

Sign up
Here's how it works:
  1. Anybody can ask a question
  2. Anybody can answer

There are plenty of online tutorials, that can teach one to use Photoshop or adobe Illustrator. I don't know how to draw, but want to develop that skill, threfore I am looking for a good video tutorial or a book that can teach me.

An important aspect is that it has to teach me how to know what to draw, from the physics point of view. I call it that way, but it may be the wrong name for the painting undertanding approach. Let me provide an example:

Consider two images: one without

wo gradient

and one with the gradient overlay

with overlay

So the gradient overlay from white to black in this case adds an effect of light dropping down on an object.

The next time I will be drawing something, I will know, that if I need to express a light on the object, I use gradient overlay.

I am looking for a resource that teaches me how to draw in this reality-related way.

Hope my question is understandable. If not really - let me know please, so I can break it down into a more logical pieces. Thank you.

share|improve this question
Interesting question. – e100 Oct 18 '11 at 9:19
The effect of your gradient is a well known feature of our visual processing system, not so much a physics phenomena. – joojaa Jul 1 '14 at 5:21
up vote 2 down vote accepted

It seems like you're asking "How would I learn to draw photorealistically?". If that's the case, you should probably be looking into both perspective techniques and shading techniques.

Perspective techniques would allow you to properly draw the objects you're rendering based on the viewer's current position relative to the object. I would suggest doing a google search on "two point perspective" and "single point perspective" to see how that's done.

Shading techniques pay careful attention to the direction and amount of light shed onto an object as well as the object's physical properties - is it a very reflective material (in which case there will be specular reflections and even other objects being reflected from the face of the object) or a dull object (which will have brighter patches and some falloff but no reflection) or something in between?

I would suggest grabbing a pencil and some paper to start with; as you work with these you'll get practice ("How do you get to Symphony Hall? Practice!") as well as a better appreciation for both of these techniques.

I've always liked the Ching books, particularly for perspective ("Architectural Graphics" is the go-to book for any first year architectural student and has the best method of teaching perspective drawing I've ever seen) but there are plenty of other sources out there. Find one that works for you and doodle. Doodle, doodle, doodle.

share|improve this answer
+1 Great answer. The only thing I'd add to this would be, "Observe!" You can only make things look real by looking at the real world closely. Da Vinci and Michelangelo could draw incredibly realistic figures because they actually dissected bodies to see the muscle and skeleton under the skin. I'm not suggesting you to that far(!), but the principle is the same. Rules won't help much if you don't combine them with direct observation of the real world. – Alan Gilbertson Oct 17 '11 at 19:59
I would add.. Get into Symphony halls through the door.. so much easier. – Joonas Oct 17 '11 at 22:51
Definitely look at da Vinci, he was one to work it through from first principles! – e100 Oct 18 '11 at 9:23

See also the recent presentation on the new perspective tools in Illy CS5.

share|improve this answer

I'm agree with the previous poster. I believe perspectives are the ultimate edge for drawing same as light study is the ultimate for painting.

Following resource is my all time starting point for them in case it's what you are looking for:

share|improve this answer

Your Answer


