralysing. Perhaps they would be helpful with a few strategies you could try.

[@marnierose5361]

@@stephentraversart thank you, often the perfectionism is a deterrent to starting or to keep going especially if there is no clear path from a-z as it were.

[@sodapaula]

A few days ago, I started drawing in pen and ink for the first time without any knowledge of drawing lines (none of my professors taught me how and I wasn’t interested in it before) for an upcoming exhibition, and it’s so much harder than I thought. Now I’m pulling an all nighter trying it make my drawings readable without making overwhelming amount of detail to the dot. This video including what I learned prior really helps me

[@stephentraversart]

I hope you made your deadline. I’m really glad to have helped. 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. 😀

[@sheilasinghal2922]

This is genius! I'm a very non-detail person who hates fiddly work and would look at a reference photo like this and say, "Nope. Too much trouble." I'm definitely going to try this. 😊

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Sheila. It’s such a useful technique to develop and can be used with so many different subjects and scenes. 😀

[@officegossip]

This is just one of the things I’ve struggled with and I’m glad I came across your channel. Something rarely seen on KZbin that goes very unnoticed is the lack of artists and tutorials working with monochrome values and INK, which is of incredible value to cartoonists who work in the indie comics style and manga. It’s mostly character design this and character design that. Much thanks for the upload.

[@stephentraversart]

This is great to hear. I’m very happy to help out. Just posted another similar video, different subject, if you’re interested. 😀

[@heredownunder]

I see it as patterns. The brain is good at recognising patterns, and filling the detail automatically. I am designer and also a retoucher. When it comes to design, I think it is what you leave out that makes a design the best. As a retoucher, I think to myself as I try to fine-tune the skin texture, as breaking a pattern, or removing enough rough bits to make it smooth. You don’t have to fix every little bump. Looking at your drawings, the brain sees the more detailed pattern in the foreground, yet in the distance, you have reduced the pattern to fit a smaller space, but the brain sees it as the same pattern.

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks for sharing your expertise. Very interesting to hear. 😀

[@Enilks]

The fact that this guy has responded to almost every single comment is almost as impressive as his skill with the pen. This was really cool though. I've always loved adding details and little secrets or whatever to my scenes when I sketch them, and seeing the method s used in this video has really helped me gain an understanding of not only the things that I'm doing right and should continue to do, but also what I can do to more fully integrate those bits into my greater work in my more interesting and artistic manner. I've always loved Monét's art, and how standing far away you have these beautiful scenes full of life and color, but when you get up close it's full of splotches and emotions. I really strive to have my artwork reach that point where when you just take it all in at once, you see this wonderful work of art, but the more you look into it, and the deeper you dive, the more you find. You begin to see the details of the characters, and understand who they are. You started to notice the features of the world, and how those characters live in it. You begin to feel the emotion of the lines, and the underlying messages that, whether intentional or not, are conveyed through each little jot and scribble. Thanks so much for your video, and I will certainly work to try to apply some of the techniques and practices you suggested!

[@stephentraversart]

Haha. Ironically it’s taken me 9 days to respond to this one, but it is becoming more of a challenge to do. Thanks for your thoughts and experience, they are all very helpful further informing the topic. I’ve made another more recent video where I organise this technique into five areas of thinking if you’re interested:kzbin.info/www/bejne/mneXhYWee753abs

[@christianagassaway266]

As an aspiring manga artist, this is incredibly helpful of a video! I've been struggling to understand how to make quicker backgrounds without losing the details, so I'm definitely going to give this a try!

[@stephentraversart]

I’ve had so many comments like this from background artists which I just love because it was an area I hadn’t considered at all. All the best with it Christiana. 😀

[@Everettalla]

I always just do a bit of extra detail in a piece every time I come back to it. It’s very relaxing, It’s like I’m making my own little world.

[@stephentraversart]

If I do that, it’s usually because I keep seeing bits I’ve forgotten to do! Not quite the same thing. But I know what you mean about falling into ‘the zone’ when going detail. 😀

[@michaelthatoker7125]

I realized it when drawing hair. Used to focus on making it look exactly the same but got annoyed at how long it was taking so I just started going fast and sloppy and doing line after line. After about 5 minutes, I had a portion of hair that actually looked like hair.

