Project - Learning to Sketch from Imagination

10K
Course In Progress

Project - Learning to Sketch from Imagination

10K
Course In Progress

Pick an animal, a bug, or some kind of creature, and find several reference photos to use as inspiration to sketch a new character.

Don't copy the photos. Feel free to explore with proportions and exaggerate or simplify things to make it your own. Do multiple sketches to experiment and try different ideas.

Once you think you have a clear idea of a character, do one full page sketch. Even in this final sketch, try to use loose, confident lines and focus on the shapes of the character you have in mind. We're trying something new here with this project by starting to develop our ability to draw from imagination. So it might be a bit of a challenge, but don't sweat it.

Let's keep it loose and rough with our sketches and just focus on letting those creative juices flow. Don't focus on the cleanliness of your lines. We're sketching, and when you post your assignments, please include the photos you found and all your experimental sketches.

If you'd like to have a chance to be included in the upcoming critique videos, you must submit your drawings below by March 9th 2023

And don't forget to have fun!

Newest
Daniel
2d
I try to make long movements with my arm and as spontaneously as possible.
Melanie Scearce
Really nice! This idea will be covered a bit later in this course, but looking for rhythms in the pose can help you really practice those long movements from the shoulder, and help create cohesion in your drawings. And as usual, using a variety of CSI is great for creating visual interest. Keep up the sketches, these are looking great!
Carmen Ciumber
Difficult exercise, especially when trying to draw divas :)
Rachel Dawn Owens
These drawings are fun! Your shapes are looking very nice. My only critique might be about the line quality. Try using fewer marks. This will give your drawing more clarity and energy.
Ryan C
8d
I chose langurs for this project. It was difficult. I had fun studying the reference images, but I had a hard time nailing the shapes. That got even harder when I had to work from imagination. I can see why people get "cramps."
@brimarie
Great sketches. You really nailed the different facial expressions.
Melanie Scearce
Your lines in these sketches are perfect for this assignment. Very gestural lines, loose but without getting muddy or messy. Nicely done 👍
Richard W
Not happy of the result, but, have to deal with it :-(
@brimarie
I have decided in favor of the raccoon:-)
Melanie Scearce
Amazing shapes! This is very advanced work :)
Ryan C
8d
These are great. I particularly like the one lying flat on the floor, you really got the softness across.
The guy from BluishDot
A great choice! Really nice drawings. :D
@pancakequeue
Wanted to draw a red panda sitting on top of a bookcase like a cat would. I liked the perspective and am happy with the line work but wish I could get the shading down better. Though shading is something we only covered with the fruit wanted to try it here cause red panda's anatomy is more blobish with very black sections on the limbs so figured I'd want to try out some shading.
Ken STACKS
11d
I don't know what i'm doing anymore....
Michael de Graaf
Rachel Dawn Owens
These elk are some bad dudes. I dig it.
@piba
16d
Following the chicken saga I decided to try open winged poses and Im not sure of a cohesive way to simplify it Tips?
@piba
16d
Just a example of the biggest simplification I came up with
Hetty
17d
Lucas Santos
Apollo
18d
Patrick Bosworth
Nice work! I love the personality you've injected into this, the googly eyes and the extra round abdomen really takes the spider design from creepy-crawly to adorable. Reminds me of Lucas the Spider! Keep up the good work!
@piba
18d
Perfect time for this cuz Im currently making a mini comic for my collage assigment and its chicken themed (⁠ ⁠╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ⁠)🐔🐣🐣 First page (with reference Second ( imagination chickens
Patrick Bosworth
These are great explorations! I really love the chicken in glasses reading the book! :D
@piba
18d
Late refs cuz I forgot
Rachel Dawn Owens
I love your chicken designs. Keep pushing them!
Blex
19d
re tried this one, think it worked out a bit better
Rachel Dawn Owens
I love your parrot. He’s got so much personality. Very fun drawing. If you want to take it to the next level, keep practicing making long marks. I think that would give your drawing even more character and life.
Blex
21d
know this one is to early for me, but wouldn't hurt to try. choose a canary as there was plenty of refrens photos to find online. top image is fianal result.
@kaecbrinster
Got a bit carried away with the mushroom warm up… but some of the mushrooms I studied had this almost like fabric looking thing on their stem, so somehow I got around to Monet mushroom people. Been thinking about getting in to painting as well so I tried to color with water colors..
Christian Ruiz
I had the idea for a manga Recently about a cat hitman so I tried to make him here, he looks a lot like Johnny from guilty gear with the black trench coat, wide brim hat and katana. I would have done some different angles but I wasn’t sure how but i think the concept still came out okay
Rachel Dawn Owens
He’s really cool. A Maine Coon is a great reference for this too. They already sorta look more like a person. Some variety in the fur design could level up your design. Try adding some more rhythm to the fur.
@toph
1mo
Just wanted to upload my assignment again because I realized I didn’t show my exploratory lines. Which was the whole point of the assignment
@araka
1mo
Hello, here is my work. It was really challenging; I find it easier to copy than to create. But I suppose that's the point of this exercise ^^ I'll stop with this drawing. I could keep struggling, but the upcoming lessons should help address my weaknesses. Issues I see in my drawing: misunderstood of volume, back legs of the wolf, and the head.
@toph
1mo
Idky, but your take on the paws being boxy is my favorite part
@robkam
1mo
Only ever drew from observation, so this was quite hard!
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Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.
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