Sketch from Photos Like a Pro – Simple Drawing Methods for Beginners | Srimathi | Skillshare

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Sketch from Photos Like a Pro – Simple Drawing Methods for Beginners

teacher avatar Srimathi, Artistcastlebysri - Art Educator

Watch this class and thousands more

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Taught by industry leaders & working professionals
Topics include illustration, design, photography, and more

Watch this class and thousands more

Get unlimited access to every class
Taught by industry leaders & working professionals
Topics include illustration, design, photography, and more

Lessons in This Class

    • 1.

      Welcome to Sketch World!!!

      0:54

    • 2.

      From Photo to Pencil: Drawing Grapes with Easy Techniques

      16:46

    • 3.

      Sketch a Rooster with Confidence – Step-by-Step Guide

      11:49

    • 4.

      Drawing a Boat & Seaside Scene

      6:22

    • 5.

      Thanks for Watching!

      0:47

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About This Class

This class simplifies 4 Easy Steps to SKETCH ANYTHING very Easily!!!

Always wanted to turn your favorite photos into beautiful sketches, but didn’t know where to start? In this beginner-friendly class, I’ll guide you step-by-step on how to sketch anything — from fruits and animals to landscapes — using simple observation and easy techniques.

You’ll learn:

  • How to break down complex images into basic shapes

  • Simple line drawing techniques for accuracy

  • Tips for proportions, angles, and details

  • How to sketch directly from a reference photo

By the end of this class, you’ll have the confidence to sketch grapes, a rooster, a scenic boat — and anything else you set your eyes on! Whether you’re completely new to drawing or looking to sharpen your skills, this class will help you see the world like an artist and sketch with ease.

No fancy tools needed — just a pencil, paper, and curiosity!

Meet Your Teacher

Teacher Profile Image

Srimathi

Artistcastlebysri - Art Educator

Teacher



I am Srimathi, a computer science engineer from the state Tamilnadu, India and I must say it's a beautiful place with a rich cultural heritage. Art and painting relaxes me and keeps me going everyday. It is like therapy to my mind, soul and heart.

I started my art journey with Color pencils when I was a child in early 2010 and eventually became a full-time artist in 2019.

I learnt by experimenting and by trying out various mediums such as watercolor, gouache, color pencils, graphite and charcoals on my own.

I have invested a lot into learning more and more about painting because I believe that art is something which can create endless possibilities for you and give you a different perspective towards everything you see forever. I also take online an... See full profile

