I know this video is 4 years old, but i just found it and frankly it has helped me; not just with training myself to draw with my shoulder, but the excersizes are a great warm up for any session (no matter what the plan/goal is of that day). THANX! 👊🖍
Nice reminder to me too, thanks. One thing though: you keep the pen very close to the end of your fingers, same as writing. Many teachers tell not to use that drawing grip. Mostly they say hold the tip of the pen more far away, to achieve looser lines and more organic work. Of course is a preference too.
When I draw on paper, I use my shoulder a lot, but when I draw on my tablet, I got into the bad habit of not using my shoulder to draw, probably because it's a small space. I started doing the exercises with the tablet, my shoulder even sore a little hahaa. Thanks for the video helped me a lot.
That's actually kinda funny... Cause coincidence would have it that I just bought an iPad and started venturing into the world of digital drawing... And I am experiencing the same thing...! 😉 I also think it has partly to do with the size of the canvas, but we'll see how it goes when I get a little more used to this way of drawing... 😊 Thanks for the comment, let me know if something changes along the way. 😊 Best wishes!
Good lines really are one of the most fundamental things in drawing, right? And not as simple as one would think... 😉 I'm so happy that you found it helpful! 🙂👍
muscle tension plays a large role in learning how to effectively use this method. loose, relaxed position is best. Stretching as well. A quick study in simple stretching and relaxation techniques for warm up is useful. sometimes the muscles will tighten or the grip of the writing instrument will stiffen too much inadvertently with concentration while working the paper. solved by being mindful and stretching/shaking out the arm, wrist and fingers when needed.
using my shoulder makes such a big and positive difference from using the wrist and doing chicken scratches lol especially with sketches and figure drawing
That's great! 👌 And I couldn't agree more! That's the reason I made this video in the first place... 🙂 -I hope you found the video useful, and the instructions understandable...?!? 🙂
Ive been looking for this video. Thank you. I used to only draw with my wrist primarily because im lazy and i draw while im laying down. Now ill do my best to practice while sitting using this video. Thank you
That's awesome! So happy you found the video helpful...! Remember that it's not completely one or the other. As I go over in the video, the smaller details involve some wrist, while the larger lines benefit greatly from the free flow you can obtain by drawing from the shoulder... 😊 Best wishes!
You're so welcome! Very happy to be able to help! :) I'm so excited for you, that you started! Drawing is awesome! Remember that it can get a little frustrating at times, when progress seems slow, though, So don't forget to have fun with it... ;) Best wishes!
Thanks for making this informative video. Over all the years I've been doing art, I had never even heard of 'drawing from the shoulder' till a few days ago, and had no idea what that meant.
Ha ha ha..That's awesome! :) For me, I kinda bumped into the expression almost right away, and couldn't find any information on what that meant... That's why when I finally figured it out, I decided to make this video, and hopefully help some people out, who might be as confused as I was... ;) Honestly I think a lot of people probably learn this more or less instinctively over time, without thinking about it. But like anything else, there are always shortcuts... Thanks a lot for the kind words, and I'm glad you found the video helpful! Best wishes!
people say my hand is too stiff while drawing and I don't know what they mean for a long time.now i realize that I'm using my shoulder too much.thanks for your explanation.
I'm there after having a wrist and forearm injury. I want to come back to drawing slowly... so thank you a lot for this video. I finally understand how to draw without relying on my wrist only. My gosh, thank you a lot!
Sorry for your injury. And so happy to hear that you're on your way back. 😊👍 I would suggest taking it slow, and feeling your way through the initial progress. This is a little bit of an unusual movement pattern for most people, and it might create a bit of tension in the beginning. And how that might affect your wrist/forearm, only you can tell! 😉 All the best to you, and thanks for letting me be a part of your healing. Let me know if you have any additional questions! I'm happy to help. 👍
@@thedrawingjourney yeah, you're totally right and that's exactly what I'm doing. In the past I didn't have any problem to draw 6 hours straight, especially at night and now because of my wrist, I can allow myself 1 hour and after I need a break. Well, now I'm gonna learn to listen to my body. Thank you very much for your answer! 🥰 Have a great weekend!
@@SananaAnanas Good to hear that you're learning to listen to your body. This is a valuable lesson in so many other aspects of life as well... ;) Take it slow and steady, and you'll be back to 6 hours before you know it! Best wishes, and a great weekend to you, too. :)
@@thedrawingjourney I've just read your message. Thank you a lot. I think my recovery is going to take a lot of time anyway... Your words are really encouraging! I'll take these wishes for this weekend instead :D it's been already amazing, so I think they worked, hihi! Thank you one more time and well, have another great weekend! \o/
We all gotta take the encouragement anyway we can, right...?!? 😉 In my experience, recovery is usually a little bit of a bumpy ride: "two steps forward, one step back" kinda thing... And it always takes longer than we expect... 🤨 We just gotta keep on keeping on, right... 😊 Sometimes we might need a break, and then we should take that break! But then come back as soon as possible... 👊 Well now the weekends over, so this time I'll wish you a great week instead... Anytime you need some advice, or some encouragement, let me know. I'm not always the quickest to answer, but I'm here! 😉 All the best to you! 🙌
This is an informative and detailed video. When starting out, how one holds the tool is very important. You discuss this well and I thank you. Now, please consider another aspect -- the grip. Maybe you can discuss tripod vs. overhand vs. underhand grip in a future video. I am subscribed!!
