Project - Dynamic Shapes

Lesson by

Stan Prokopenko

inDrawing Basics

2.2K

Assignments 279

Downloads 46

Project - Dynamic Shapes

Lesson by

Stan Prokopenko

in Drawing Basics

2.2K

Assignments 279

Downloads 46

Download the photo reference images of seals and sea lions.

Level 1 - Draw from Reference

Draw their gesture and design dynamic shapes using the concepts from this lesson and the previous lesson.

Remember that gesture is not the contour, so don't just copy the outlines. Look for the movement and energy throughout the shapes. Use your whole arm and use the looser sketch line that we learned about.

Level 2 - Draw from Memory or Imagination

Start with the level 1 project and after 5 to 10 poses, turn the page, put away all the reference photos and do more drawings from imagination or from memory.

You can try to invent your own poses and design those shapes to be dynamic. Or you can try to remember the poses you already drew and use those as inspiration. Try to push and design with a focus on drawing dynamic shapes. It doesn't matter how accurate you get to the original photo, it's more about designing the shapes to look dynamic and interesting.

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Deadline for submissions to be included in the video critique is next Thursday (8/24)

* Because of the large amount of reference images, it would help a lot of you include the reference you used for each drawing. I'm more likely to select your submission for the critique. Thank you!

Lolo

Is there anyone out there that can help me. Numbers 12, 14, 17,18? How on earth do you make them dynamic?? Mine just look like flat boring blobs

Caitlin

19h

My drawings from imagination. Feel free to critique!

Caitlin

19h

Heres my seal drawings! I think I got better as I went along but there’s still things that need to be fixed. Feel free to comment!

Lolo

23h

Before I watched the demo I was lost. I didn’t get it. Stan makes it look so easy, as if he nails it on the first pass and I can’t do that and then I realized I need to go real light until I find my way and I learned so much watching the demo. I want to do all of these but I’m lost on number 12 and 14? If anyone can help with those. How do you make those shapes dynamic?

daniellee

I did all of them then went back and re- drew the ones I liked. I found it hard to simultaneously think about shapes and line quality. Stan is right it really is like juggling.

bonnieblue

HELP PLEASE. Here's more simple shapes animal portraits. I can complicate water, so I'm doing several of these quick studies.

Martha Muniz

Love these, you've got some cool designs going on!

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Peter Bajzek

Another fun assignment. I did many more of these but will only attach a few.

Nikita

I feel like I'm more copying than translating the energy in my own unique shape design, it's actually feels a lot harder than proportions, I guess will check the demo and critiques and compare my thought process

zan

10d

Hey folks! I'm way way behind, working on catching up (hopefully by the next project. Wanted to take some time to work on this one of course - Here's some seals, 1-6. I'll come back with some more (maybe a couple times), but if anyone wants to hand me some critique it'd be much appreciated. Understand if everyone's moved on from here.

zan

Here's some more! - 7 through 12. Did this while watching the #1 demo, Was happy to see I was (mostly) going in the right direction with the couple Stan did too. Top right's kinda meh. I like The small one middle left probably the most.

Ash

10d

nice!

bonnieblue

10d

HELP & ADVICE gladly welcomed. I'm a bit behind, but still wanted to post these animal portraits. Thank y'all

Martha Muniz

Hi there! You seem to be getting a good hang of this assignment, good job :) I do think there are a few animals (the litocranius, the donkey, and the heron) where you could go even simpler, like simplifying the main shape of the litocranius into a single rounded triangle shape, or the donkey's hair as a more defined feature. Think about how the shapes individually could be improved to either look more simple, streamlined or exaggerated and fun.

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Niklas Nilsson

15d

This was fun!

Samuel Lemons

17d

Level 1assignment.

Martha Muniz

17d

Hi! It's rather difficult to see the drawings, it would help if they were uploaded less overexposed (darker overall) and in smaller groups so the image is larger. But from what I was able to gather, you seem to have fluidity throughout the variety of different poses (kudos to you for all the mileage as well!). I would recommend trying to find more "pinch points" or points of tension to counterbalance and play off all the curving shapes. Look for places where you can find some straight edges or sharper angles, even if you have to exaggerate it a touch, as these often lend themselves to an interesting rhythm (and take notice of the surrounding curves, there's usually one on the opposite side of a straight edge).

mogumogu

17d

Martha Muniz

17d

Hi mogumogu :) I just love the expressions on the seals, and they're very fitting, haha! I also like the use of searching lines and overall line quality, keep it up! For the gestural shapes, I think you could introduce some more straight lines to balance out all the curves. You can usually find them wherever the weight is pressing down on the surface, like their belly, or sometimes when stretching (like the first seal--the left side curves from his shoulder to his head while the opposite side from his chest to his head is more of a straight). Thinking more in terms of curves against straight edges could also help streamline things to be more dynamic--right now there's a lot of little extra bumps that I think slow down the energy. It could be helpful when it's indicating a twist or the seal's structure, but watch for whether it's helping the flow or just adding excess detail. Hope this helps!

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Scott Diesing

21d

Martha Muniz

17d

Hi! I think it would help to use more loose, searching lines like seen in this video: https://www.proko.com/s/2zDB and to practice tapered strokes as a warmup until you feel comfortable using them for more complex drawings. You may find that instead of adding a layer of complexity, searching lines could really help take the pressure off entering a drawing and allow for an easier time throughout the entire process. Using them here for example, could allow you both to make mistakes and explore points of tension, like by testing straight and curved edges.

VAGABOND

25d

Did a few more seals try to get some more weight but I still feel like I can still work on the contrast between the straights and curves more with these guys but let me know what your guys thoughts are :)

Sinead Erin

23d

Hey @VAGABOND The fifth seal and the last ones are my favourite! The last seal in particular has good flow, I think you have improved. I think the waving flipper of the seal (on the second page) could have a simple curved line on one side contrasted with some straights that show the more complex bending form. Keep it up! :)

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drawstfffu

25d

Id like opinions on these thankyou

Eddie Blake

25d

I like the energy that you have in the curve of the seal body. The one that’s whipping its head to the right. I’ve seen these guys in the wild because I live near the coast. It’s very true to life.

sara keyes

26d

sara keyes

26d

moquiritox

26d

Difficult to think only about shapes and not contour, but i think the last 3 ones are a little better and more dynamic!

VAGABOND

26d

Yea I also find it pretty hard to change my mind from looking and copying the contour to trying to capture the shape and gesture of an object. I think one thing that helps me is trying to think about the overall flow (line of action) of the seals from that point I will think of one or two shapes and try to merge them together with lines. Also I think the reference should just be the reference if you have to deviate from that to get a more dynamic shape then you should. Hopefully this helps :)

VAGABOND

27d

Here are my NAVY SEALS (a little late to the party but better late then never). Going to try doing more in the next couple of days as warmups so stay tuned I guess lol. Also any feedback would be awesome.

Sinead Erin

26d

Hey @VAGABOND I like your seals faces and the seals on the second page look even more 3 dimensional than the first page! I think adding some overlapping features such as fat folds can help to show more depth and compression in areas that are being squashed. The second seal on the first page could have a flatter belly as it is resting on the rocks (but still showing the weight bulging out from the neck with a curved line) this would contrast against the curves on the top of the seals back and tail. I think the seal on the second page (top right) could have the flipper lowered so it is more diagonal to the bending of the neck on the other side. I know this is stretching the reference a bit, but I think this could make the sketch more dynamic instead of these two points sticking out symmetrically. I hope these points are helpful! 😊

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Stan Prokopenko

Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.