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LESSON NOTES
In this demo, I'll explore line weight organization using the hierarchy of importance method. This method involves emphasizing important elements of a drawing using thicker and darker lines, while less important elements have thinner and lighter lines. Join us in the premium course to watch this demo and all future demos.
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COMMENTS
I decided to draw , not trace. That ya have been a mistake. The first one has emphasis on the overall major features of the rhino, while the second has emphasis on the lower extremeties assuming light from above.
I wanted emphasize the Rhino's face (especially the horns) and forelegs, so I used the thickest lines there. The body contour is still thick but little bit less than the face and forelegs because I thought they are less important. As I doing this exercise, I was getting confused by the depth too! My version may ended up a combination of the hierarchy and the depth.
The first image I used hb and 4b to experiment with contrast. It was also done on an image at 20% transparency. The second done with 2b at 100% transparency.
Pre and post demo. In the post-demo I had thought that occurred to me that what I was doing was designing lines/shapes and I just went with it.
Tried it again idk man i get the basic idea of make the most important thing dark but idk when i do it something feel wrong
the different line weights on the ears feels like it groups the interior lines together.
When I originally traced the rhino, I wanted to emphasize the "sadness" of it; I was really drawn to the eyes (reminded me of my gramps ;)). Anyway, so I placed darker lines around the eyes and mouth area (since it was sort of like a frown) and used light and softer lines on the rest of the rhino. I used relatively light lines on the horn bc I did not want to take away from focus on eyes and mouth. Looking at it again, however, I don't think it really worked. It just looks like I gave up or didn't understand the assignment.
After watching the demo, I still wanted to see if I could achieve a clear emphasis on the sadness or worn down look of the animal by making some of the lines heavier, darker and thicker. I'm not sure I achieved it though; it may just look I placed focus on the head. Love to hear what you think.
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1mo
Hi @justjen, I saw your other post and was going to comment on that but saw you posted an update here. This is a great solution to the problem that you mentioned. I was going to suggest something similar.
Looking at it now, it is very akin to the depth and form method, where things closer to the viewer have thicker lines, and things further away have thinner lines. Perhaps you could try thickening lines in specific areas on the underside of the the contour of the rhino to highlight that weight/weariness that you want to emphasize. You want to be strategic about it so that you don't take too much focus away from the face and eyes. You can always go back in and make sure the thickest lines are in the face.
After demo attempt, I never realized how important line could be and the diverse ways to use it.
My rhino after watching the demo. I can now understand that the line is in fact a shape with it's own little shapes inside. The demo rhino is so beautiful even as just lines! Made me rethink my entire life :D I only knew thick vs thin lines, I never considered the shapes of angles and tempered lines.
Following Proko. Can definitely see where I wasn't putting enough line weight/emphasis in my original attempts.
Did this one along with the demo video. Got a lot of good tips for varying line weight to make the image more interesting. Also found myself experimenting a little more with parts I wanted to make stand out.
Great project!
The first 2 pictures are the before and after for Hierarchy of importance, the latter are for Shadow.
This time, I really tried to go crazy with the line thickness because, if not now, then when? That led me to realize a few things:
In general:
Thick outlines, especially with variation in width, look awesome. I know it's too early to talk about style, but I'm definitely incorporating them at some point because they look great and add so much character and information to a piece.
For shadows:
I can understand the main ideas (darker/thicker for areas in shadow, thickness/softness of shadow based on contrast/form), but I'm a little unsure about the, "high contrast = dark" approach. It doesn't seem as intuitive, because high contrast lines now look the same as dark area lines, but maybe this will make more sense when shading is involved.
For hierarchy of importance:
Since there's so many different ways something could be important, I took notes and make a list of some things you could highlight:
1) Focal points: The most interesting/important things in the scene.
2) Moving parts, especially if they're fast or towards the viewer.
3) Parts doing something: gripping, pressing, flexing, etc. E.g. body parts like legs, as even if it's just standing, they're under tension/carrying weight.
4) Lines that make up a large shape. (This is because if it makes up a large part of what you're drawing, it's could be more important than smaller details.)
5) Subconscious/Body focal points: Eyes, mouth, hands, etc. (Maybe originates from body language?)
6) Parts that stick out. Horns, spikes, ears, tails. etc. (Going from thick at the tip to thin/light at the base really emphasizes the shape and adds direction.)
7)...And many more.
As a fun exercise, I then tried to look up artists I knew, break down their thought process, and see when each rule applied. It helped me discover other reasons for emphasis, helped the lesson sink in, and appreciate their art more.
I like your list of forms that could use emphasis with line weight. I plan to apply it to future drawings. Thanks for sharing!
The first picture is my own attempt, the second picture is after watching the video.
I tried to keep the distance information with lines.
Reminds me of a cooking quote that "cooking is doing a lot of little things very well." And this video made me see how much that applies to drawing. I actually made a lot of similar big descisions as Stan and we were even given the exact same outline but some very small descisions that Stan makes throughout leaves the final design soooo much better. Great video!
Before and after viewing demo sketches for each hierarchy of importance and light and shadow. Very instructive videos and exercises.