That's a very good point. I will definitely consider this. I haven't really experimented that much with the different grips yet though, so my knowledge on this is somewhat limited. And since I want to keep the content on my channel of a high quality, it might be a little while... :) But thank you so much for the kind words, and for subscribing! I really appreciate it, And you r suggestions are noted!
Hey, thank you so much! 🙏😊 I don't really have anybody but myself to blame, as I'm not the most consistent uploader of videos... Busy life, you know...!?! 😉 But hey, feel free to spread the good word, and I promise more videos are coming... 👍 Thanks again! I really appreciate it! 😊
Amazing work, found your videos today because I need to learn it. You are a great teacher, and I will be following from now on =) I did fill 15 pages of the exercise today. Hope I can master this and start to use it on an actual draw soon. Can you make a video of you doing a full draw, exactly like this one? Showing your shoulder and elbow?
Hi Willian. Thank you so much for the kind words. Super happy that you found it useful. Wow! 15 pages! That's a lot! Good job! :) Is that the exercise from this video only, or did you take a look at the other video that I mention? (link is in the description), that has 5 different exercises you can do. Remember to also do some actual drawing, so you start applying the things you practice to actual drawings. I upload videos as often as I can, but I'm a pretty busy guy, so bear with me. I can't promise a certain frequency, only to do the best I can. You can also check out my website: thedrawingjourney.com it has quite a lot of information, tutorials and lessons as well. It should keep you busy for a while... ;) Thanks again for the visit, and thanks for the comment. All the best, Michael, The Drawing Journey.
@@williansouza6281 that's great! Yeah, I can definitely relate to wanting to make up for lost time. I also came back to drawing after a long hiatus. And I love it! :)
Thank you for the explanations, very clear and useful! I have a newbie question about that. I noticed that trying to do it with small circles is so difficult. Is like is not so easy control the shoulder while drawing. I should do it also on drawing tablet of medium size like 25cm * 15cm? We should use this technique as more as possible?
Hi Hieicker. Thank you so much for the comment, and for the kind words. :) I completely agree, that it is a lot more difficult to do on smaller areas. It feels much more natural to use the shoulder on larger areas. (I believe I address this in the video as well, although it could probably be clearer... ;) And to answer your question: Yes, I believe one should be drawing from the shoulder as much as possible. BUT... the hand and wrist also come into play, especially when drawing smaller details. But drawing from the shoulder takes practice! You'll be using muscles that are possibly unfamiliar to you, and you might even get sore from it. But as you practice, you integrate the movement patterns, and it becomes a natural part of the way you draw. I would recommend you take a look at this video with some really nice exercises for practicing: ruclips.net/video/wjLC4W4HHw4/видео.html These exercises have helped me a lot, and I actually discovered that they work on smaller pieces of paper as well, which I demonstrate at the very end of the video. So definitely check that out and try the exercises for yourself. -And do them on your tablet. Practice what you like to use. :) I also have a blogpost which talks in part about this. You can find it here: thedrawingjourney.com/drawing-from-the-shoulder-gospel-or-gossip So I hope that helps! :) All the best, and thanks again for the comment!
@@thedrawingjourney Thank you so much again for the complete reply. I will try to excercise to accomplish this target. I totally ignored this way to draw until two days ago. Because i'm starting, this will be a good habit to use while learning to draw. I will watch for sure the video you suggested and your blog :). All the best!!!
Thank you so so so much for making this video. I grew up holding my pencil in a very not “correct” way and I’ve been trying to retrain myself. On top of that, I’ve been trying to learn how to draw from my elbow instead of my fingers or wrists and nothing every made sense of felt right. And then immediately after watching your video it all clicked. Thank you so much. Anchoring with my pinky and hand and making my movements bigger and focusing on drawing from my shoulder rather than elbow immediately improved my line quality. Thank you thank you thank you.
Thank you so so so much for the kind words, and for letting me know! 🙏😊 I'm super happy that you found it helpful, and that it made sense... Best wishes! 😊
Thank you so much! Drawabox has SO much good information, and I 've learned a lot from those lessons. If you found my video helpful, that' s awesome! Only happy to help spread the joy of drawing. ❤️ Thanks for the visit, and for the comment! Best wishes! 😊
Well, if you drew all these years, and never missed it...More power to you, my friend! :) It's definitely not a given, that you HAVE to incorporate this... ;) But if - like me, and apparently a lot of others - you've been uncertain as to what this fabled technique of drawing from the shoulder meant... This might help. And perhaps, you find that trying a different approach, brings about something fresh to your drawing experience? I know I personally like to shake things up from time to time, to get some new energy flowing... :) Either way, if it's helpful... Awesome! If not, just keep doing what you're doing... Best of luck to you, and thanks for the visit and the comment.
@@thedrawingjourney I have already tried it out, and it definitely helps with larger lines. I always had this problem, when I drew a long line the ending was curved. This technique seems to help with that, so I'm very excited! Thank you for sharing your knowledge :)
@@omegakyratian413 That's awesome! :) My pleasure! This has helped me enormously, and I'm very happy to share the knowledge! And the thing you describe with the curving of the long lines, I absolutely recognise! ;)
My pleasure! Happy you found it helpful. -Yeah, the elbow should definitely move. Otherwise it would be a stiff and unnatural movement... 😉 Flow and smoothness are the keywords here... 👍 Thanks for watching, and for the comment! Best wishes!
