Drawings for a sketchbook in the style of fantasy

Throughout the development and improvement of the fine arts, many artists have developed the practice of making quick sketches - sketches. Such paintings are, rather, sketches in which disparate ideas and thoughts are embodied. In modern times, fantasy-style sketches are very popular, because many creative personalities draw inspiration from the depiction of mythological characters and fairy-tale landscapes.

Fantastic subjects were encountered in painting even before the emergence of a separate genre of fantasy art. The development of the direction proceeded in parallel and repeated, and often coincided with the development of literature, many artists painted covers and illustrations for books. The works of Russian painters: Viktor Vasnetsov, Ivan Bilibin and Mikhail Vrubel are a prime example of this. Many stories from fairy tales are presented in the manner of phantasmagoria.

With the development of animation and cinema, the advent of computer graphics and a large number of fantasy-style video games, artistic depictions of fantastic creatures and worlds are becoming one of the most popular in the world. Many people who are fond of drawing come up with and create unusual paintings, from sketches of clothes to architectural structures. Often for a creative person, an image is an opportunity to rethink a story that has been read or to see an already familiar image in a new light.

The magic and the extraordinary is sometimes seen in everyday things.

Drawings for a sketchbook have one important feature - if you compare them with a full-fledged work, it can be noted that they are more spontaneous and not particularly worked out. Sometimes only individual details are drawn, and sometimes only the background and shapes. Some sketches develop into independent things, other fragments merge into existing plots. This drawing allows you to develop the ability transfer fleeting ideas or scenes to paper, practice your craft, collect material for real paintings.

Here are some practical tips:

• carry an album with you;
• sketch inspirational moments;
• learn different methods of working with a pencil;
• practice regularly;
• do not be afraid to correct and redraw;
• remember that you can not only erase with an eraser, but also draw;
• regularly practice new drawing techniques and techniques in your sketchbook.

You can create 3D images using different tones:

• darker and more contrasting ones are suitable for close objects, blurred ones - for distant ones;
• different lengths and direction of shading make it possible to highlight objects;
• shading or displaying light on a surface will tell the viewer about texture and space (artist Harold Speed ​​wrote in more detail about the use of different types of strokes in the book "The Practice and Science of Drawing").

For those who constantly draw in the margins or the last pages of a notebook, we suggest trying to make full-fledged illustrations from sketches. You don't have to be a professional artist or designer to create colorful and personalized sketches. This art is available to absolutely everyone.

You can try to draw the very first sketches based on your favorite comics, animated series. Sketches made for filmed feature films or TV series are used as a basis or as an example.

In the fantasy style, you can combine different types of sketching:

• interior;
• architectural;
• landscape;
• portrait;
• fashion - drawings of clothes;
• travel sketch (travel).

Drawing will be a great creative workout and a way to switch things up for people in a wide variety of professions. The first fantasy drawings do not have to contain a lot of detail and a large number of characters. Better to start with a few simple pieces.

Here are some options for light sketches.

• Magical items (Firebird feather, spell scroll). It is not difficult to draw such objects; it will also be interesting to supplement illustrations with quotes or vivid statements. Several items on a page in separate frames can create a certain mood and even a plot.

• Cartoon and anime characters... For fans of animation, drawing your favorite character will be a good opportunity to practice your fine art skills. It is interesting to combine characters from different works or add a new development to a well-known story. For example, on Pinterest you can find easy charts for drawing a wide variety of characters.

• Fantastic creatures... Many people probably wanted to try to draw a dragon or a unicorn, and not necessarily the whole thing at once. So why not make up your mind and sketch out the head or paw first?

• Fantastic landscapes... Unusual pictures of nature or the country that were suggested by the imagination while reading a book, watching a movie, or while sleeping are great options for sketching. It's not necessary to create an epic canvas: you can start at the door of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins' house.

• Subject... Often there are images and stories that are remembered for a long time. You can convey a memorable theme not only as a whole picture. It is enough just to depict a few elements and shapes on the sheet.Details sometimes say more than a large-scale work.

• Cities and castles from the imaginary world and are invited to a virtual journey through the streets and galleries. If you imagine yourself walking in such a place, and then sketch what you saw and write comments, you get a traveler's diary.

• Heroes of your favorite games and works of art often continue to live outside the fictional world. Some images like to redraw over and over again. Let a portrait gallery with a memorable face appear on the pages of the album.

There are so many books out there with recommendations on how to draw classic and modern fantasy characters.... The publications tell about the stages of work on a drawing: from a light sketch to a thorough drawing of details and giving the work completeness. Professionals reveal their secrets to beginners.

Now let's see some wonderful photo examples of sketching.

• Pencil drawings.

• Using markers.

• Watercolor illustrations.

• Mixed media.

Watch the video below for an overview of the fantasy sketchbook.