[@stephentraversart]

Yes, not only does this technique look more real, it’s much faster. Win-Win. 😀

[@LordOfSky_41G]

I know a person, Pishly, who draws in a style very similar to this, however digitally and colored, and I've always been fascinated by his art style. This shines some nice light on it, thank you!

[@stephentraversart]

Ahh. I actually think this technique originated in my painting tree canopies in oils for ten years before I started drawing. So, that’s not so surprising. 😀

[@terrychancellor4593]

This is how I tend to draw as well. I get remarks all the time about how much detail my drawings have but when I point out to people that it really isn't there and that their mind is adding the knowledge of the detail, they are floored! I developed it on my own as what I call my "shorthand" to detail. I was just trying to find a way to get the affect without having to do so much work, LOL!!! You have wonderful drawings!!!!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Terry. Yes, it’s a great technique, and very versatile in what it can be used with. 😀

[@charmainecyr7520]

I’ve heard so many say « don’t try to draw all the detail », but you are the only one who has really delved into what that means, as a process. Thank you for going deep!

[@stephentraversart]

Glad to have helped. I have a playlist on this if you want more examples 😀

[@crowdozer3592]

I noticed this when looking at some abstract art of scifi cities. It was just neon colored squares all over the place, but it looked so realistic at a glance because it invoked the illusion of wet streets, bright lights, and tall buildings. BTW, your drawings are great. I'm not trying to downplay it at all.

[@ElizabethBattle]

It all came together for me when you said, "I need to draw...in effect the surface that's created by all these individual objects." Seeing it as a surface makes so much sense and will undoubtedly help me immeasurably in my art endeavors! Thank you!

[@stephentraversart]

Sound like you’ve got a great strategy to start experimenting with in your drawing Elizabeth. Have fun with it. 😀

[@Y000mg]

I wasn't interested in architecture but I'm trying to get better at art and your video is almost changing my mind about architecture, also i was so nervous when you started moving your hand with the pen close to a finished pieces lol, im interested in more thank you for your hard work sir.

[@stephentraversart]

Haha. You’re the second person to say that about the pen. Another little line would probably not make much difference! Why not give drawing architecture a go? You might discover what a lot of us enjoy so much. All the best. 😀

[@Y000mg]

@Stephen Travers Art i definitely will! Looking forward for more from you

[@incognito3620]

I don’t use ink pen technique but this is a brilliant video. Especially the flowers drawing. I try as a teacher to impress upon students the idea of less detail. Too many young artists believe more detail will make for a better work. Which s not true. Art is about ideas of replicating the reality. When creating consider the viewer. No one will be able to handle too much detail. It will confuse and obfuscate the image. This video is an excellent example of - “less is more”. In addition to “interpret not copy.” Wonderful!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks. I probably focus on this with my drawing because I painted for ten years before I drew. Possibly it’s easier to see and develop this technique with painting than line. 😀

[@bbebi6377]

I don't normally comment on videos, but this was phenomenal! I am blown away by your art and the techniques that you use. Your channel is a wealth of information, I learned a lot and will definitely be trying to employ some of these tips that you've discussed in this video! Thank you so much for sharing!! You have earned a new subscriber :)

[@stephentraversart]

It’s very encouraging to hear your enthusiasm about my video, thank you. Please tell your friends as well. All the best with your drawing. 😀

[@bbebi6377]

@@stephentraversart I definitely will!☺️I hope you keep up the great work! May you have a great day/night.

[@masterklep]

+1 ❤️❤️❤️👍

[@stephentraversart]

@@bbebi6377 It's probably the opposite of whatever you're having!🤪

[@mmitchellhouston]

Thank you very, VERY much for such a heartfelt and informative demonstration. I learned a lot.

[@stephentraversart]

Great to hear Mike. I have a playlist showing this technique applied to other subjects if you’re interested. Here’s a link: kzbin.info/aero/PLwjv2r1KZs1RdXpapYftk9ajpX4uq5BeS&si=MKlQKZdzC-tlN_BH

[@kitara_69]

Thanks for sharing these arts and teaching us, Mr. Stephen.

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure James. Please share my videos with your friends. That will help me. 😀

[@kitara_69]

@@stephentraversart I don't have friends that likes to draw but when they needed someone to teach them, I will recommend you for sure!