Well... I won't say it SHOULD burn a little as such... But if this is a new movement pattern for you (and it is for most of us in the beginning ;) ) there is a bit of a learning curve, which also involves some new and unusual muscle activity. And yes, then you might very well feel that you get fatigued in the muscles around the shoulder, and it might very well burn a little bit. This is normal, and also happened to me in the beginning. Now having said that, you do want to work towards as "relaxed" a movement as possible. But first things first, and learning something new often involves a little bit of discomfort... 😉 Hope that helps! Best of luck to you.
Absolutely! But it makes it a lot more difficult to control the hand movements... ;) The light touch of the hand on the surface (be it canvas, paper or table) just adds a level of support and control.
Hey sorry for the late reply. Somehow I missed your question... I don't know that there is a correct way to hold your pencil. I think that's very individual. I certainly see a lot of GREAT artists who hold their pencil (or other tool of choice) in a way that looks super awkward to me. But it obviously works for them... What I will say, though, is that it's important to not hold your pencil super tight. Don't cramp it in your hand. That's gonna restrict your flow of movement, and is also a great recipe for carpal tunnel syndrome... 😕 So stay loose. And hold your pencil just firmly enough to control your movement... Hope all that makes sense... 😊
Well it's kind of a balancing act. I do touch the actual paper, but lightly enough that it doesn't stop my movement, or wrinkle the paper. I hold most of the weight of my arm off the paper, but the side of my palm (or sometimes just my pinky) glides very lightly across the surface for support.... Hope that makes sense? ;) Thanks for watching, and thanks for the question!
Hi Renzo, Well, generally I find that the movement pattern involved in drawing from the shoulder is easiest to practice on larger surfaces, and lends itself mostly to the larger shapes. But I find that once I have it incorporated in my movement, it kind of becomes a natural part of my drawing, also on smaller details, although generally the smaller the shapes, the less obvious the shoulder involvement becomes... I hope that makes sense. :) Thanks for your question. Best wishes!
I'm a pc gamer and have been for 20+ years. My house movement has always been wrist and so has my drawing, which is understand is not as skillful in the long haul. So my question is pertained to being a beginner at drawing. Is drawing with the shoulder and arm overall better than wrist? Better to learn since I have a mountain of muscle memory to break.
It helps more longterm as the wrist is super important for details and such. It essentially lessens the risk of hurting yourself quicker and lets you use stronger muscles than your wrist to do the same thing
As alexkross321 said, it is definitely better longterm, even with the effort needed to break old habits. But also keep in mind that it depends a lot on what you draw. For larger drawings with longer smoother lines, and for sketching, it's very much a shoulder thing, whereas the smaller, more detailed drawings involve the wrist a lot more. So bringing both movements into play is really where it's at... 😊 Thanks for the comment!
@@thedrawingjourney Thank you for the knowledge. Now I'm trying to figure out what angle is more comfortable and natural to place my screen as well as my posture. Waiting on my stand to better test because drawing on a screen that's flat on a desk feels really awkward. So much to learn before learning art haha.
Ha ha... Yes, I can absolutely relate! 😅 Just remember to keep it fun and loose as well. Too much focus on what's "right" and "wrong" will drain the joy of drawing REAL quick, and we definitely don't want that to happen... 😉 Best wishes!
I totally understand your issue, but as you can see in the video, it's not really a problem. :) Even though I'm sliding my hand across the page, I'm still holding most of the weight of my arm lifted of the paper. So it's a light touch... :) I think if you actually end up dragging your paper across the desk, that's a sign that you're being a bit to heavy-handed. And of course, the size of the arm movement correlates with the size of the paper and what you're drawing on it. So if you're moving your whole arm around, I would assume you're using a bigger piece of paper, which also helps. And of course, you'll also be holding on to the paper with the other hand, as necessary... :) Hope all that makes sense! Otherwise let me know, and I'll try to elaborate further. :) Thanks for the comment, and best wishes!
No, no. Not at all. Smoothness of the movement is the focus. 😊 You aim for the best possible circle, and of course you try to improve with repetition, but the exercise is a movement exercise. 👍
I can absolutely relate! Personally I find that it's sort of sliding scale type thing... In general my wrist is pretty stiff, my elbow flexible, and my shoulder originating the movement. The larger the paper and drawing, the more clear this division becomes. Conversely the smaller the paper, the less clear... 😉 I wouldn't worry TOO much about the details of it, but think about in in a more general sense. You don't want it to be too rigid, or the natural flow might get lost... Hope that helps 😊
@@thedrawingjourney I'm glad you replied btw sorry I didn't cause I was doing something. I've been feeling stressed out about this situation due to being so concern about the way of drawing like what is and what isn't right to do it. Honestly I take the simplest things and turn it in to hard things like I can't understand why I'm just getting holdup onto this problem.
That is very understandable! 😊 It's so easy to get bogged down on the little things, and make them into something much bigger and more important than what might be suitable. And honestly there's so much information out there, that it can get very confusing very quickly... Something that I really try to take to heart is Bruce Lees famous saying: "absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is essentially your own." This I think applies to pretty much anything in life, especially when it comes to something that requires an acquisition of skill, like drawing. So in short. Gather as much information as possible, but only use what makes sense to you! 😊 Hope that helps a little...
