Realistic Drawing w/ DIY Star ThuyMinh

What can I use instead of a blending stump, kneaded eraser, or a 4B pencil if I don't have them?

Use a rolled cotton swab or soft tissue in place of the blending stump, a soft vinyl or pointed regular eraser instead of a kneaded eraser to lift highlights, and press more or layer strokes with your 2B (or use a softer HB) to deepen shadows when you don't have a 4B while following the same shading steps.

My drawing looks flat or the proportions seem wrong—what should I fix first?

Re-measure placement with your ruler and hold the drawing at arm's length as in the instructions to correct the light HB guideline shapes before refining outlines, and boost contrast by darkening deepest shadows with the 4B and lifting highlights with the kneaded eraser to reduce flatness.

How can I adapt this activity for younger or older kids?

For younger kids simplify to one very basic object and focus on light HB outlines and gentle blending with a cotton swab, while older kids can use the ruler for precise placement, add mid-tones with 2B and deep shadows with 4B, and work on texture details and proportion checks.

How can we extend or personalize the realistic drawing project after finishing the basic steps?

Extend it by adding colored pencils or a light watercolor wash over the graphite, using the ruler grid method to copy a more complex reference, mounting or framing the heavier paper drawing, and then sharing the finished piece on DIY.org.