I hope this email finds you well, happy and enjoying drawing.

You know, even after all these years, I still love creating basic outlines. That's where I first started and then fell in love with drawing so I guess it's only natural.

There are some perfect techniques at our disposal that help us enhance outline drawings, just to add a little more life without taking extra time or effort.

Today's tip is an interim but progressive step towards the more comprehensive subject of shading.

To give a brief summary of this idea, once you have an outline, work out where you think the shadow belongs (opposite the direction of light) and simply indicate that with a heavier line. This gives more oomph to a contour and makes it more expressive.

An accentuated or exaggerated line can represent the shadow side or even weight of an object, it's your choice how you use it.

This is a great way to gradually add style into your artwork without becoming confused and therefore frozen by what's right or wrong.

Using this technique teaches you to feel where pencil strokes belong which in turn injects uniqueness into your artwork. It is also a terrific way to develop your artistic intuition.

This is not a lesson on light and shade nor values, but it's the next best thing!

*** Read more and see examples...***

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