Hmmm... A table to draw on is not ABSOLUTELY necessary... But it does make things a lot easier! 😉 I'd probably start there... Doesn't have to be anything fancy. The table that I am drawing on in this video is just my living room table... 😉 And I would say that learning the new movement pattern in a sketch book in your lap is unnecessarily difficult. So find some sort of platform. The floor could even do... 😊
@@thedrawingjourney Well, i use my bed to draw, so i will try my floor sooner. XD But, there isn't a way to draw from your shoulder with your sketchbook in your lap? That's a shame because i like to use my lap for drawing lol
It's absolutely possible to draw from your shoulder while you're drawing in your lap! 😊 All I'm saying is that if it's a new movement pattern for you, I think it would be easier to learn if you're sitting at a table... 😉
Yes, that is absolutely right. Drawing with your shoulder is a lot more natural and relevant in drawing bigger shapes. I always find that as I move into the more detailed work, I engage my fingers and wrist more and more. But still the movement stems from the shoulder... If that makes sense... 😉 So what I recommend is to do large simple shapes at first, to get a feel for the movement. And then work your way towards smaller things,as you get more familiar with the sensation. And of course keep in mind that it should be a natural movement pattern, so don't be afraid of engaging the other parts of the arm as necessary... Just make sure to start the movement from the shoulder and let the other parts follow along naturally... 😊 I hope all that makes sense to you! Thanks for the comment, and let me know how it works out for you. 😊 Best wishes!
I couldn't agree more!😊 But personally I found it a bit difficult to figure out what that meant exactly. So after my own struggles with deciphering what that meant, I decided to share what I discovered, cause I figured I couldn't be the only one who was a bit confused... 😉 That's why I made this video... Hope it helps! 😊
Yes absolutely! Since it's a new movement pattern, there will be some discomfort until you get more comfortable with it. Just take it slow, and you'll be fine... 👍
Ha ha ha... Yeah, I definitely recognise the soreness. Let's join forces in dissipating the myth of the pale skinny artist... 😅 Thanks for the comment, my friend! 😊🙏
Well, if you naturally do this. You have a great starting point for improvement... 👍 But shoulder or not. We all still need to practice! 😅 Best wishes!
I know this video is 4 years old, but i just found it and frankly it has helped me; not just with training myself to draw with my shoulder, but the excersizes are a great warm up for any session (no matter what the plan/goal is of that day). THANX! 👊🖍
Killer explanation, with thoughtful examples. Cheers, this helped me quite a bit
That's great! Happy to hear my explanations made sense to you... ;)
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I appreciate the feedback!
Best wishes!
I don't really know if I use my elbow or my shoulder. I can' tell and it pisses me off.
I saw you on drawabox hand video lol
@@kaustavbhawmic9750 Yeah, and it was the same question, but nos I figured it out, but in A4, I think it's not that important
@@szabomarton2003 I am still struggling with it, like subconsciously i end up rotating the elbow more than my shoulder. Guess i need more practice.
@@kaustavbhawmic9750 yes you will do it with practise
@@szabomarton2003 yup, and what lesson are you working on?
Nice reminder to me too, thanks.
One thing though: you keep the pen very close to the end of your fingers, same as writing. Many teachers tell not to use that drawing grip. Mostly they say hold the tip of the pen more far away, to achieve looser lines and more organic work. Of course is a preference too.
When I draw on paper, I use my shoulder a lot, but when I draw on my tablet, I got into the bad habit of not using my shoulder to draw, probably because it's a small space. I started doing the exercises with the tablet, my shoulder even sore a little hahaa. Thanks for the video helped me a lot.
That's actually kinda funny... Cause coincidence would have it that I just bought an iPad and started venturing into the world of digital drawing... And I am experiencing the same thing...! 😉
I also think it has partly to do with the size of the canvas, but we'll see how it goes when I get a little more used to this way of drawing... 😊
Thanks for the comment, let me know if something changes along the way. 😊
Best wishes!
this helped so much i really struggle with drawing good lines and this helped me realize what i've been doing wrong all these years.
Good lines really are one of the most fundamental things in drawing, right? And not as simple as one would think... 😉
I'm so happy that you found it helpful! 🙂👍
muscle tension plays a large role in learning how to effectively use this method. loose, relaxed position is best. Stretching as well. A quick study in simple stretching and relaxation techniques for warm up is useful. sometimes the muscles will tighten or the grip of the writing instrument will stiffen too much inadvertently with concentration while working the paper. solved by being mindful and stretching/shaking out the arm, wrist and fingers when needed.
I could not agree more! :) Thanks for the added info! 👍
using my shoulder makes such a big and positive difference from using the wrist and doing chicken scratches lol especially with sketches and figure drawing
That's great! 👌 And I couldn't agree more! That's the reason I made this video in the first place... 🙂
-I hope you found the video useful, and the instructions understandable...?!? 🙂
Ive been looking for this video. Thank you. I used to only draw with my wrist primarily because im lazy and i draw while im laying down. Now ill do my best to practice while sitting using this video. Thank you
That's awesome! So happy you found the video helpful...!
Remember that it's not completely one or the other. As I go over in the video, the smaller details involve some wrist, while the larger lines benefit greatly from the free flow you can obtain by drawing from the shoulder... 😊
Best wishes!
Thanks! I’m a complete beginner so I want to make sure I get the foundations of drawing right 😊
You're so welcome! Very happy to be able to help! :)
I'm so excited for you, that you started! Drawing is awesome!
Remember that it can get a little frustrating at times, when progress seems slow, though, So don't forget to have fun with it... ;)
Best wishes!
3:50 check list summarized well. Thanks for the video.
Thank you so much! Glad you found it helpful! :)
Thanks for making this informative video. Over all the years I've been doing art, I had never even heard of 'drawing from the shoulder' till a few days ago, and had no idea what that meant.
