The secret to creating stunning artwork lies in the power of observational drawing. By carefully studying your existing jewellery and striving for accuracy, you can extend and level up your illustration skills.
Observational drawing sharpens your hand-eye coordination, making you a master of your craft. It's like a warm-up before a big game, the more you practice, the better you get.
Illustration of earrings designed and made by Hemmerle
Through observational drawing, you'll gain incredible insight into the jewellery techniques finishes and materials you are drawing. No matter how complex they may seem, you'll be able to capture them beautifully and accurately. Trust me, the more you draw, the more detail you'll pick up on.
I leverage observational drawing to maintaining and extending my drawing skills and keep up to date with my favourite inspiring jewellery designers. Practicing observational drawing using is also a great way to keep up to date with trends and new techniques and materials in manufacturing.
My tips for observational drawing are:
Let your eyes do the talking: Take in your subject with great care and capture what's truly there, not what you assume exists. When drawing metal and gems what things actually look like is very different to what you expect to see.
Go live: Sketching from real-life is a goldmine of visual inspiration, giving you the tools to create authentic and lifelike drawings. It also trains your brain to spot the details and draw faster with accuracy.
Light it up: Don’t forget to consider how light behaves in relation to what you are drawing. Consider how the light dances/moves on your subject and creates contrasting shadows. Don’t forget the shadows - shadows will add depth and realism in your artwork.
Narrow your focus: Tackle one section at a time instead of getting bogged down in the entire piece. This way, you can concentrate on the details without feeling overwhelmed. (Cover up sections of the reference image if needed)
Practice like a pro: Make drawing a daily ritual and watch as your skills skyrocket. Even a few minutes a day can work wonders in improving your observation and drawing technique.
With observational drawing, you'll learn to focus on the essentials, the details that will make your jewellery illustrations stand out. As you practice you will be able to simplify more complex subjects easily in order to create expressive and engaging illustrations.
So, add observational drawing to your toolbox of skills. Your jewellery illustrations will thank you for it!