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Transcripts

1. Welcome to Sketch World!!!: Hello. This is rima art educator. I'm an online art teacher. I have taught across like 100 students online, suffer and going on. So I teach various mediums starting from the pencil sketch to watercolors, oil pastels, and various mediums. So also I just go with teaching just from the very basic to the pro level. Now, today in this session, I'm just going to teach you how you can just very simply make any kind of sketch or like how hard it may be. So it's completely for all levels. So if you're struggling to make a sketch but good at painting or coloring, but just struggling to make a sketch, this is the session for you. You can learn how we can create a sketch very easily like a pro. So let's get started. 2. From Photo to Pencil: Drawing Grapes with Easy Techniques: Hello. So we are just going to make a breakdown with three different pictures, at least, make a sketch properly to learn it properly. So I'm just going to make with a proper steps to how you can make a sketch so quick. So what I personally follow for making a sketch is firstly, I just choose the size. Like this is a A four sheet. To practice now along with me, you can just take any drawing paper you have a regular one is ENF for making a normal sketch. And if you wish to just make with a specialized with 150 GSM or 120 GSM paper. So even that's very perfect, you can start with whatever you upgrade. Next is a regular pencil, a sharpener, and an eraser, if anything gets wrong. So as a beginner, we can use these. So when we get, like, a pro, it's not that necessary to keep on erasing often. So we should just improvise our habit to make it very perfect from the start. Now, I have just brought up a picture. This is going to be our first project. So you can see this is grape in a inert. And here, first, this is a reference picture that we have, and we're going to make a sketch out of this. So when we have got this, what's our thing to notice first is, we need to break down. That is, like, I'm just going to make with the longitude shape. So this is very vertical. So this is vertical, and now what we are going to make is we need to see which elements are very defined and which are blood. So the grape here and the leaf, just this one bigger leaf and little one here are like, very structured, and we can see the definition very clearly, comparing the background. So the background here is very blood. Okay, we cannot see any details. So this is, like, a basic observation we can make and nextly, like, we need to find out the shapes. So first is going to be the alignment of anything. Like, we are going to make, like, horizontal or vertical. So that's the first thing. And next, it's going to be with making the observation. So we are going to make an observation, like how the direction it's like blurry or well defined. So we need to just make all the details observation. And next, it's going to be with the shapes. So it may go with any two D or three D shapes. So the graves here basically in the front, we can see a sphere shape. And for the leaf, it goes with mostly curves and lines. So all these shapes comes under like two D and three D, so before you are not that much clear with what two d and three D shapes are, you can just have a look with a two D two dimensions and three dimensions sat for the one who have no idea. And next is going to be with clarity on the starting point and ending point where the objects need to be placed. So I'll show you up in the picture. So these are going to be the major notable points for making a sketch. And the other very interesting thing is, like, if your pencil is not that sharp, your picture will not produce very sharp pictures and perfection will not be that great. So you need to keep your pencil always up. If it's blend, no perfectness can be obtained. Now, to start, I'm just going to take the reference again and you can see a stem. So it grows like this. So let's consider, I'm just going to make a picture within this. So this is the place I have chosen for making this sketch. And the top and bottom, we may just assume like here and here. This is a place where a horizontal line goes, and below this, it goes with the triangle shape. The actual shape of the grape, it goes with the triangle shape. So this is a huge shape. And inside the triangle, you can see so many circles. So when coloring, it becomes a sphere. But before coloring, without colors and light shadows, with a just basic shape, it looks just like a circle, not a sphere. So with only colors, it just produces the three D shapes. And here, as I said before, it goes with the proper curves, well cut defined curves, and it's completely like this. So we can make a rough shape, so it goes like a letter U. We can also take support alignments, like support guidance from the letters, numbers in whichever direction we see that. So this is our main thing. Yeah, let's get started and Al touch this picture on the side of the camera video. Firstly, starting from this place, the stem portion, I'm just making it very roughly, and we need to see the breadth, the width, and the length, height, everything as a measurement. So it is a natural substance and not a still life project, so it goes with much curves and strike lines. We need to focus on all that. So it extends through here. So this is going to be the basic shape of the stem, and from here, it just divides up the branch like this. So just which extends and divides up on the top, like this. So we need to make the stem little brought in the start, but when it extends, we need to make it narrow. So this is how a proper stem grows, and we should not make something like