Ha ha ha..That's awesome! :)
For me, I kinda bumped into the expression almost right away, and couldn't find any information on what that meant... That's why when I finally figured it out, I decided to make this video, and hopefully help some people out, who might be as confused as I was... ;)
Honestly I think a lot of people probably learn this more or less instinctively over time, without thinking about it. But like anything else, there are always shortcuts...
Thanks a lot for the kind words, and I'm glad you found the video helpful!
Best wishes!
Wish I could like this twice. Superb explanation and demonstration.
Wow! Thank you so much for the kind words! Very much appreciated! 🙏😊
Your accent is very relaxing to listen to! Makes the information stick a lot easier for me
That's great Connor! Very happy that you find it useful! :)
And thanks for letting me know! I appreciate the feed-back. :)
wow i did not realize how stiff and unengaged my shoulders were until trying this. Explains a life time of muscle pain.
A lifetime of learning as well, though, right? 😉😊
Happy you found it helpful!
Best wishes. 👌
I'm guilty of drawing the same way I do handwriting, its a bad habit.
thanks for this video, I'll practice the muscle memory.
You're far from the only one, my friend! 😉 Happy you found the video helpful! 👍
people say my hand is too stiff while drawing and I don't know what they mean for a long time.now i realize that I'm using my shoulder too much.thanks for your explanation.
My pleasure! Happy that you found it helpful! 👍
Best wishes.
Such an epiphany moment.
Thank you so much!!🥂
Oh how I can relate! I felt the exact same way, which is why I had to share... 😉
Happy you found it helpful! 🙏
omg you're sooo necessary!! tysm for this video it will help me a lot. 💗
Thank you sooo much for the kind words! Super stoked to be able to help! 🙏😊
Best wishes!
I'm there after having a wrist and forearm injury. I want to come back to drawing slowly... so thank you a lot for this video. I finally understand how to draw without relying on my wrist only. My gosh, thank you a lot!
Sorry for your injury. And so happy to hear that you're on your way back. 😊👍
I would suggest taking it slow, and feeling your way through the initial progress. This is a little bit of an unusual movement pattern for most people, and it might create a bit of tension in the beginning. And how that might affect your wrist/forearm, only you can tell! 😉
All the best to you, and thanks for letting me be a part of your healing. Let me know if you have any additional questions! I'm happy to help. 👍
@@thedrawingjourney yeah, you're totally right and that's exactly what I'm doing. In the past I didn't have any problem to draw 6 hours straight, especially at night and now because of my wrist, I can allow myself 1 hour and after I need a break. Well, now I'm gonna learn to listen to my body. Thank you very much for your answer! 🥰 Have a great weekend!
@@SananaAnanas Good to hear that you're learning to listen to your body. This is a valuable lesson in so many other aspects of life as well... ;)
Take it slow and steady, and you'll be back to 6 hours before you know it! Best wishes, and a great weekend to you, too. :)
@@thedrawingjourney I've just read your message. Thank you a lot. I think my recovery is going to take a lot of time anyway... Your words are really encouraging! I'll take these wishes for this weekend instead :D it's been already amazing, so I think they worked, hihi! Thank you one more time and well, have another great weekend! \o/
We all gotta take the encouragement anyway we can, right...?!? 😉
In my experience, recovery is usually a little bit of a bumpy ride: "two steps forward, one step back" kinda thing... And it always takes longer than we expect... 🤨
We just gotta keep on keeping on, right... 😊 Sometimes we might need a break, and then we should take that break! But then come back as soon as possible... 👊
Well now the weekends over, so this time I'll wish you a great week instead... Anytime you need some advice, or some encouragement, let me know. I'm not always the quickest to answer, but I'm here! 😉
All the best to you! 🙌
Very good. Thank you so much.
Thank you very much for the kind words! And you're very welcome! Happy you found it useful! :)
This is an informative and detailed video. When starting out, how one holds the tool is very important. You discuss this well and I thank you. Now, please consider another aspect -- the grip. Maybe you can discuss tripod vs. overhand vs. underhand grip in a future video. I am subscribed!!
That's a very good point. I will definitely consider this. I haven't really experimented that much with the different grips yet though, so my knowledge on this is somewhat limited. And since I want to keep the content on my channel of a high quality, it might be a little while... :)
But thank you so much for the kind words, and for subscribing! I really appreciate it, And you r suggestions are noted!
Thanks. It's very helpful for beginner like me.
You're very welcome! So glad I could provide something helpful! And thanks for letting me know...! :)
Thank you brother
My pleasure, brother!
the into like when you said hello its very cute and warm and i keep replaying itttttttttt syshshsh
He he he... Thanks a lot! 😉
Thank you so much you changed my life
That's fantastic!
Happy you found it helpful, and thank you so much for the kind words! 🙏😊
Sorry your vids are very underrated more people needs to see this 😔
Hey, thank you so much! 🙏😊
I don't really have anybody but myself to blame, as I'm not the most consistent uploader of videos... Busy life, you know...!?! 😉
But hey, feel free to spread the good word, and I promise more videos are coming... 👍
Thanks again! I really appreciate it! 😊
Thank you so much! Really helpful :DD God bless and Keep it up!
My pleasure! Very happy that you found it helpful! 😊
Amazing work, found your videos today because I need to learn it. You are a great teacher, and I will be following from now on =)
I did fill 15 pages of the exercise today. Hope I can master this and start to use it on an actual draw soon.
Can you make a video of you doing a full draw, exactly like this one? Showing your shoulder and elbow?
Hi Willian.
