Project - Learning to Sketch from Imagination

8.8K
Course In Progress

Project - Learning to Sketch from Imagination

8.8K
Course In Progress

Pick an animal, a bug, or some kind of creature, and find several reference photos to use as inspiration to sketch a new character.

Don't copy the photos. Feel free to explore with proportions and exaggerate or simplify things to make it your own. Do multiple sketches to experiment and try different ideas.

Once you think you have a clear idea of a character, do one full page sketch. Even in this final sketch, try to use loose, confident lines and focus on the shapes of the character you have in mind. We're trying something new here with this project by starting to develop our ability to draw from imagination. So it might be a bit of a challenge, but don't sweat it.

Let's keep it loose and rough with our sketches and just focus on letting those creative juices flow. Don't focus on the cleanliness of your lines. We're sketching, and when you post your assignments, please include the photos you found and all your experimental sketches.

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

And don't forget to have fun!

Newest
@tonyhcf
7d
Decided to go with a red panda.
Rachel Dawn Owens
Carlo Julian
These are my drawings from imagination... but I think they're more just from memory? I drew sooo many owls just to get to the point where I could kind of understand their anatomy. I'm going to attach more photos in replies to this to keep it organized, including references.
Melanie Scearce
This is how it starts! Unlocking drawing from memory will help you unlock drawing from imagination. This is great stuff, keep it up 👍
Carlo Julian
These are all the process drawings that got me to the point where I could draw the above owls without looking at a reference. I also took a detour into imagining humanoid owls with arms for some reason.
Donna Swibas
@dollydigital
pump some iron with the gym rat
Gabriele Minelli
Curious pigeon
Rachel Dawn Owens
He’s great!
@anabruiz
15d
Jae Hoon Jho
Love and peace for all!
Melanie Scearce
Perfect!
Xana Mendonca
used my cat as the chosen animal. Didn´t do the last drawing, doe.
Melanie Scearce
Nice! Cute cat :)
@lstr
19d
Googled "random animal" and used the site to give me some options -- ended up with this "jerboa" fellow.
@magelite3551
The combination of facial expression and the posture in picture 3 is really cute!
Nokk Wombat
The most mammal-looking mammal, wombats.
Rachel Dawn Owens
So cute!
Peter Ralph
Rachel Dawn Owens
I like this frog
@jackb
20d
First page were sketches from reference and second is drawing from imagination: he's an axolotl having a little snack of worms I can tell some of the lines are searching and the arms I felt were hard to get to look right, still I’m actually quite happy with it
Andrei Sorokin
This time I tried to do it properly and the initial sketches are even not so bad, but the original sketch is meh indeed.
Rafa Eganez
i decided to attempt and draw a bear from imagination. I started with getting familiar with the body and face. I’ve only been drawing for about a week and although level 1, decided to shoot my shot anyways. I drew Nimbo the gunner bear I recommend other level ones to do the imagination project as well. Although Stan recommends to not throw yourself in the deep end so quickly, take a detour from the course and see where your creativity takes you!
@bovine_designs
I love this guy! I like how you added the scarred eye too that adds more story to him.
Rachel Dawn Owens
This guy is wonderful. He’s got a lot of character and he’s fun. Keep it up! Maybe try some rifle and shotgun studies sometime too.
Rafa Eganez
What I used to build up to be able to draw from imagination
Andrei Sorokin
Rachel Dawn Owens
Nice frogs!
@bovine_designs
I did two characters! My first one is a traveling echidna, I wanted to make a special harness for him to carry things since his quills aren't backpack friendly. His staff looked like a basketball so naturally I had to draw him balling. I saw other students doing insects and I wanted to try my hand at that! I made a mechanized bee, it was pretty tough but I'm glad I did it!
Rachel Dawn Owens
I love your character ideas!
@sanosuke123
my attempt at this excerise
Melanie Scearce
I really like the idea for this drawing! Super cool reference. I have a tip for the pose, hope it helps!
@hwjones91
26d
So definitely a level 1 here attempting a level 2 bc I love cartoons and comics (a big part of why I took this course and signed up for the marvel course here as well) and while I’m happy with the results I was able to produce, watching the “cramps” video definitely made me feel like I was “over challenging” myself to something I wasn’t up to experience/skill wise but still it got me very excited to draw and had me spending every little bit of free time to do more work or sketches which was a win.
Melanie Scearce
Love it! It's important to remember that in order to get the experience we have to undertake the experience, which can be a troubling and discouraging process sometimes. With that enthusiasm you're unbeatable!
Gilles Dubuis
Something far too complicated.
Rafa Eganez
This is cool as hell
Patrick Bosworth
I really love your crab sketch! Great exploration and deconstruction of the excavator parts! The Crab Mech building a sandcastle is awesome! Love it!!
Gavin Houle
My fuzzy scarab beetle, sketches, and reference :) this was fun (Always open to critique)
Rachel Dawn Owens
I love them
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About instructor
Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.
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