this, very sticky, sprite. So this doesn't look professional, so this is a good way to go ahead. And next, it's like, another two stems behind this. It's growing on here. So we need to make the details, but it is not necessary. It should be exactly the very same as a beginner. Okay. So when you keep on practicing the sketch often, you will get the as it is like a print. So next is the leaf portion on here. So it covers at least this much space, and we need to keep on making with the curves. So if you feel a little hard, just practice it separately and just get onto the main project. The second one is going to be with rain drops, like one on here, the other one on this side. So two rain drops. And from this place, it goes with some the bath structures which are not defined again. And it's little dark in color. We cannot see the definition properly. And from here, it grows with the grape like this divides this way. And from here, the other way. So there are so many divisions, and we can see till here. Only this much is visible. So this portion is going to be holding the grape and it divides. So here, it is visible on this much. Now, we need to find up the we just did with observation alignment shapes. We also we found. And next is going to be with the starting and ending points. So this is the place like the triangle I said before. So this should be not with a bold, thick lines. So this should not be used. So we call this thin lines with light pressure imaginary line. So we need to practice that separately and do this way, which should be visible only for the people who drop. So this is the place. I'm making it. So it's not very triangle, sharp end. Yeah. Like a carrot, it looks funny. Okay. Now, from this place, I'm just going to make up the shapes. So the one in the very middle here, it goes with a perfect round. So it's very complete and perfect and I'm picking that and making a circle. And next the one on the top here, it looks again with a perfect shape. So I'm taking that. Next one below this is like little just hidden to this. Okay, hidden behind this and to this. So I'm making it with a three fourth of the circle shape, not a complete one will be visible. So next, we need to keep on building with circles like here, the other one is perfect. Like this. And here it's very small. And next one to this is only this much visible. And here, again, it's only this much. So we need to keep on building up these circles. So here alone, I'll just fast forward. Okay, so the in between one very behind is like half with the curves, not complete circle. So we need to create like that, and building the rest on the sides here to complete this way. Here, only one fourth lesser than one fourth is visible. So even I created that So, yeah, that's it. We are done with the grape. And next is going to be the rain drop. So it's like one on here, this shape, falling to the ground, making the exact shape and like oval in the bottom, U shaped oval. So that should be continuous from the grape. And next one, a small drop. Next or some reflections on here, like whitish reflections. To create that shape I'm making imaginary again and a rectangular shape. So that place will be mostly colored and focused well to create the highlight. So this is how we have to make detail ins for highlights. This is very much important to bring the realisticness of the picture next is going to be on here, a small details even Mathis. Same way. I'm just doing it for all the places around. And that's it. Yeah, I'm done. So nextly I'm just going to erase up all the unwanted guidance lines. So this are done. So I have erased up the line, and next it's going to be the bigger leaf on here. So it extends like just till this place, starting from here, and it hides away the branches running on this side, also this bigger branch. Now, the shape, it's going to be like starting from here so we can make an imaginary leaf again. Like, we need to draw the exact shape, how it's drawn, how it's grown. Like this. So after making the shapes, we are going to make the details. And the other one side is going to be hidden on this end. So I have just extended to this side and on the top here, it just starts like this to the very center of the tip, we need to make the U shape like this. So this is a perfect thing. Now the basic shape is done. Next is going to be adding with the details, it's been with a very defined shape like this shorter details. So we need to just make all the details easy. A little bit like cut on this place, we cannot see any details here. And all the edges should not be very sharp and pointy and it can be little with a good curve in the base. The other side is going to be on the opposite end, like this. And next, the center portion, the vein of the leaf, it's going to be very thin, which should be colored yellow. And the excess detailing on the sides like this where the vein even gets branched. So just keep on practicing side by side along with the lessons. And if you're done, you can summit up the project in assignment area so that I can just review how you have done. And even that encourages me to make more schedules and classes like this and just drop your feedbacks. So even that helps me to come with different more ideas. So yeah, this is the way I have just made with a vein. And next is going to be the other second level of detailing. So these are the major retailings here or with the blurred points. And it's going to be a perspective thing. So I'm just starting up from this place after the leaf ends so. This is going to be this perspective point. And from this point, it's like, like this and it goes like this wide. So the trees are being ending up here on both way. And this is going to be