Thank you so much for the kind words. Super happy that you found it useful.
Wow! 15 pages! That's a lot! Good job! :) Is that the exercise from this video only, or did you take a look at the other video that I mention? (link is in the description), that has 5 different exercises you can do.
Remember to also do some actual drawing, so you start applying the things you practice to actual drawings.
I upload videos as often as I can, but I'm a pretty busy guy, so bear with me. I can't promise a certain frequency, only to do the best I can.
You can also check out my website: thedrawingjourney.com it has quite a lot of information, tutorials and lessons as well. It should keep you busy for a while... ;)
Thanks again for the visit, and thanks for the comment.
All the best,
Michael, The Drawing Journey.
@@thedrawingjourney Thanks, it was the 5 exercises. I'm trying to do at least 10 a day to compensate all the years without doing it =)
@@williansouza6281 that's great!
Yeah, I can definitely relate to wanting to make up for lost time. I also came back to drawing after a long hiatus. And I love it! :)
@@thedrawingjourney Keep up the good work =) I think you can grow a lot on youtube!!
You are an inspiration
@@williansouza6281 I certainly will! :)
And thank you SO much for the encouraging words! :)
Very helpful and nice editing!
That's awesome! Happy to help! 😊
And thank you so much for letting me know! All the best!
Thank you for the explanations, very clear and useful! I have a newbie question about that. I noticed that trying to do it with small circles is so difficult. Is like is not so easy control the shoulder while drawing. I should do it also on drawing tablet of medium size like 25cm * 15cm? We should use this technique as more as possible?
Hi Hieicker.
Thank you so much for the comment, and for the kind words. :)
I completely agree, that it is a lot more difficult to do on smaller areas. It feels much more natural to use the shoulder on larger areas. (I believe I address this in the video as well, although it could probably be clearer... ;)
And to answer your question: Yes, I believe one should be drawing from the shoulder as much as possible. BUT... the hand and wrist also come into play, especially when drawing smaller details.
But drawing from the shoulder takes practice! You'll be using muscles that are possibly unfamiliar to you, and you might even get sore from it. But as you practice, you integrate the movement patterns, and it becomes a natural part of the way you draw.
I would recommend you take a look at this video with some really nice exercises for practicing:
ruclips.net/video/wjLC4W4HHw4/видео.html
These exercises have helped me a lot, and I actually discovered that they work on smaller pieces of paper as well, which I demonstrate at the very end of the video. So definitely check that out and try the exercises for yourself.
-And do them on your tablet. Practice what you like to use. :)
I also have a blogpost which talks in part about this. You can find it here: thedrawingjourney.com/drawing-from-the-shoulder-gospel-or-gossip
So I hope that helps! :)
All the best, and thanks again for the comment!
@@thedrawingjourney Thank you so much again for the complete reply. I will try to excercise to accomplish this target. I totally ignored this way to draw until two days ago. Because i'm starting, this will be a good habit to use while learning to draw. I will watch for sure the video you suggested and your blog :).
All the best!!!
Thank you so so so much for making this video. I grew up holding my pencil in a very not “correct” way and I’ve been trying to retrain myself. On top of that, I’ve been trying to learn how to draw from my elbow instead of my fingers or wrists and nothing every made sense of felt right. And then immediately after watching your video it all clicked. Thank you so much. Anchoring with my pinky and hand and making my movements bigger and focusing on drawing from my shoulder rather than elbow immediately improved my line quality. Thank you thank you thank you.
Thank you so so so much for the kind words, and for letting me know! 🙏😊
I'm super happy that you found it helpful, and that it made sense... Best wishes! 😊
Literally relatable !! This video has helped me so much
That's fantastic! Super happy to hear that! 😊👌
Thank you sir
My pleasure! 🙏
thank you so much!! such a clear and concise explanation of it! :)
Thank you so much for the kind words! I really appreciate it... 😊
And I 'm happy to be able to help! Best wishes!
Great tips this really helps!
Thank you so much! Glad you found it helpful! :)
drawabox has lessons on that topic, but I think you show a bit better how the shoulder movement could look like!
Thank you so much! Drawabox has SO much good information, and I 've learned a lot from those lessons. If you found my video helpful, that' s awesome! Only happy to help spread the joy of drawing. ❤️
Thanks for the visit, and for the comment! Best wishes! 😊
Thank you so much!! I learned a lot :)
That's fantastic! Thanks for letting me know! 👍😊
Thank you so much .
My pleasure! :)
And thank you for the kind words...
Very helpful video. Thanks a lot!
My pleasure! Thank you! :)
All these yearsbof drawing and I never knew this... Time for a new beginning!
Well, if you drew all these years, and never missed it...More power to you, my friend! :)
It's definitely not a given, that you HAVE to incorporate this... ;)
But if - like me, and apparently a lot of others - you've been uncertain as to what this fabled technique of drawing from the shoulder meant... This might help.
And perhaps, you find that trying a different approach, brings about something fresh to your drawing experience? I know I personally like to shake things up from time to time, to get some new energy flowing... :)
Either way, if it's helpful... Awesome! If not, just keep doing what you're doing...
Best of luck to you, and thanks for the visit and the comment.
@@thedrawingjourney I have already tried it out, and it definitely helps with larger lines. I always had this problem, when I drew a long line the ending was curved. This technique seems to help with that, so I'm very excited! Thank you for sharing your knowledge :)
@@omegakyratian413 That's awesome! :)
My pleasure! This has helped me enormously, and I'm very happy to share the knowledge!
