How To Draw On A Horizontal Surface Using Overhand Grip

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Lesson Details

One of the most important skill you'll demand to learn as a beginning artist is how to concord and control your pencil properly. This might seem like an obvious and little matter, but at that place'southward actually a whole technique to holding your pencil and it tin brand a large impact on your results.

In that location are 2 master grips for property a cartoon pencil: the Writing Grip and the Overhand Grip.

The Writing / Tripod Grip

The writing grip is the about common method and is employed past most artists. The reason it'south called "the writing grip" is considering this is also the same grip we employ to write with.

It involves using your thumb, index, and middle finger to manipulate the pencil.

This grip exclusively uses the tip of the pencil to draw. Because you are using three fingers to hold the pencil, this grip is also old called "the Tripod Grip".

Unlike people have slightly different ways of holding the writing grip, merely they are all essentially the aforementioned grip.

When using the Writing Grip, you can adjust the corporeality of pressure level and precision you accept by changing where you lot hold the pencil.

When you lot hold the pencil closer to the tip, you'll get much more precision in your line work, equally well every bit increasing the pressure and darkness of the lines.

When you motion your grip dorsum towards the end of the pencil, the pressure you lot exert will be much less and your lines will be lighter. Although y'all'll lose some precision, you'll be able to make smoother and more dynamic lines.

The Overhand Grip

With the Overhand Grip, you hold the pencil similar to how y'all would hold a candle, with the tip pointing upwardly. Unlike the Writing Grip, which simply apply the tip of the pencil, the Overhand Grip allows you to use the tip as well as the side of the pencil.

To use the Overhand Grip, hold the pencil with your thumb and alphabetize finger similar and then.

You and then apply your centre finger to push on the pencil and cause information technology to tilt at whichever angle you desire.

And your band and little finger finger will exist use to stabilize your hand equally you glide it over your drawing paper.

It'southward of import not to residue your hand also much on the drawing paper as this will prevent it from being able to move smoothly. But at the same time, don't hover your hand above the paper as you won't have a lot of stability and your shoulder will get tired very quickly. A light corporeality of contact with your fingers for stability and comfort will exist best.

You might as well notice that the pencil is sharpened differently when using the overhand grip.

I'll do a tutorial on how to sharpen your pencil this style in the next video, just substantially the reason for this is nosotros want to betrayal more of the atomic number 82 and then that we can use the tip of the pencil for drawing, every bit well as the side of the pencil for shading.

Pro'southward and Con'south of Each Grip

So what's the difference betwixt these two grips and why should y'all apply one as oppose to the other?

In general, the Writing Grip is much better for precision and small details.

This tin be seen in our everyday writing. We are able to brand very small and intricate letters and words using this grip. For drawing, I like to apply this grip when working on fine details similar eyes or hair.

The Overhand Grip is much amend for big, fluid, gestural lines.

Because you are able to motility the pencil in so many unlike ways and make contact with the paper with different parts of the pencil, you're able to create very interesting and dynamic lines.

You tin use the side of the pencil to create a thicker line. Yous tin can use the tip to create thinner lines. Or you can also pull the pencil along the edge to create sparse lines equally well.

Weave all this together and y'all have a very fun way to describe.

One affair to notice is that the Overhand Grip works much meliorate if y'all accept an inclined drawing surface of about 20 – 40 degrees.

This puts the cartoon paper at a good angle to brand contact with the pencil. The Writing Grip, on the other hand, can be use on a flat or inclined surface.

Drawing Mode

Your style of cartoon volition thing every bit well. The Writing Grip will lends itself to a more tight, realistic style…

…whereas the Overhand Grip is much better for a loose, sketchy manner.

Drawing Medium

The medium you are using might as well dictate which grip yous use. Charcoal is a very loose and sketchy medium then it will call for the Overhand Grip more.