Photorealistic drawing is an art form where the artist creates a drawing that is so detailed and accurate that it appears to be a photograph. It's a challenging but incredibly rewarding pursuit that requires patience, meticulous observation, and a mastery of drawing fundamentals.
Paintology reveals the secrets to mastering these techniques right on your phone:
1. Mastering Fundamentals:
Before you can achieve photorealism, you need a strong grasp of basic drawing skills. These skills are mastered by the 600 drawing exercises provided with the app.
Tones and Values: Photorealism is all about recreating the subtle shifts in light and shadow that define form. You need to be able to identify and replicate a vast range of values. The color palette and color picker enables you to become more proficient in picking out tones and values.
2. Picking references:
Photo: A clear, high-resolution reference photo that you can refer to when drawing with Paintology is your ultimate goal.
Trace drawing: Pick an image that you can load into the app and make sure it's clear. Pick a subject that interests you.
Gray scale: This is the best way to improve your drawing ability. The color tones can be complex and the grayscale mode of the app is an excellent way to fine tune your ability in picking out tones.
Composition: The subject you choose is all about composition. Ensure that you pick out a subject that will be easy for you to draw initially.
600 drawing exercises: Before embarking on actual realistic drawing, do as many of the drawing exercises provided on the Paintology app.
3. Methods & materials:
The traditional approach to photo realistic drawing includes the following materials.
Graphite pencils, paper, erasers, blending tools, pencil sharpeners.
The digital approach to photorealistic drawing with Paintology includes the following.
The digital canvas, color picker, block coloring, stylus, ideally a tablet

4. Step-by-Step Process:
1. Initial Sketch (Light & Accurate):
The initial drawing sketches under the drawing exercises will ground you in developing the confidence to draw on your phone or tablet.
2. Blocking with gray tones:
Begin to block in the darkest and lightest areas of your drawing. This helps establish the overall contrast and forms.
3. Blending with the shade brush:
Select the gray tone of the brush to the maximum of the dark gray tone. Start doing strokes and watch how the strokes build up the tones
Use the zoom feature and circular motions to improve your drawing strokes
Try to get good blending and practice the drawing exercises that highlights this
Work from lighter areas to darker areas. It's easier to darken an area than to lighten it.
4. Developing Form and Texture:
With proper practice you will get better in creating form and the texture required for your drawing.
Try to load as many images in grayscale mode to practice with the shade brush.
With the line brush, adjust the opacity to create the tonal effects similar to the shade brush.
5. Adding Details and Highlights:
Once the main values and forms are established, start refining the details. This is surprisingly easy in the digital approach since we have a powerful zoom feature. This enables you to get close to the details and get closer to photo realism. Watch many of the videos provided in the drawing exercises.
6. Refining and Reviewing:
When you have mastered some of the fundamentals mentioned earlier, you should be able to tackle freehand drawing.
Compare your drawing to your reference constantly and identify areas that need adjustment.
Look for subtle value shifts you might have missed.
Don't be afraid to go back and refine areas that don't look quite right. The digital mode is more forgiving than traditional methods since we are not limited by the tooth of the paper.
Photorealism is a rewarding journey in the creation of art. With consistent practice using the Paintology app, you can make realistic drawings as good as traditional methods.