[@ntrg3248]

This 100% was worth watching to the end! There's been a lot of art videos I haven't watched to the end but I knew I just had to watch this one to the end, because there is a lot of useful information in it that honestly is even more than some longer videos have.

[@stephentraversart]

That’s kind of you to tell me. I hope there have things you could apply straight to your drawing from it. 😀

[@LovinLnCottage]

KZbin has presented you and I am now subscribed. Thank you for sharing your techniques and analysis! 🙏🥰

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks KZbin from both of us. I’ve posted a similar video but with architectural detail if you’re interested. 😀

[@ianheinig4818]

You’ve connected me with my longtime dream of drawing plants. I love your videos, so helpful. Thank you, Stephen!

[@stephentraversart]

Thank you Ian for such a generous gift. Much appreciated and I'm so glad my approach has been helpful. I do have a playlist on drawing trees and plants if you're interested.

[@sharonpahalan]

Totally worth watching until the end! What an inspiring and valuable art lesson, thanks for posting!

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure Sharon. Have you had a go drawing it yourself?

[@sharonpahalan]

@@stephentraversart I think I will! 😊

[@Element4ry]

Mr. Stephen, your video covers what boggles my mind for years; the way to insert the illusion of detail into an image. At that, your video gave me few new ideas to try, also making me realize that I didn't paid enough attention to detail density and how that aspect can be used to guide the viewer around the drawing better. And so, thank you kindly for sharing your knowledge!

[@stephentraversart]

I’m really pleased to have helped you along a bit with this tricky drawing area. Have fun trying out these new ideas. 😀

[@tengoodquestions]

I did this subconsciously because i am too impatient. My mindset is “the viewer can piece the test together”. Thanks for formalising the idea of this technique through the video

[@stephentraversart]

Your intuition knew it all! Excellent 😀

[@tengoodquestions]

@@stephentraversart i actually learned a lot from you in this video. I didn’t do anything with my intuition! I have subscribed now I like how you teach

[@Tango_Mike]

In the end, everything we see is a mere perception of contrast. The detail is there, but it's just too much information, so our brain summarizes what's important during that milisecond. I had a teacher once who told me to focus on what I see, not what I think I see, not on what I know by logic is there but on what my eyes capture in that fraction of time. This video right here is the perfect example of what he meant.

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Mike for sharing 😀

[@nanda28cc]

This is genuinely amazing. It's been 5 years and the first time it showed up on my feed.

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks. I only made this six days ago, so I don’t think it could have showed up on your feed much earlier!😀And my channel has only had teaching videos for 18 months. But welcome. I hope it’s all helpful to you. 😀

[@suneetinders]

Beautifully described. Your lucid and unassuming delivery is truly remarkable. Looking forward to learning more from you!

[@stephentraversart]

Thank you Suneet for such a kind and generous comment. I hope there is much more benefit from my videos waiting for you. 😀

[@yrmosi]

Crazy how its so similar to 3d modeler/animator using lower quality models for far away details in order to save computing works for games and animations. Great video, definitely helped me a lot!

[@stephentraversart]

I don’t have any experience in that, but a number of people have said the same thing. But I’m not surprised the programme’s mimic our brains. 😀

[@hoteldesigner6392]

You’re very good at communicating intent. Both visually and audibly. I thoroughly enjoy listening to your thoughts as you draw. ❤

[@stephentraversart]

Very kind of you to say Tina. Thanks😀

[@MossyMozart]

When drawing, you may find a reducing lens (the opposite of a magnifying glass) to be useful instead of having to stand up and step way back so much. This is a very nice and truly instructive video. Good teaching!

[@stephentraversart]

Hadn’t thought of that Mossy. Actually I usually look down at the iPhone screen where I think it’s probably the same effect as what you’re suggesting. Glad the video was helpful. 😀

[@andrewsart23]

Loved the detailed explanations. Especially when you mentioned how the mind identifies established concepts through your artwork even if it’s not really there. ❤Great idea to hide the needed work with flowers 😅

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Andrew. Have you had a go drawing the picture?😀

[@TheBlackCrayon77]

I say bravo to you sir. A masterful example of brilliance in using simplicity to obtain immense detail.

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Alfonso. Kind of you to say. 😀

[@thomasmccullough2719]

Incredible talent and great teacher....precious insight !

