Fairy Sketches
and its Benefits

There have been many times that I have been asked "what are fairy sketches, or a sketch for that matter, and why do it?" Most people think that a sketch is the same thing as a drawing. It's close, but there are differences.

A drawing is the finished product while a sketch is the planning process. When an artist begins a drawing, they sketch out the idea lightly on paper so that the lines are easier to erase later.

It allows changes to be made in the drawing during the drawing process. The lines are light and are a basic outline. Most times, the finish product looks very different then the outline. Ultimately, the sketch is a construct of the picture to come, an overview of the drawing. When an artist sees something he or she likes, or simply has an idea for a drawing, they sketch it out.

The sketch is then used to retrace the idea and make a final image. During the process, the idea can change or be modified. The trick is to have a light hand. Once the sketch has started to take shape, the touch becomes harder making the important lines darker and bolder.

Fairy characters characters are fun to sketch. I have been drawing fairies, elves, and dwarves for a long time. The options are endless. Because there is no set design for these types of characters, an artist can make them look any way they want. The influences are also interesting. Because of the mythology that surrounds fairies, the best influences for them are in nature.

I have used pictures of butterflies as references make the drawings better. Looking into the history of the subject and pulling reference pictures for them make the drawings more interesting.

Fairies as drawing subjects are very interesting because they are small and the atmosphere that surround the fairies have to be enlarged. Giant flowers and leaves as well as over sized bugs give scope to the size of the subject matter.

Dwarves are much shorter than humans, stocky and muscular. Women and men don't vary much from one another except for facial hair, making it easier to draw them both with a basic sketch.

Variations of design for fairies, elves, dwarves and so on are endless. When drawing and sketching designs for these characters, much like many other types of characters, it can make things easier by having a model to use as a reference. It can also make things more fun.

The variations for poses are fewer with a model, and finding new and interesting poses with the model can make things interesting. It can also add an understanding to the form of the character that you are trying to create.

When it comes to adding the wings to the fairies, there are many different ways to handle it. Some artists tend to use fake wings on the models back so that they have something to look at that is actually attached and they don't have to imagine where the shadows are.

Others use digital photo modification programs to add the wings, then they draw from that later. Still others use pictures of butterfly wings as references and just imagine where they should go and how they would look when they are attached to the body of the model.

With fairy sketches, a little information can go a long way. Design is simple, usually small and extreme details are not necessary. The simpler, the better.

For the most part, fairy sketches are an intriguing way of filling information with fewer lines and still making a compelling image, literally drawing a better picture. The important image of a fairy sketch is, of course, the fairy.

However, what makes it even more interesting is the atmosphere that the fairy is drawn in. That secondary subject gives the primary subject more depth and makes it pop out more. If any tips could be given on drawing fairies, the best one would be, draw what is most interesting to your eye. The fairy will fall into place without even trying.