Brenda Hoddinott
B-07 BEGINNER: LEARN TO SEE
Learning to draw is all about learning to see as an artist. In this project, you transform an egg-
shape into a cartoon of a goofy-looking gremlin. You exercise your vision to examine the step-
by-step illustrations that demonstrate the various stages of adding the very simple shading.
This lesson is divided into the following two sections:
Ü OUTLINING EGGHEAD’S FACE, EARS, AND HAIR: You lightly sketch Grendel
on your paper proportionately correct. Proportion is the relationship in size of one
component of a drawing to another or others.
Ü GIVING PERSONALITY TO A GREMLIN: You exercise your vision to add shading
lines to your drawing. You need to pay attention to whether the shading lines are light or
dark, or close together or far apart.
Suggested drawing supplies include drawing paper, graphite pencils (HB and/or 2B), kneaded
and vinyl erasers, a pencil sharpener, and a sandpaper block.
This project is recommended for artists from age 10 to adult, as well as home
schooling, academic and recreational fine art educators.
8 PAGES – 19 ILLUSTRATIONS
Published by Hoddinott Fine Art Publishers, Halifax, NS, Canada – 2006
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may
not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
E-mail bhoddinott@hoddinott.com
Web sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
- 2 -
OUTLINING GRENDEL’S FACE, EARS, AND HAIR
In this section you lightly sketch Grendel on your paper proportionately correct. Proportion is
the relationship in size of one component of a drawing to another or others.
ILLUSTRATION 07-01
1. Draw an egg-shape.
Shape refers to the outward outline of a person or
object, and/or its individual parts. Keep your lines
very light by pressing very gently on the paper with
your pencil (I used an HB).
ILLUSTRATION 07-02
2. Add big ears to the gremlin (any
shape you wish).
ILLUSTRATION 07-03
3. Draw two big circular shapes
about halfway between the top
and bottom of the egg-shape.
Each circular shape represents
the iris section of an eye. In
humans, an iris is the colored
circular section of the eyeball.
When you draw circles or
circular shapes rotate your paper and
look at your drawing from different
perspectives. This little trick often allows
you find problem areas.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may
not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
E-mail bhoddinott@hoddinott.com
Web sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
- 3 -
ILLUSTRATION 07-04
4. Draw a teardrop-shaped nose below
the eyes.
ILLUSTRATION 07-05
5. Add curved lines below the nose as
the mouth.
Take note of the little downward lines
on each side of the longer line.
6. Outline comma-shaped eyebrows above the eyes.
7. Sketch a small circle in the upper right section of each eye as highlights.
A highlight is the brightest area where light bounces off the surface of the eye.
8. Draw partial circles as the pupils of the eyes.
The pupil of an eye is the darkest circular shape within the iris.
ILLUSTRATION 07-06 ILLUSTRATION 07-07 ILLUSTRATION 07-08
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may
not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
E-mail bhoddinott@hoddinott.com
Web sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
- 4 -
ILLUSTRATION 07-09
9. Check over your sketch and fix any
sections you aren’t happy with.
GIVING PERSONALITY
TO A GREMLIN
In this section you exercise your vision to
add shading lines to your drawing. Pay
attention to whether the shading lines are
light or dark, or close together or far apart.
ILLUSTRATION 07-10
10. Closely examine Illustrations
07-10 to 07-19 in sequence,
and add what you see to your
own drawing.
ILLUSTRATION 07-11
Looking at the
reflection of your drawing in a
mirror will help you to see areas
in need of fixing.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may
not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
E-mail bhoddinott@hoddinott.com
Web sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
- 5 -
ILLUSTRATION 07-12
Shading can be rendered in
various ways, including curved
or straight lines, long or short
lines, light or dark lines, or
even combinations of different
types and lengths of lines.
ILLUSTRATION 07-13
ILLUSTRATION 07-14
Some sets of shading lines have
noticeable spaces between the
lines, and others have lines drawn
very closely together so they
appear to be solid tone.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may
not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
E-mail bhoddinott@hoddinott.com
Web sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
- 6 -
ILLUSTRATION 07-15
ILLUSTRATION 07-16
ILLUSTRATION 07-17
Practice
drawing sets of shading lines
every chance you can find!
With only half an hour a day of
practice, there will be a
significant improvement in
your drawings very soon.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may
not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
E-mail bhoddinott@hoddinott.com
Web sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
- 7 -
ILLUSTRATION 07-18
Examine your drawing and
compare it to mine. Fix any
sections you aren’t happy with.
Give yourself a pat on the back,
choose another lesson, and draw
some more!
ILLUSTRATION 07-19
Next time you
are on the
Internet, in an
art gallery, or in
your Public
Library, use this
opportunity to
research
drawings.
Don’t limit yourself
to a specific period
in history. You find
lots of inspiration when
viewing the diverse
drawings of both classical
and contemporary artists.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may
not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
E-mail bhoddinott@hoddinott.com
Web sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
- 8 -
BRENDA HODDINOTT - BIOGRAPHY
As a self-educated teacher, visual artist, portraitist, forensic artist, and illustrator, Brenda
Hoddinott utilizes diverse art media including graphite, technical pen, colored pencil, chalk
pastel, charcoal, conté crayon, and oil paints.
My philosophy on teaching art is to focus primarily on the
enjoyment aspects while gently introducing the technical and
academic. Hence, in creating a passion for the subject matter,
the quest for knowledge also becomes enjoyable.
>Brenda Hoddinott<
Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Brenda grew up in the small town of Corner Brook. She
developed strong technical competencies with a personal commitment to self directed learning,
and the aid of assorted “Learn to Draw” books. During Brenda’s twenty-five year career as a
self-educated civilian forensic artist, numerous criminal investigation departments have
employed Brenda’s skills, including Royal Canadian Mounted Police and municipal police
departments. In 1992, Brenda was honored with a commendation from the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, and in 1994, she was awarded a Certificate of Membership from “Forensic
Artists International”.
Her home-based art career included graphic design, and teaching recreational drawing and
painting classes. As supervisor of her community’s recreational art department, Brenda hired and
trained teachers, and designed curriculum for several children’s art programs. In 1998, Brenda
chose to end her eighteen-year career as an art educator in order to devote more time to writing,
drawing, painting, and developing her websites.
Drawspace
http://www.drawspace.com incorporates her unique style and innovative approach to
curriculum development. This site offers downloadable and printable drawing classes for
students of all abilities from the age of eight through adult. Students of all ages, levels and
abilities have praised the simple step-by-step instructional approach. This site is respected as a
resource for fine art educators, home schooling programs, and educational facilities throughout
the world.
LEARN-TO-DRAW BOOKS BY BRENDA HODDINOTT
Drawing for Dummies (2003): Wiley Publishing, Inc., New, York, NY, this 336 page book
is available on various websites and in major bookstores internationally.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Drawing People (2004): Winner of the Alpha-Penguin
Book of the Year Award 2004, Alpha - Pearson Education – Macmillan, Indianapolis, IN,
this 360 page book is available on various websites and in major bookstores internationally.
. http://www.drawspace.com
- 2 -
OUTLINING GRENDEL S FACE, EARS, AND HAIR
In this section you lightly sketch Grendel on your paper proportionately correct two sections:
Ü OUTLINING EGGHEAD’S FACE, EARS, AND HAIR: You lightly sketch Grendel
on your paper proportionately correct. Proportion is the relationship