Essential Drawing Skills | Blocking-In | Why is it important?

MY BOOKS
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SOCIAL MEDIA:
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VIDEO DESCRIPTION:
In this quick tip video I share 3 reasons why the blocking-in technique is an important drawing practice and essential to your process.
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GENERAL DRAWING MATERIALS:
Pencils

Pens

Erasers

Paper

Watercolor

#drawingessentials #blocking-in #alphonsodunn

[randomnative]

Hello. I have been a teacher and an artist, sometimes both, for most of my life. Talented artists often make poor teachers of art. You seem to be good at both. Great work. Keep it up.

[HuwDouglasEvans]

Blocking in, or what I sometimes just call "basic shapes", is, to me, THE big "secret" to drawing. Once you can do that, everything else is literally just details.

[endanarchy]

Recently tried this for the first time when doing a sketch of my wife holding a camera. Drawing the camera was very intimidating because it looked like a sillouette and I couldn't get the contours right. Blocking-in made that experience such a breeze and actually made it an enjoyable process.

One of those "Why an am I only learning this now?" moments.

[hissyfitz]

Kindly turn on the ‘closed captioning’ option for those of us who are hearing impaired. 🙏🏻 We don’t want to miss any of your valuable information! Great tutorial; looking forward to seeing you more often. 😊

[mitchellsink]

This video is gold. Thank you so much for encouraging me. I always get a bit discouraged when it takes me awhile to establish my figure the way I like it. I have to keep reminding myself that art is a process and not every step is going to look like a masterpiece.

[amexjam]

I'll start practicing this technique in my drawings. I hope you'll continue doing more tutorials like this one. Thanks, Alphonso.

[DomTaAldee]

You are the coolest dude thx for having you on YouTube. I also learned a lot from your Book👍🏾

[zooterlacks]

Just bought your books and they are already putting me back on track to getting back into drawing, rediscovering my own talent and the joy of drawing. Thank you.

[iz]

Hey!! Just wanted to say i like the shorter vids!! I usually put most videos in my "watch later" playlist and end up never actually watching them. The fact this one is shorter helped me not procrastine and watch it now.
So i hope you'll keep making shorter vids in the future as well!

[oonaghguyonnet]

What gifts you have and am I grateful!! I’m a few steps above a beginner but at 85, am in a hurry. Thank you.

[johanneshaushofer]

Hi Alphonso! I like the enthusiastic way you explain things. This makes me listening (and looking) and in the case “of blocking in” it shows me what art is all about. It’s nothing mechanical. It’s reasoning and feeling and looking and experiencing ....

[thomasstanfordart]

Thanks for the vids! Love the block in process. Something that has helped me is to work in 15 minute segments on the block in, taking a break and coming back with fresh eyes.

[dirtysilver]

This was something I originally did when I learned to improve my skills. Never knew it had a name. Knowing is half the battle and now I know. Thank you!

[robertmaclean]

It's so much easier to draw straight lines than to start with curves. Curves are changing direction in two ways at once, but with a straight line you're just dealing with one angle. It's magical the way the organic shape emerges bit by bit from the straight lines as they build up - really fun and makes me feel like I can do this. Thank you for the excellent lesson.

[leslie-annepepin]

I actually appreciate your short videos! Straight to the point, and bot overwhelming. Thank you! Will go look for your books.

[stevehampton]

A THIRD BOOK !!!???!!! I CANT WAIT TO BUY IT !!! I have the first two and they have helped me tremendously. I excited about a new book !!! Thank you for all your help. My art is so much better due to you.

[sallywarmington]

Hello from the UK. I’m so glad to see you back. Hope all is well.

[Sewius]

Thanks for the reminder. I've wasted plenty of time going into detail early and trying to adapt a pose to a face. My approach is something I really need to focus on.

[rosemaryshort]

Thank you for this wonderful artist and teacher. It is the first time I have someone who gives his all in his teaching. Too many you tube lessons do not explain properly. I am trying to master portraits. After watching Alphonsus lessons, I can now understand the facial proportions for the first time. You are a gifted artist and a wonderful passionate teacher. I hope you continue on you tube.

[patytrico]

Glad to have you back, teacher! And blocking is important so my drawing does no run out of space in the page :)