Project - Dynamic Shapes

Lesson by

Stan Prokopenko

inDrawing Basics

5.3K

Assignments 816

Downloads 6

Project - Dynamic Shapes

Lesson by

Stan Prokopenko

in Drawing Basics

5.3K

Assignments 816

Downloads 6

Download the photo reference images of seals and sea lions.

Level 1 - Draw from Reference

Draw their gesture and design dynamic shapes using the concepts from this lesson and the previous lesson.

Remember that gesture is not the contour, so don't just copy the outlines. Look for the movement and energy throughout the shapes. Use your whole arm and use the looser sketch line that we learned about.

Level 2 - Draw from Memory or Imagination

Start with the level 1 project and after 5 to 10 poses, turn the page, put away all the reference photos and do more drawings from imagination or from memory.

You can try to invent your own poses and design those shapes to be dynamic. Or you can try to remember the poses you already drew and use those as inspiration. Try to push and design with a focus on drawing dynamic shapes. It doesn't matter how accurate you get to the original photo, it's more about designing the shapes to look dynamic and interesting.

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Deadline for submissions to be included in the video critique is next Thursday (8/24/23)

* Because of the large amount of reference images, it would help a lot of you include the reference you used for each drawing. I'm more likely to select your submission for the critique. Thank you!

Sajil Sewpersad

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12h

Reference vs Imagination

Randy P

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Here’s level 1 for dynamic shapes from reference. I tried to pick poses that naturally had some dynamism in them and working on trying to make longer strokes. Made some subtle changes in a few to sharpen an angle and have opposing straight and curved lines. Still fighting a bad habit of getting too dark too soon.

Melanie Scearce

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It can be hard to break the habit, but definitely worth it. Find those long lines from the top of the head to the tail and draw through. Make them simple, recalling the CSI lessons, and try to draw from your elbow instead of your wrist. It will be more difficult to put lots of pressure on your lines drawing like this.

Dani Torres

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I made these with references, any critiques? 😊

Melanie Scearce

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The gesture on the seal at the bottom on the second page looks great!

Stephen Worthington

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11d

I drew 6 of these before watching the demo/critique and 3 after (so far) I think I can definitely level some critique at them myself. Before watching the demo, I was trying to exaggerate the gesture rather than emphasize it, which made for some slightly more extreme poses but less interesting shapes. As well, I can definitely still see that my line quality is lacking - Stan's sketch lines look confident and intentional, mine still feel messy. Though I tried to be aware of this drawing after the demo, and do think there's improvement. Any other advice/critique gratefully received!

Melanie Scearce

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10d

I think these look awesome! The issues with your line quality will lessen with more practice -- the confidence develops with mileage. You can set yourself in the right direction by practicing curves as a warm up. Make three dots on your page and try to connect them with one stroke. Keep it super light so you can build up to the right one. You can still use searching lines, but try to keep them long and loose instead of short and scratchy.

Stephen Worthington

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11d

Post-demo attempts

Laurent Van Acker

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12d

This was fun! Level 1: I watched the critique and demos and I will do a better job in the future, but I think I did pretty well on these. Lines could and should be a lot cleaner!

Laurent Van Acker

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12d

Level 2: I initially did the photoshop ones after the level 1 work, and doodled some more during the week (not included). The pencil drawing was done during/after the demos/critique, I think some takeaways are already visible in that one.

@pmirko

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12d

this was so satisfying, the most relaxed i've ever been while drawing....

Cecep Abdul Malik

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14d

First attempt for Level 1 From left to right: 1. seals-and-sea-lions-11.jpg [Just S line-of-action, I don't know what to do with the legs though.] 2. seals-and-sea-lions-39.jpg [I got bored with the S line-of-action, so I just made it a pure C stretching.] 3. seals-and-sea-lions-27.jpg [I made it arch his neck and head like it was writhing/wriggling or like a common neck and head arching gesture. I made its left hand as a support and his right hand as a counterbalance. I don't know what to do with the legs.] Did I end up drawing contours instead of gesture and movement? Do the results lack dynamics? Are my lines loose enough? Any criticism would be appreciated. SFMBE

@deadsm

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15d

Hope its alright I plopped them onto the same sheet.

Yevhen Syrchin

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16d

awesome project, thanks to it I fell in love with these animals 🥹 what do you think about the shape and gesture? how can I improve it?

Sam

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16d

I think they look great! If something i’d try adding a little more roundness to the spine in the top left and bottom right pictures as they are lying on the ground. So that the straight line is on the belly side and the curve is on the back. Still they look very dynamic and bottom right is my favorite!

Sam

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17d

First six are with reference. The three on the other page are from imagination. Not sure if i hit the mark with the actual assignment as i tend to start adding details even when i’m not supposed to. But i tried to make the animals as dynamic as i could!

Yevhen Syrchin

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16d

great job, looks SO good, love it <3

Melanie Scearce

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17d

Wow, great stuff. I like the perspective on the last seal in the bottom right corner. This looks like a good level of detail for this assignment.

Gloria Wickman

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18d

This was such a cute assignment! I feel like focusing on the line of action and designing some shapes helped to make the seals and sea lions feel more connected to the ground somehow even though on most I didn't even draw the ground. I think my line quality is still suffering quite a bit so that's something I want to continue to work on. Also as someone that learned how to draw pretty much exclusively through grids/drawing on the right side of the brain I feel really happy at my progress with drawing from memory/imagination and this course is really helping me to unlock the kind of drawing I've always wanted to do.

Kyle

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20d

I did another page from reference and decided to try level 2. I really liked the dynamic gestures I was able to give them from imagination. Studying the reference and drawing the gesture lines really helped imagining my own seal poses.

Kyle

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20d

This was so much fun! All I want to do now is draw more goofy seals. I did forget to draw the gesture lines sometimes but I always tried to make my shapes dynamic.

@shaaneeq

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21d

Here’s my attempt for level 1. Short on time this week, so these are very quick sketches. Trying to keep my hand loose and relaxed. Proportions are clearly off on a couple, others I’m pretty happy with.