And the thing you describe with the curving of the long lines, I absolutely recognise! ;)
Thanks a lot for that video. Turns that out I was doing it okay, I thought my elbow shouldn't move at all.
My pleasure! Happy you found it helpful.
-Yeah, the elbow should definitely move. Otherwise it would be a stiff and unnatural movement... 😉 Flow and smoothness are the keywords here... 👍
Thanks for watching, and for the comment! Best wishes!
@@thedrawingjourney Thanks again, keep up the good work 👍
Definitely will! Thanks again to you as well, my friend... 👍😊
Love It Man... just OSM
Than you so much! Appreciate it! 👌
great video! :D
Thank you so much! :)
Glad you like it!
My only question is that does moving your shoulder should burn a little or get tired from it? It that good or am I doing it wrong?
Well... I won't say it SHOULD burn a little as such... But if this is a new movement pattern for you (and it is for most of us in the beginning ;) ) there is a bit of a learning curve, which also involves some new and unusual muscle activity. And yes, then you might very well feel that you get fatigued in the muscles around the shoulder, and it might very well burn a little bit. This is normal, and also happened to me in the beginning.
Now having said that, you do want to work towards as "relaxed" a movement as possible. But first things first, and learning something new often involves a little bit of discomfort... 😉
Hope that helps! Best of luck to you.
is there such thing as drawing with no hand touch at all on the pape, only the tip of the pen touching it?
Absolutely! But it makes it a lot more difficult to control the hand movements... ;) The light touch of the hand on the surface (be it canvas, paper or table) just adds a level of support and control.
How do you hold your pencil? Is their a correct way?
Hey sorry for the late reply. Somehow I missed your question... I don't know that there is a correct way to hold your pencil. I think that's very individual.
I certainly see a lot of GREAT artists who hold their pencil (or other tool of choice) in a way that looks super awkward to me. But it obviously works for them... What I will say, though, is that it's important to not hold your pencil super tight. Don't cramp it in your hand. That's gonna restrict your flow of movement, and is also a great recipe for carpal tunnel syndrome... 😕
So stay loose. And hold your pencil just firmly enough to control your movement... Hope all that makes sense... 😊
Should I hover my hand over the paper when I draw from my shoulder. Because the friction from the side of my palm is stopping my movement
Well it's kind of a balancing act. I do touch the actual paper, but lightly enough that it doesn't stop my movement, or wrinkle the paper. I hold most of the weight of my arm off the paper, but the side of my palm (or sometimes just my pinky) glides very lightly across the surface for support.... Hope that makes sense? ;)
Thanks for watching, and thanks for the question!
Thank you!!
No, thank you! 😊🙏
Also I’m drawing on a small notebook so I’m using my shoulder
How does this technique work when drawing on a small pad like something one would carry around in a pack all day?
Hi Renzo,
Well, generally I find that the movement pattern involved in drawing from the shoulder is easiest to practice on larger surfaces, and lends itself mostly to the larger shapes. But I find that once I have it incorporated in my movement, it kind of becomes a natural part of my drawing, also on smaller details, although generally the smaller the shapes, the less obvious the shoulder involvement becomes... I hope that makes sense. :)
Thanks for your question. Best wishes!
I'm a pc gamer and have been for 20+ years. My house movement has always been wrist and so has my drawing, which is understand is not as skillful in the long haul. So my question is pertained to being a beginner at drawing. Is drawing with the shoulder and arm overall better than wrist? Better to learn since I have a mountain of muscle memory to break.
It helps more longterm as the wrist is super important for details and such. It essentially lessens the risk of hurting yourself quicker and lets you use stronger muscles than your wrist to do the same thing
As alexkross321 said, it is definitely better longterm, even with the effort needed to break old habits. But also keep in mind that it depends a lot on what you draw. For larger drawings with longer smoother lines, and for sketching, it's very much a shoulder thing, whereas the smaller, more detailed drawings involve the wrist a lot more. So bringing both movements into play is really where it's at... 😊
Thanks for the comment!
Alexkross321, Thanks for pitching in! Appreciate the input and dialogue! 😊👍
@@thedrawingjourney Thank you for the knowledge. Now I'm trying to figure out what angle is more comfortable and natural to place my screen as well as my posture. Waiting on my stand to better test because drawing on a screen that's flat on a desk feels really awkward. So much to learn before learning art haha.
Ha ha... Yes, I can absolutely relate! 😅
Just remember to keep it fun and loose as well. Too much focus on what's "right" and "wrong" will drain the joy of drawing REAL quick, and we definitely don't want that to happen... 😉
Best wishes!
How do you stop your paper from dragging across the desk if you're moving your whole arm and sliding your hand around the page
I totally understand your issue, but as you can see in the video, it's not really a problem. :)
Even though I'm sliding my hand across the page, I'm still holding most of the weight of my arm lifted of the paper. So it's a light touch... :) I think if you actually end up dragging your paper across the desk, that's a sign that you're being a bit to heavy-handed.
And of course, the size of the arm movement correlates with the size of the paper and what you're drawing on it. So if you're moving your whole arm around, I would assume you're using a bigger piece of paper, which also helps.
And of course, you'll also be holding on to the paper with the other hand, as necessary... :)
Hope all that makes sense! Otherwise let me know, and I'll try to elaborate further. :)
Thanks for the comment, and best wishes!
@@thedrawingjourney thank you
@@ravenoushydra7948 My pleasure! :)
Excuse me but It doesn't have to be a perfect circle right?
