Drawing Basics
Getting Started
Lines
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How Perspective Works
Intuitive Perspective
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Bonus Content
It’s time for another demo! Come check out my process for simplifying animal portraits into basic shapes.
Newest
Philippe
13d
Tried a bunch. Had some extra fun with some.
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11d
These look awesome! You kept your animals simple yet characteristic. The page with the rabbit and bird are my favorite.
You could apply the same logic to the long hair of the smaller dog. Keep the lines long and simple. You can use the hair to frame the face.
Hair isn’t a solid form, its got more flow to it, but it can still be simplified to simple shapes.
@mangosandtangos
17d
Noah Murray
28d
Just a clarifying question. I did the exercise and saw as i made more attempts at the same simplification they improved but simplifying was really a struggle in general. Should I stay on this lesson and really drill it until I'm comfortable or move on to other lessons and just practice this in the background. Really appreciate any advice!
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28d
I wouldn't push it too far that you feel burnt out. You could keep practicing for a while if you'd like but if it gets to the point you're not having fun with it, I suggest you keep moving and come back to it after you've explored some other ideas. It's really cool to be able to come back to these lessons just like that 😁 good luck!
@bigaids
1mo
Here are my current attempts with the lion being after watching the demo
Kristen Budovski
1mo
The demo really helped me to better understand how to break things down into simpler shapes. The first four images are before watching the demo. I found using a piece of vellum paper first helped me to explore what shapes where hidden in the image. Then I have the two reference images I used for supplemental practice. And the last images are after watching the demo. This was a very challenging yet fun project for me.
@bovine_designs
2mo
This really helped, I didn’t realize we weren’t supposed to NOT think in 3D space for this which made it hard to simplify with simple shapes. Also doing shapes that aren’t just triangles, circles, and squares, like with the horns on the buffalo. I was trying waaaaay too hard to simplify with one stroke in my first go. This was good!
@osrour
2mo
Using only 10 shapes was a bit of a puzzle, but I figured it out
J M
3mo
These are all after watching the demo
One major difference between these and my initial attempt was to try to make the shape look "fun" while keeping the essence of the reference subjects
Someone in the previous discussion suggested drawing thumbnails - that really helped. Funny enough, the drawing that I like the most is the rooster thumbnail. I don't know why - it just looks more...."fun" /"crisp" (?) - no idea what the right word might be
Tommy Pinedo
3mo
Interesting but fun exercise simplifying animals to shapes.
Left: First attempt before watching demo.
Right: Second attempt and after watching demo.
Tommy Pinedo
3mo
5 more animals. Monkey, bunny, lion, frenchie and Yoshi!
I still think I am too stiff and geometric with my design. lol
@fraxls
3mo
Here are my before and afters. The wolf is worse somehow. It was the last one I did anyway. I guess I got sloppy. I labeled them before and after to make it easier.
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3mo
Nice improvements!
@rakeshuniyal
3mo
I tired to apply what I learned from the demo any critiques are welcome
@goobish
5mo
sketches made during demo any critiques are welcomed
Chauncey Holder
6mo
I tired to apply what I learned from the demo
Tony Zhang
6mo
Again, these are fun! Trying to pick my shape design skills back up.
@arthiecio
6mo
A good exercise made me understand how to see and minimize shapes a keeping them simple
Daniel Rodriguez
6mo
I tried my best to follow Stan's demonstration. How did I do? @Martha Muniz
JK
7mo
Hello everyone! Got a quick question: anyone has an idea on how to draw a sheep so it doesnt look like a dog? ( I’m straggling going through this assignment :(
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7mo
Looking good!
We can look to the skulls to see the big differences between these two animals. Dogs and sheep are designed for different things.
Dogs are built to run, hunt and, bite.
Sheep graze in fields all day.
Understanding the subtle difference in their bone structure will help you out. Also, adding some wool might help too :P
Hope this is useful. Keep it up!
Jack H
7mo
The demos really helped me in understanding how to better choose the shapes to represent the animals. I felt more confident and satisfied with the redraws of the animals that I did for the project previously. However, there's still much room for improvement.
The reference images are the same as those I've posted for the previous video on the project submission.
PS. The trick of making thumbnail sketches before drawing the actual animal was the most helpful for me in this case.
Anda Fisch
8mo
Enjoyed that exercise. Found it difficult to see shapes at first, but it made it so much easier and more fun once I started seeing them in the image.
@sjors
9mo
I had a hard time actually finding simple shapes that would make sense. Especially on the pictures I chose myself.
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About instructor
Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.