[@stephentraversart]

Thank you for your kind words. Much appreciated 😀

[@sheilacym]

Your video came up on my KZbin suggestions today and I could not be more delighted to discover you ! So clearly and concisely delivered and described….at a perfect pace to be able to really understand and listen to you. I have saved this to watch later as I know it’s going to be so informative. May I wish you every success with these wonderfully inspiring videos ! 🥳🤗🥳

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Sheila. I appreciate your saying this. I think this video has done very useful strategies. Hope you can put them to use. 😀

[@benjaminread5287]

I have never seen any of your art before, but as you showed those pieces at the start I was blown away, not necessarily by the details (tho they are impressive) but the brilliant form and depth! Your buildings look so real and 3d. Great work!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Benjamin. That’s kind of you to say and I really appreciate it. 😀

[@Fjalll]

This is much more interesting than those large super detailed drawings that are so popular

[@stephentraversart]

Glad you think so. 😀

[@ArtSunYouTube]

Amazing drawing 👍 Those eyes are bright and energetic, too delicate and super wonderful.❤

[@satharthajam6662]

I am glad Stephen that I watched your tutorial and explanations till the end. It was a remarkable simplification of how to draw & depict immense details down on paper and it has inspired me to try out your techniques. You are a remarkable teacher and I hope to learn more tips from your lessons. 💯👌💫

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Sathar. That’s great you found it so helpful, please give it a go in a drawing soon. And if you find my channel helpful, might you please tell your friends who draw about it. 😀

[@MrDudaro]

There are many drawing channels on KZbin, but yours is one of the best. On the other channels, they make how-to videos, but they don't explain anything about their drawing process or technique. In contrast, you do explain it. Congratulations on your channel and thank you for uploading these high-quality educational videos.

[@stephentraversart]

Thank you for such an appreciative comment. It’s encouraging you’ve found my videos so helpful. 😀

[@connicx]

This is amazing! I find I always focus on intricate detail wether it’s needed or not

[@stephentraversart]

Now you have another option 😀

[@erikaanterie]

To make it easy to the viewer to know what they're looking at. A key concept I'm taking from this video to put to use in my comic backgrounds right away. Thank you for your clarity, Stephens!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks. I’m surprised at the benefits artists of all different drawing genres are getting from my videos. All the best with yours.

[@lizzy9975]

You make some excellent points. The reality is we look at art, photos or a live scence and view it from a distance. Your drawings are pretty amazing tbh. It would be absolutely impossible to draw every gargoyle, nymph or angel on an architectural drawing. When viewed at a distance the human eye has this incredible ability to fill in the dots as it were. I'm only 2 mins in by the way...... 🤣

[@stephentraversart]

I’m glad the video’s helpful to you Lizzy. Thanks for your kind words. 😀

[@mewcatss]

Thank you for this! I have stopped drawing for a few years because I was too focused on details, getting 100% correct, and feeling way too overwhelmed, nearly destroying my love of art and turning it into something that stressed me out rather then soothed my stress. Being a perfectionist did not help my case any either. But now, after watching this, I feel as if I can go back to drawing with a lighter mood, and be able to stop over complicating my work. Thank you again. Thank you. I missed drawing almost every day.

[@stephentraversart]

How gratifying to hear. This is exactly the sort of impact I hope my videos could have. I thought about painting every day for 25 years before I was able to go back to it. I haven’t looked back this time. All the best for your experience and journey in this. 👏👏👏

[@pamgessler5923]

This is great. He's drawing the negative space to make the details pop out.

[@stephentraversart]

That’s right Pam. It’s a great technique in drawing. 😀

[@splinterspell]

The Secret to Drawing Overwhelming Detail? Bucketful's of talent! This is just a stunning video, thank you.

[@stephentraversart]

That’s very kind of you to say Ian, thanks 😀

[@Asterix34518]

Thank you Stephen for this excellent tutorial stressing the need to sketch the effect of the detail present in a building or natural feature rather than the exact detail and also explaining and demonstrating how to go about it.

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Chester. I’m glad you found it so helpful. That’s what I hope for when I make them. 😀

[@Meraxes6]

This is going to be so helpful as I’m working on a commission with a foreground full of wildflowers! I also find that the eye tends to catch on the corners and edges of intersecting shapes, so if you draw just a few corners of a shape your mind will easily fill in the rest. Sort of like the silhouettes you mentioned. Thank you for posting this valuable knowledge!