No, no. Not at all. Smoothness of the movement is the focus. 😊 You aim for the best possible circle, and of course you try to improve with repetition, but the exercise is a movement exercise. 👍
I can't really tell if I'm using my entire wrist when medium size or is it my arms or elbow..
I can absolutely relate! Personally I find that it's sort of sliding scale type thing... In general my wrist is pretty stiff, my elbow flexible, and my shoulder originating the movement. The larger the paper and drawing, the more clear this division becomes. Conversely the smaller the paper, the less clear... 😉
I wouldn't worry TOO much about the details of it, but think about in in a more general sense. You don't want it to be too rigid, or the natural flow might get lost... Hope that helps 😊
@@thedrawingjourney I'm glad you replied btw sorry I didn't cause I was doing something. I've been feeling stressed out about this situation due to being so concern about the way of drawing like what is and what isn't right to do it. Honestly I take the simplest things and turn it in to hard things like I can't understand why I'm just getting holdup onto this problem.
That is very understandable! 😊
It's so easy to get bogged down on the little things, and make them into something much bigger and more important than what might be suitable. And honestly there's so much information out there, that it can get very confusing very quickly... Something that I really try to take to heart is Bruce Lees famous saying: "absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is essentially your own."
This I think applies to pretty much anything in life, especially when it comes to something that requires an acquisition of skill, like drawing.
So in short. Gather as much information as possible, but only use what makes sense to you! 😊
Hope that helps a little...
Aaaaaa, it's too hard!
I don't have a table to draw and i always catch myself drawing from wrist again. :(
Hmmm... A table to draw on is not ABSOLUTELY necessary... But it does make things a lot easier! 😉
I'd probably start there... Doesn't have to be anything fancy. The table that I am drawing on in this video is just my living room table... 😉
And I would say that learning the new movement pattern in a sketch book in your lap is unnecessarily difficult. So find some sort of platform. The floor could even do... 😊
@@thedrawingjourney Well, i use my bed to draw, so i will try my floor sooner. XD
But, there isn't a way to draw from your shoulder with your sketchbook in your lap? That's a shame because i like to use my lap for drawing lol
It's absolutely possible to draw from your shoulder while you're drawing in your lap! 😊
All I'm saying is that if it's a new movement pattern for you, I think it would be easier to learn if you're sitting at a table... 😉
@@thedrawingjourney oh, i totally get that, just got curious because i was very adapted to my lap xD
And whatever you prefer... That's what you do! I'm all about having fun and being comfortable, while developing the craft... 👍😉
This does not help my dog to draw, nice video! Looking forward to more
Well your dog probably needs to practice his front paw skills... I have faith in him! ;)
Thanks for watching, and thanks for the comment!
Not large movement draw little details with the shoulder
Its hard draw with shoulder if i draw it small .
Yes, that is absolutely right. Drawing with your shoulder is a lot more natural and relevant in drawing bigger shapes. I always find that as I move into the more detailed work, I engage my fingers and wrist more and more. But still the movement stems from the shoulder... If that makes sense... 😉
So what I recommend is to do large simple shapes at first, to get a feel for the movement. And then work your way towards smaller things,as you get more familiar with the sensation.
And of course keep in mind that it should be a natural movement pattern, so don't be afraid of engaging the other parts of the arm as necessary... Just make sure to start the movement from the shoulder and let the other parts follow along naturally... 😊
I hope all that makes sense to you!
Thanks for the comment, and let me know how it works out for you. 😊
Best wishes!
My art teacher said use our shoulder help u draw
I couldn't agree more!😊
But personally I found it a bit difficult to figure out what that meant exactly. So after my own struggles with deciphering what that meant, I decided to share what I discovered, cause I figured I couldn't be the only one who was a bit confused... 😉
That's why I made this video... Hope it helps! 😊
is it normal to feel some disconfort in the beginning?
Yes absolutely! Since it's a new movement pattern, there will be some discomfort until you get more comfortable with it. Just take it slow, and you'll be fine... 👍
@@thedrawingjourney thanks 🙏
My pleasure! Any other questions, just let me know! 👍🙂
Me i know i draw with my shoulder when it's start to hurt 😂
My shoulder is already sore after 5 minutes, lol, I’m gonna be ripped at this rate
Ha ha ha... Yeah, I definitely recognise the soreness. Let's join forces in dissipating the myth of the pale skinny artist... 😅
Thanks for the comment, my friend! 😊🙏
What is the song called?
I honestly don't remember.... 😉
Just one of those free-to-use downloadable background songs... 😅
Perhaps you can try Shazam or something similar...?
Thank you so much. Lol
My pleasure!
So I guess I just naturally do this. My drawings are still terrible tho lol.
Well, if you naturally do this. You have a great starting point for improvement... 👍
But shoulder or not. We all still need to practice! 😅
Best wishes!
I hear what your body told me.
Ha ha ha... That's awesome! 😅
Body talk! It's what the kids are doing these days... 😉
@@thedrawingjourney its actually a great tutorial. Thank you.
Thanks a lot for the kind words! 🙏 I'm glad you find it helpful... 😊
Great video! However, the tattoos were distracting.
Ha ha ha... Thanks a lot! Perhaps I'll consider a long-sleeved shirt next time... ;)
@@thedrawingjourney Personally, I really like your tattoos. They add to your aesthetic :)
Thank you! I kinda like them myself...! 😉
@@thedrawingjourney Strange. You might get more subscribers if you look more professional. The garbage in the background?
Yeah, can't really argue with that... 😅