Project - Learning to Sketch from Observation

Lesson by

Stan Prokopenko

inDrawing Basics

14K

Course In Progress

Assignments 2.2K

Downloads 8

Project - Learning to Sketch from Observation

Lesson by

Stan Prokopenko

in Drawing Basics

14K

Course In Progress

Assignments 2.2K

Downloads 8

Use the three reference images of clean line drawings and sketch them using simple loose lines. Don't try to match the cleanliness of these drawings. Instead, sketch them out with energetic, tapered strokes. Don't hesitate. Just practice moving your arm with confidence. If you draw some lines and then you realize that, Oh, shoot, I need to curve that more. Go ahead and just draw the new curve right over it. As you get more confident that you've found the shape, you can darken those lines and the lighter lines start to disappear. Focus on the big idea and the shapes the lines represent, rather than on each individual line.

For you, Level 2 monster trucks, I want you to start with this Level 1 project as a warmup, and then head over to the Learning to Sketch from Imagination project page for your instructions.

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.

Good luck and please have some fun!

@landsloth

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14h

First attempt was on my own and then the second was after the demo. I definitely loosened up and had more flow in the second attempt and I'm much happier with it (ignoring the feet). I think I managed to capture the shape of the forms a lot better. I really struggle with keeping my brain on flow and looseness rather than detail and precision when sketching so this exercise is definitely something to practice a lot.

mike mcdonald

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17h

Not super happy with these, will probably do a second attempt. Struggled a lot with the hand.

@chadcando

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These are my attempts not sure if I went loose enough. I tried be much looser doing the hand and not so clean like the other two. But I was happy with all my end results.

Melanie Scearce

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21h

The hand and the penguin have the looseness that you are going for in this exercise. The VR girl is a bit clean. In other words, you weren't utilizing searching lines so much in that one. These look great, keep it up!

Marisa Del Campo

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I just attempted these 2 again after watching demo. My first attempts didn't fit with the purpose because I tried to make them clean. These 2 are sketchier.

Melanie Scearce

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19h

Well done!

@shisamaru

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First attempt with the penguin. Struggling with proportions and I hate the feet, but overall I'm happy with the final result. Will try the remaining two tomorrow!

Melanie Scearce

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18h

This is a great start, looking forward to seeing the other two!

@itswaker

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It's so bad bros. unconfident lines and too many searching lines. Didn't look hard enough at the parts of the hand to make sure I understood the shapes enough to draw them accurately and the arm is too chonky. I like my penguin, though.

Tommy Pinedo

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These are great attempts. The linework will improve with mileage and as you continue through the course. What helped me is doing the mushrooms warm up before doing this, so my hands can start being loose and not being so tense. It will get better. trust me :)

Dani Torres

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It is hard, but you gotta keep going! Overall the shapes are good, and "the unconfident lines" just need more practice to build up that confidence. Try doing simpler sketches (Maybe clouds, a pumpkin, another penguin, etc) some with sketchy lines, and then over that with a softer pencil do the confident one, eventually you'll get there 😊 And try to center the drawing 🤗

Beth Martin

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Went too small, awkward, and cramped on the first pass. Second attempts after watching the demo.

Rachel Dawn Owens

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nice improvement!

@bowersjc

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And my 7yo's:

@bowersjc

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And my 9yo's:

@bowersjc

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My attempts.

Rachel Dawn Owens

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Wow! Very strong work. Don’t be afraid to loosen up a little more.

Ana C.

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Almost gave up on this project, I struggled a lot 😭

@chrisdzy

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All of us get that feeling or have had it before at least, for me it’s when what I’m imagining won’t happen on the paper. I think your drawings here are pretty good.

@eyeeatlight

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I really like the way tapered lines look and can see them making my pictures looking better already, although finding it difficult to do them consistently!

@chrisdzy

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It’s the same for me and you nailed it here imo

Melanie Scearce

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Looks awesome! It's okay if you don't pull a tapered stroke every time just yet. It will come with practice. Keep it up!

Daniel

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Melanie Scearce

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Well done 🤘

@chrisdzy

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Been looking through everyone’s work and all looking great :) here’s my attempt, any feedback/criticism welcome, thank you!

Rachel Dawn Owens

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This is very nice!

Carmen Ciumber

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I enjoyed the exercise and the result as well :)

@mguasch

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Bohdan Fedorchenko

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11d

I tried too much to clean up lines and used the eraser a lot. I watched the demo of a penguin and tried drawing a vr girl with a more sketchy mindset. And I like it the most

Richard W

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11d

Hand is not easy, the girll was finally easier than I thought... Any comment is welcome!

@pancakequeue

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12d

Started with the Spider hand, really happy with how it turned out, but had a gap with other things going on. So 5 days later got to work on the Penguin and the VR girl. For the penguin I liked how it started out with the HB pen but felt I could have done more with the feet. For the VR I could have gone over with a HB or B2 to darken it but didn't want to remove or hide the loose lines. I felt the biggest problem for me was going from loose and fast lines which I felt are easy on the bigger parts of the image but getting into the finer details when does it stop being loose and fast and more trying to draw the finer details with accuracy which isn't the point of the assignment.