some sand area. And the middle portion, it's going to be covered using covered by grasses. So I'm creating that grass way. The other line for the tree trunks. So it's going to be like some of the trees it's grown here. And when coloring, we can add up the details. And these are the three portions I have made. Next is going to be the other leaf behind. So it's just only simply visible and creating the details around like this, this much is enough, and the other one here. And the rain drop it falls in the very tip like this. Then for making the whites, the rain drops, it goes sight, like this. So when coloring, we can apply special fluids like masking fluet to mask it and paint or color. So in the pastels, you can just go with some kind of white pastel or white pencil over. So this is how the drops look like. You can add as many as possible and some of you drops here. So we are in the very end. That's it. So this is how you can make a squitch easily with all these steps. And this project is done, and I'm hoping a lot that you enjoy this session and expecting your project submission in the assignment area. So we'll be meeting you in the next project session. 3. Sketch a Rooster with Confidence – Step-by-Step Guide: Hi, welcome back to the second project. And in the second project, it's going to be with a rooster. So here, mixing with a rooster is going to be very easy, but it's not looking hard. Okay. So this is an easy one because there are very simplified things. So it's going to be in the behind, we are going to make boke effects, blurred effects. So even here in the base, it's going to be with a very defined shape. So we can just consider this part of the body as a single shape, this area, the second shape. So we can do it like this. And on the top, it's going to be with a third shape. So I'll show you and keeping the picture aside. So it's going to be starting let's consider I'm going to make it from the base. So here it's going to be with a stone, a bigger stone, so which it starts to this end. So we need to we have just found out the shape and how defined it is. So the observation is done, alignment is done, so it's very vertical and standing erect. Next is going to be the clarity of making the starting and ending directions. So the stone where it stands, it's going to be from this place like this goes and ends on here. So this is going to be the rough stone, and the legs, it's going to be exactly in the middle on the top. This way, high. So we need to keep making with the details. So it's like divided into three different styles. So this comes along one side and this alone comes to the other side. So this is how it's standing, and this portion is not completely visible and the nail has grown like this. The other one is going to be done after making this shape here. So above this is going to be with the shape of the feathers, wings, the body the actual complete body part. So it goes a little bit like this. So yeah, we can just make a W. It's like visible for me like a W. Only this much. So yeah, so the base is done, and from here, I'm just making with the other leg, and it's completely visible, not like the previous. So when making, we are going to see the divisions, how it has grown. So the front one on here, it's completely visible. Second one is even completely visible. The third one is little side and we can see only one fourth of the size and the other one completely flat on here. So that's it. So as I just made with a shape first, so it starts exactly on this place, a shave a rough shape with guidance line, so it goes like this and ends up here. Like this. And the second shape it starts here, goes to the top, like this. This is the basic structure it has got. Now, after making this, we are going to make all the detailings starting from the body part, feather swings, and the head everything tail portions. So I'm just going to give up specific outline from this place like this and it goes to the top, stops here, and this potion is going to be with a head. So the shapes here are again, like oval like this on the beef. And the top head. So it's a little sharp and with much triangles. So we can easily make with a countings so that it's very clear how and where we can stop it. That's it. And from this place, it's going to be with the eyes and it ends here. So for eyes, I'm just going to create with the detailing, circle the eyeball, the circle place, it's going to be on here. And inside there is the other inner circle and the highlight on here. So this is going to be shaded completely. The highlight will be visible, so we can just make a little tiny dot on that place to make it as a highlight. And here it goes with the other part of a rooster. Now we have just made a bulkiness on this place as shown. And there are details. So where the yellow pad goes. So that is completely like A. So we can make a rough A first, and it simply just goes to the direction on here like this. Next, we can just make with the details. No so here it's going to be with lengthy feathers and hairs with the body. The side wing starts up here and extends with this curvy structure like a S and just goes back joins here. There are so many curves making the body a rooster like this. So when coloring, we can just make with a direction. So here to make an easy understanding, I have just adding I'm just adding with the lines and curves on here. So these are unnecessary ones. We can erase it. The other side is going to be like this portion is completely orange, the sage of orange, so we can just make a split up here. Like this. And even here it goes with shades of dark blues. So we can just make it with all the detailings and here it goes with grays and plaques. So these are