[@stephentraversart]

That’s great that it’s so relevant to what you’re doing. All the best with your drawing. 😀

[@drawntofashionillustration9596]

The overwhelm I feel when approaching drawing a busy street scene is only matched by my admiration for your rendering. Your understanding of perspective is extremely important and what we all need to master.

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Marta. I think my ability to observe carefully is more important. Mostly with perspective I draw what I see, though understanding the theory can make it easier to observe accurately. 😀

[@Amulet.]

The relief when i found your video was wild! Seriously i can't wait to try this out, this video was really informative and helped me understand more about tonal variation!

[@stephentraversart]

That’s great to hear. Welcome aboard my channel. I have a lot more videos on all sorts of drawing topics if you’re interested as well. 😀

[@bees7914]

Faking detail with depth and values is something I struggle with a lot, so it's very helpful to see it explained in great detail like this. I'm mainly a digital artist and even in traditional media I like to use a lot of color, but I think the general idea is applicable to lots of media. If I could say one thing though? The latter half of this video has a lot of cuts that are just a split second too late, leaving in the beginning of audio that was removed, and it's a little jarring since it happens so frequently? Besides that, this is a very informative video, I'm definitely going to file it away for future reference :)

[@stephentraversart]

Yes, sorry about the editing. I’ve got a new mic which has helped, but the iMovie app is a bit glitchy for me at times as well. It’s a great technique to use with a wide range of subjects. 😀

[@boozebeard9501]

I am a miniature sculptor and often I will be faced with the challenge or representing some kind of intricate patterning or detail in a way that will still read and be paintable at a small scale. I will definitely be thinking about the principles you've illustrated here next time I am tackling such a task.

[@stephentraversart]

I hope they are helpful for you in some way. 😀

[@GGUFSNAS]

Im very impressed with your ability to make it look so detailed, yet it is just some lines and shapes up close! Personally, I prefer to draw in all the detail because its fun and i have lots of time

[@stephentraversart]

Whatever creates the drawing you want is the perfect technique. Keep having fun.

[@icy4739]

I've always wondered how mangakas can draw dozens and hundreds of detailed panels with a restricted time. I thought I was never able to do that, and that I didn't was born for this. But, listening to your explanation, now it makes sense to me. I'm gonna try it and maybe someday I can be the artist I'm willing to be. Thank you very much!

[@stephentraversart]

Great to hear. My pleasure to have helped. 😀

[@kaiyuuyuu]

Your work is amazing and the technique was so well explained! It reminds me of how artists are taught to draw hair, as someone who's more familiar with portraits. There's no reason to draw each individual strand, but if you have a good grasp on the forms and their values, you can make it convincing. The way you talk about art is so captivating, I'm happy to subscribe!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks. Yes, hair is a great example of drawing the effect, not the exactness of the detail. Welcome aboard the channel. I hope you get much benefit from it. 😀

[@shoccococo7856]

I discovered you channel by chance. The algorithm just suggests me this video, and wow! I found this very helpful! I struggle a lot with a very detailed drawing because I tend to go into every details and lines and it usually turns out messy, not like what I'd expected. Now that I've watched this, I feel motivated to challenge those tough and complex subjects. Thank you for sharing such a helpful tip! I'll watch more of your videos. Your explanation is very clear and easy to follow. 😊

[@stephentraversart]

Actually, the algorithm has suggested this video to hundreds of thousands of people, quite a new experience for my channel! All the best as you try this technique out. It applies the same to any complex subject. 😀

[@JayJay-ki4mi]

This was awesome to watch because there hit a point in the drawing where suddenly my perspective changed and I seen incredible detail.

[@stephentraversart]

Brilliant. The magic suddenly happens!😀

[@KSt-nv8eb]

"....drawing the effect of the pattern..." ......Brilliant! This statement was so valuable to me. Thank you!

[@rebekahcrossman4690]

Just Fantastic - thank you! I’ve never seen anyone address this before. The flower patch is so ideal for demonstrating this - it’s maybe the most helpful video I’ve viewed all year. I’m so grateful. Lovely work!

[@stephentraversart]

That’s very encouraging to hear. Much appreciated.

