Project - Simplify to CSI

23K
Course In Progress

Project - Simplify to CSI

23K
Course In Progress

Download the photo reference images and try to simplify them using CSI lines. Draw each line with a focused and intentional path.

Your pace should be quick, but not rushed.

For this exercise, we will just consider the individual segments of the contour of a shape.

Same instructions for level one and two. Just a difference in difficulty of reference. The level two photos have more fun little tidbits to tempt you to get into the details, but fight the urge and simplify.

Also, no shading in these please. This is not meant to be a portfolio piece.

CSI
C = C Curves
S = S Curves
I = Straights

If you'd like to have a chance to be included in the upcoming critique videos, you must submit your drawings below by February 16th

Newest
Andrew Kovachik
A very fun project! I wasn't completely sure what level of detail would be considered the contour, so I attached a couple of photos from along the way. I think I was most happy with the work from the 1st or 2nd progress picture. I tried to use some of the ideas of the "gesture" or "rhythm" lines that Stan was talking about. In the very first picture, I started from having 1 very large C curve from the top of the boots and 2 straight lines for the back of the foot down to the heel and then through the sole. This helped with getting the proportions pretty accurate to start with and I think the final drawing does hold onto the flow from the original outline more. I also added 1 "rhythm" line at the start in the boot on our right (I think), where it felt like there was a connection between the line from the back of the boot up along the part where the zipper connects the two pieces of fabric. I'm excited to see how Stan solved this problem and to go throught the critques. I might do another one tonight, or if I see something interesting today, maybe I'll take a photo of it and try drawing that. - Andrew
Melanie Scearce
Really cool to see your process. By the first photo you're at 80% completion since you've figured out the overall shape and determined which lines are going to be straights and curves -- and it looks great! I like how you used straights towards the bottom to show the structure and stability of the sole of the boots. Keep working on pulling light, loose strokes with your pencil. Your lines get just a bit hairy in some places, specifically curves. Curves can be difficult to get in one motion so the key is to keep your searching lines light until you find the right line. Just a small critique because this is very strong work. Nice job!
Tony Zhang
Jeeeeeeeaaaaan
Jessica Ambron
Camel attempt, skull will be next.
Gary Randolph
I am unable to download. I'm hoping this is temporary. (access denied) EDIT: Nevermind. I can download fine - just not from my iPad.
Enzo reda
Nice exercises! The boots were really hard to do tho. Curious to see what's the way to approach it in the next videos cause
Melanie Scearce
The boots are indeed very challenging, it's a matter of really slowing down and thinking critically when it comes to the laces. I encourage you to give them a go before watching the demo video! I really like your snail drawing, it's super stylish 🐌
Christian
1st attempts I definitely had trouble with the cross contour lines and the shadow areas
William
3d
Drew one image per day. At first, I wasn't sure how much I should add, but going into the level 2 reference images I felt pretty confident. I still need to get better control over my hand/arm movement but otherwise I am pretty happy with how they turned out. The boots felt the most difficult, and I'm going to give it another shot tomorrow. Thanks in advance for any feedback!
@brimarie
They all look great!
Tatiana
4d
Actually, thought it would be easier... But seems I need just some practice. Made 3 attempts: 1. Seems was so impressed by this snail's curiosity, and wished to reflect that in the picture, that noticed that painted it too low on the paper when it was too late to change anything. 2. When paining the second one, understood that it was challenge for me to paint with the whole arm, so made one more attempt - third one. 3. Actually, it's a bit fat and not enough curly, and looks a bit like a finger and not a curious snail head😀 Guess the best attempt from the available is number 2?
Stevie Yaas
Attempted captain skully twice. First attempt was in blue. I realized I missed the point on this one after watching the demo and critique. I think I was so lost on how to start this one that the hairy lines were an inevitability. Second attempt was in pencil, I really tried to do the lines with single, confident and clean pulls. I did use some 'hairy' searching lines in place of ghosting to figure out where I wanted to place the line and then executed it and erased the hairs lol. I think it turned out much better. Would love some feedback 😁 thanks in advance!
@brimarie
The second version turned out great. I also try to do the task again after the demo because I have the feeling that the learning potential is greatest this way.
Jacob Granillo
Well done! and always make sure to compare angles throughout the picture, this will make sure the proportions are correct, the same thing you did on the 2nd attempt. And don't grip the pencil too hard, especially the tip of the pencil. The way you hold the pencil will change the way you draw.
Tommy Pinedo
I like to try the project before watching the demo to see the improvements after I watch the demo and I definitly see it in yours. The angle of the skully is better :D. Good job!
Flo
4d
Phew, I spent quite a bit of time on this task. When it came to the boots, I tried several approaches but kept getting stuck with the laces. All the erasing caused me to lose the CSI method during the process as well. That's why I worked on the right boot (red pencil) more quickly and without erasing. Unfortunately, I completely missed the proportions on both heels. The snail was much easier—I barely had to erase anything here.
Flo
4d
This is after/with the demo
Amel
5d
My work before the demo. The boots were so much more difficult. Especially the lace which got me so frustrated. I feel that my line are more confident for the snail.
@utopianprince
Two pairs of boots, before and after watching the demo. As you can see, the first one is only partially finished--I got really really frustrated with relative placement because I didn't flesh out the whole contour of the big structures of the boot in a way I was happy with before I jumped straight into working at the laces, which I found very intimidating (lol). I was less careful about proportions in the second image, but finished it and put down lines way faster & with much more confidence. First image took me ~5-6 hours; start to finish work on the second was about an hour.
Daniel Cortes
Tim Fletcher
Snail was fun. Got half way through my first attempt at the boots and thought "Stan can't mean us to draw the laces, surely? This is just the contours of the boots?" Then watched the demo - hmmm - yes, we are supposed to do the laces! So second attempt includes the laces - but I got the proportions of the boots wrong - only noticed once I started doing the laces - the boots are too tall. But I like the shape of them, so I stuck with what I had drawn. When you look at the laces as a collection of shapes and edges, they don't seem too bad .... I guess that's the point of the lesson?
Melanie Scearce
Precisely! It's really easy to get tripped up on the laces but you did a great job. Something that could help you with proportions is to make an 'envelope' using shapes or light, loose marks to work out the width and the height on the page before you start making more permanent marks.
Nick
8d
Here are my attempts for project 2 level 1. Criticism welcome. For the snail, I realized I spent way too much time on it and will probably redo it ignoring the spirals on the shells and spending more time focusing just on the form of the snail. With the boots, the laces were very challenging and i also struggled to capture how the right boot fits in a 3d space.
@tommyj
8d
Bennett Jimenez
Felt pretty confident about the Snail. Definitely lost that confidence in the boots. 😂 All feedback is welcome please and thank you! 🙏
Fabrice Laffont
Hello, My attempt with the snail. Advices and feedback are welcome, Have a nice day :)
Nico Grab
11d
All feedback are welcome !! My mind stumbled on the shoe laces, help ! Thanks
Melanie Scearce
Great job simplifying, especially with the snail. In some areas, like in the sole of the boots, you get it bit heavy handed, but overall your lines are looking good. Just keep practicing using a light hand for your initial lines so you don't need to go so dark to define the correct line. It's okay that you got tripped up with the laces, it's a very complex area. You may need to slow the pace down a bit to get your footing (pun intended). It could help also to take a break before you start more complex areas in your drawing so you don't feel like you have to rush through it to beat fatigue.
@landsloth
12d
Pretty proud of this
@brimarie
10d
It turned out really great!
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