Critique - Learning to Sketch from Observation
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Critique - Learning to Sketch from Observation
courseDrawing BasicsFull course (177 lessons)
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squeen
A morning quick-sketch using a still from the movie The Banshees of Inisherin as a references (great film). I was attracted to the darkness of the the character's dress and the donkey. I need to do more of this. I've fallen out of the daily habit of pencil sketching since trying to learn how to ink better (which is S-L-O-W!). As you can probably tell, once I get going, I don't look back at the reference enough and just start to rely on constructive techniques (and other hackery).
LESSON NOTES

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The assignment for this project was to pick from one of the 3 cleaned up outlined drawings and do a loose sketch of them. The goal with doing these was to improve your line quality. During this level 1 critique I did one of the drawings and then realized that I didn’t capture the pose. You’ll see me revisit the sketch and exaggerate it. Remember, these assignments are meant to be challenging, but also fun and I hope you’re able to keep that in mind as we progress further in the basics course. 

If you want to attempt this assignment you can download the reference images and submit your work in here!

RELATED LINKS:
Intro to Drawing Basics
13 Types of Lines and How to Use Them
How to Draw Confident Lines - The Tapered Stroke

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COMMENTS
Stan Prokopenko
Its time for critiques again! In this lesson, I’ll look over your sketches from observation and address the common mistakes. These two critique episodes took a bit longer to edit, so Level 2 critique coming out next week.
Newest
@wsa
3d
I added a cape and a space blaster
Eiko Fazio
12d
After the critique video, I want to practice more looser lines. Tried with my stuffed animals. Because it's night time here, it's hard to see the face of the black bear...
Slava Fast
13d
Watched critique and I think now I moved closer to "desired" lines for this exercise (left - old one, right -new one)
Slava Fast
13d
Probably small correction for 10 seconds :D
@starlingwarlock
Here are my post-demo post-critique project drawings, definitely tried to stay a lot more loose and the red pencil does help loosen up and stay sharp. Vr girl was actually very pleasant to draw with the revelations of new advice. Critiques welcome.
@starlingwarlock
(yes I ran out of space for the vr girl)
@maresanna
29d
I used the Line of Action website with a 10-minute timer. I’m struggling a lot to avoid doing a CSI drawing — I even placed a line in the right spot and then added some light lines just to pretend I was exploring more. I also tried using those weird lines from the critique video on the feathers. I feel lost, like I’m not really doing what was asked.
@moon_flower
Melanie Scearce
Ooh! Your lines look effortless and they flow nicely. Great work!
@yearly7777
So after watching Critique I decided give this one another go with images of my choice (I might have chosen a little to simple images for this exercise). Feedback welcome!!!!
Nico Grab
5mo
I tried digitally and on paper and found myself lost into details sometimes. What do you think ? Critiques, good or bad, are more than welcomed. Thanks !
@ason
5mo
Did these ones after the demo, huge improvement! Also took me longer to do, but definitely helped me in getting into understanding the sketching mentality.
Geo Lovinaria
Totally misunderstood the project at my first go at it. And re-did them after watching the demo and critiquing videos. So this time I went for sketching over trying to be accurate!
Oliver Wan
6mo
After watching the critique I did the project a third time. It kinda felt like I got worse than my second try, where I only did the hand. But was nonetheless still fun to do. I also did a sketch of a zerg overlord from StarCraft, which was very fun to do.
Rémy Bernard
Super nice hand on the 2nd try !
Andrew Kovachik
Lots to take away from the video but a lot seems like the mindset while sketching. I tried to do a new sketch after watching the critiques and demo. I had to do this one from a photo reference that definitely made it harder, but I think it also forced me to actually try to use searching lines because it was less clear what the contours and shapes were
Andrew Kovachik
Funny i thought the proportions were okay when i drew it but it happened to upload sideways and suddenly all the proportion issues feel very obvious, haha.
zach nason
8mo
penguin i felt pretty loose with it but the hand i had to shape out a foundation for which still came out a bit rough looking and the lines on the vr girl to but still happy with it
Neo Diamond
After watching this and the demo I didn't feel like I'd let myself be loose enough in the original exercise so I decided to do another one. I chose this squirrel and focused much more on the gestural lines and overall shape rather than just the contour.
Jacob Tallering
love the simplification in shapes while having the same gesture.
Dylan Jagiello
Some more drawings from observation. I'm trying to improve my loose line quality.
Dylan Jagiello
Tried to be looser with my lines
Andrew Kovachik
Love it!
@markplewis
I’m still trying to loosen up.
@markplewis
Melanie Scearce
Looks great!
@berzerkerh
10mo
i struggled a ton with this and forgot to photograph my first attempts but i did pull this penguin off later in the week
Radu Rentea
10mo
Some extra work
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