completely for our understanding to make the colouring work. Next from here, it's going to be little hairy on this side. So all these are oranges. Next it is going to be on the top, it's going to be the blues and greens. So these are small, small hars and from here like this and returns back from this place to the base again. The second one below. And the behind one. The third one. So these are the front layers, and so we can make clear with all the colors and details easily. So here the others are little behind, and that's not completely visible. Here they are with bigger details continuing this. That's it. Our next is going to be all the erasing unwanted portions. So I'm erasing up all these So even the baselines here that we added as a guideline can be erased. Only needed things can be kept. That's it. So an easy rooster is built up, and after coloring the shape and the realisticness will completely change. So this is the basic thing how we can make a sketch. So we are done completely with a second thing. And for making the bouquet on the top, here just we can go with kind of curves like this. So there we can just make with the yellows. And if you're interested to learn how to make with the color pencil drawing or parcels. So you can just make a comment as a feedback on using the word color pencil so that I can just upload the color pencil drawing session with very details. So comment, color pencil drawing. That's it. 4. Drawing a Boat & Seaside Scene: Welcome to the third project of sketching. So here I have just chosen the reference you can see on the screen. So this is going to be making with a horizontal line, and it's a vertical lagin. And the horizontal line should be just a line which connects with the landscape and the sky. So I'm just making on it just here, very centered. So just like a guidance line. The imaginary line it's enough with a light pressure. And on the top, it goes with so many bodies here and there. So this is going to be the sun portion just very lightly visible. And on this side, it goes with some clouds on here. This way. So when we paint or color, all these details are required. Next is going to be the other clouds on the top. So with good curves, I'm just making the clouds, the exact shape on how it is built. It's like this and some parts on here these small broken clouds. They're like this Okay. Now, for making the body, so we need to just see the shape, like, where it is there and long that I'm just making. And this is kind of like this Same way as making with all the birds. It's very, like, black and gray tones. So the clouds there will be hidden and it's very light behind. That's it. So for assistance, like, we need to make with a black sketch, black colouring for the birds, even that's great. We can make it or if you want to just go straight away with the coloring, that's fine. We should not shade black that time. Because when we paint here, what will happen is this pencil blackness may smudge along with the paint and produce some kind of lackiness that's not necessary for painting, and that would destroy the colors. So better it's good to have a simple sketch like this without shading. So now, as we are just going with only the sketching process, I'm making with a shading process. And next is going to be with the boat on here. So it just starts below the line at this place and goes like this ends up here. So this is the starting and this is the ending point, and we need to connect with the shape it has. Only a straight line is necessary for making it. The other thing is going to be slanting on here. And it's connected just going down next with the other side. So it starts here and ends up on this place. So this place is like it's going to be little this way, as there are so many sand particles, and it will not have any perfect shape. So building like this, and this is going to be again with a good curve and it ends on here. So we can make a little high like this. So you can erase this. So when you apply a good pressure and if it went wrong and need to erase what will happen is tracing will be present. So to avoid that, I'm just going, I ask you to make with a lighter pressure. So even if you erase this will not produce any blackness or impressions, and it ends here like this and the inner details So next is going to be with a parallel shape of the designs. So the wooden planks are being placed like this. And the second one is going to be with a single lines. So which should end very corresponding to the other side. Like this. Now here goes with some kind of the ropes from this place, just from here and from this place to the base. And we can add all the reflection, the sand particles, waters, everything. Just going with a random motion of hand. So this is how sketching will be easy if you are very clear in making the details and alignments, starting and ending points. That's it. So you are done with the third project as well. And if you very much love this and practice, please do this post it. I'm waiting for your feedback. 5. Thanks for Watching!: So we are in the very last session, and so very thank you for just joining me in this session and practice along with me all the sketches. I hope you have uploaded everything in the project area and just keep commenting with a color pencil drawing or watercolor painting so that I can just play with high ted comments and take that one as a comment and we'll make a video out of it in the upcoming classes. So I hope you all understood well making the sketches, and please submit your projects all the three projects in this session. In the project area so that I can review everything and give the comments and corrections. So thank you so much for being joined. Thank you.