[@Seraitsukara]

Thank you so much for this video. I have a horrible habit of trying to capture so much detail that I get overwhelmed on paintings. On my current painting I'm drawing these mass of tree roots that wind together...and I've been drawing every single individual root. After weeks of this I've finally gotten myself to scrap it all and start over. Your video popped up at the perfect time for me and it's made me look forward to working on it again for the first time in a long while.

[@stephentraversart]

So glad this has been timely for you. I’ve made a second video just a few videos ago where I draw another view of the flowers but I’ve organised my voiceover into 5 separate techniques I’ve used. You might find that helpful. Here’s a link if you’re interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mneXhYWee753abs

[@Seraitsukara]

@@stephentraversart Very interested, thank you again! Just bookmarked it to watch as soon as I'm able to!

[@hebermoreno7963]

Did it worth the matter? Totally! All of your experience, your technique in a summarized video tutorial made of pure gold. Can't thank you enough for this.

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Heber. I’m just right editing a video where I have redrawn a different view of these flowers where I have arranged my technique into five separate points which you might find helpful, and with a few streetscape examples at the end. Should post in a few hours. 😀

[@hebermoreno7963]

@@stephentraversart absolutely! Many thanks again

[@kipporah]

This is what I wanted my college professors to teach and felt I never got. Amazing, thanks! Beyond a professional teaching us moderates.

[@stephentraversart]

I’m glad to have obliged. I’m glad it was helpful. I have a playlist where you can see this technique applied to lots of different subjects besides just flowers. This link will take you there if you’re interested. kzbin.info/aero/PLwjv2r1KZs1RdXpapYftk9ajpX4uq5BeS&si=qDvuvhR185J5As3l

[@Kitsuyomi]

I've had an issue with this for so long and I'd decided to make it a lifelong journey to capture all the complexity of a scene, but I seem to struggle with breaking down every piece of detail and get overloaded with information. I suppose it's simply a matter of practice and slowly breaking down shapes and minimising it as well as studying patterns and adding complexity. Such a difficult topic yet you've done it so masterfully. :)

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Kitsuyomi. In the end, we should draw in the way we need to in order to create the drawings we have within us. I’ve just posted a similar theme using the Australian bush as the subject if you’re interested. All the best with your drawing. 😀

[@CAZZIEK321]

That was so useful. I think we forget that when we look at a scene, our eye refocuses over and over, taking in each part of the image, so when we translate that in to a drawing it’s easy to think everything is always in focus. We can create our points of interest by creating more detail just where we want them.

[@stephentraversart]

I discovered this principle first in painting tree canopies and then found it surprisingly applicable to drawing as well. Sounds like you have a thorough understanding of how it works Carole. 😀

[@ThisMusician586]

Your line placement seems so perfectly placed to me. Even though it's not "perfect", you're interpretation of the details seems so spot on!

[@TheLawlessRogue]

I've always been terrified of stepping out of my comfort zone and in experimenting with different techniques that come up with drawing scenes from nature and just overwhelming 'detail' in backgrounds. As somebody who has only been drawing for five years, I'm still at the start of my journey and have a lot to learn from great teachers such as yourself! I remember one such incident during my second year of art where I was commissioned to draw a character in a field of flowers and I was completely overwhelmed, attempting to sketch out and create individual lineart for each of the specific petals, stems, and blades of grass. Which was much to my chagrin because at the time I was too terrified to branch out into digital painting. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to create this video for us! I know that for myself, this helped a lot in easing the anxiety that I have to approaching big projcts. Especially when I saw how loosely you defined the detail in your pieces. Keep doing what you're doing. The sharing of artistic knowledge is always a great help to the community ♡

[@stephentraversart]

This is great to hear. Thanks and all the best with backgrounds. I’ve actually redrawn a different view of the flowers in a second video where I organise the steps into 5 points kzbin.info/www/bejne/mneXhYWee753abs All the best with your backgrounds. Thanks for telling me this. 😀

[@TheLawlessRogue]

Thank you! I'll certainly watch it later. Flowers and plants in particular are the bane of my existence despite how much I love nature scenes. The specifics that go into actually defining the type of plant/flower you're drawing can really get into a person's head haha

[@aurumon]

This was such a beautiful and mind blowing lesson. It has removed my worries about trying to capture everything as accurately as possible. Thank you ~

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Mariya. I have a playlist with more examples of this technique if you’re interested in more kzbin.info/aero/PLwjv2r1KZs1RdXpapYftk9ajpX4uq5BeS

[@PaintAndDrawTogether]

Your architectural drawings are truly stunning. I can only imagine the time and dedication it takes to make a composition and capture all those wonderful and fascinating details. Thank you for generously sharing your knowledge. Have a fantastic day!

[@stephentraversart]

Thank you. About 6 hours for the larger Instagram drawings, 30-90 minutes for most of my KZbin drawings. Glad it’s helpful 😀

[@CapsLockV2]

I went to school for art and this guy gets my stamp of approval

[@stephentraversart]

The guy is honoured to hear it. Thank you. 😀

[@michedaisy]

Thank you for providing some great tips for drawing detail. I watched the entire video and it was captivating. My detail monster comes out when I’m painting or drawing and I actually give up in utter frustration because I can’t produce what I’m seeing exactly. I love to draw, but I get discouraged and tired of the perfectionist mentality. This video really helped. Thank you so much.

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Miche. Yes, drawing is more than just copying. It is interpretation and translation which is particularly important and challenging in detailed subjects. Sounds like you’re on a helpful track now. All the best with trying all this out. 😀

[@throughcolouredglasses9300]

This was absolutely worth the watch! Not only that, it got me to get up and grab my neglected sketch book to draw while listening! I've always been obsessed with drawing fine detail but easily get discouraged when I can't accurately copy what I see. I think this idea of drawing the effect rather than the actual thing is brilliant! This might be what gets me back into drawing. I'm a perfectionist and struggle with feeling like my skill isn't good enough to capture what I want it to. But maybe it's not actually that, maybe it's the mindset/goal I was trying to achieve that made it frustrating. Thank you so much, I'm so happy. Your thoughts and explanations are so valuable and watching you draw brought me joy and inspiration :)

[@stephentraversart]

I have a number of videos on dealing with perfectionism which you may find helpful in not letting it hold back your drawing development. Thanks for your comment. I am delighted to have helped you navigate back to drawing. It is so much more enjoyable when we can get past the need to be perfect in what we draw. All the best with it all. 😀

[@lilystrong9870]

The moment you mentioned trees ... it unlocked my detail department. I've drawn it before using a fine tip pen and that seems to be the key to it.

[@stephentraversart]

These things fall into place for us eventually. 😀

[@crabeatcrab6011]

i have always thought about how artists dont actually draw everything they just kind of draw the bits that matter. Good job on putting that idea into words

[@stephentraversart]

It’s an incredibly useful understanding and technique 😀

[@JackSon-uu8nf]

I saw that field of flowers created but I still can't believe it - my mind is...still processing all of this. Just a new way of seeing things. Wow - thank you SO MUCH for sharing - your art is truly amazing ❤❤

[@stephentraversart]

You’d better believe it Jack because you’ll be drawing like that before you know it. Time to pick up a pen. 😀

[@mryan4719]

This is so inspiring and helpful! I've always drawn this way instinctively, minus the level of discipline and skill, but I always thought I was just lazy and told myself I need to learn to draw background detail "properly." Now I can practice these techniques with more awareness and confidence. Thank you so much!!

[@stephentraversart]

Sometimes we should pay more attention to our intuition and worry less about supposed rules. Have fun with this new freedom when you draw. 😀

[@lenZ.5275]

Wow, your technique deals with issues I really struggle with. I'd love to be able to create the "appearance" of detail as opposed to the actual detail. I get so hung up on it, and my drawings take time to do as well. I'd like to be more free flowing with my work, and I get so obsessed with absolute precision. Your technique sets a great example. Thank you!

[@stephentraversart]

You should play around with the technique for a bit Len, and see if it proves helpful for you to develop. All the best with it. 😀

[@19CarlosGomez64]

Our brain is a lazy guy. As soon as it detects a pattern of elements, it doesn't waste energy decoding the details of the smallest parts of a sequence. That's why it's a good idea to save time and effort and not draw the small features of faraway elements. The perception of the observer does it for us. Great video. I discovered this channel today and of course I have already subscribed. Thank you!

[@stephentraversart]

Well, I’d like to think my brain is putting that saved energy to something more important, rather than sneaking off to have a nap!😂 But yes; understanding how it works is something we can take advantage of on our drawing. Glad you found my channel. Hope there are more helpful things there for you. 😀