Project - Learning to Sketch from Observation

15K
Course In Progress

Project - Learning to Sketch from Observation

15K
Course In Progress

Use the three reference images of clean line drawings and sketch them using simple loose lines. Don't try to match the cleanliness of these drawings. Instead, sketch them out with energetic, tapered strokes. Don't hesitate. Just practice moving your arm with confidence. If you draw some lines and then you realize that, Oh, shoot, I need to curve that more. Go ahead and just draw the new curve right over it. As you get more confident that you've found the shape, you can darken those lines and the lighter lines start to disappear. Focus on the big idea and the shapes the lines represent, rather than on each individual line. 

For you, Level 2 monster trucks, I want you to start with this Level 1 project as a warmup, and then head over to the Learning to Sketch from Imagination project page for your instructions.

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 2023

Good luck and please have some fun!

Newest
Andrew Kovachik
Another pretty fun project :) I think the project difficulty is progressing nicely where there are parts in all the drawings where I can feel myself struggling but then other parts of the drawing that I feel confident in. Oddly the drawing which was most cartoonish, the robot singer thing, was the one I felt by far the least comfortable with. The penguin felt the most comfortable and was probably the point I was getting towards feeling like the lines were somewhat loose and searching. My final guess before looking at Stan's is that there are probably still way to detail focused. I could kind of see from the thumbnail what I think he was expecting which looks like much mofocused on the big arcs and shapes. But I think at the moment adding some of the smaller details helped me under stand the larger shapes better.
Jacob Granillo
Well done with the drawings! And especially a very good observation with the shapes.
Brian
7h
I tend to go slow and try to get things “perfect”, so I tried to do these quickly without worrying as much about mistakes. Spent around 15 minutes on each one.
Kzip
12h
Hahaha Wow, hands are hard. Repost - I fixed the thumb. Pinky side is still a be wonky.
Jake Guillereault
This is before the demo, I feel impressed with this. I sketched it out loosely than darkened the lines
Madelyn Henning
This one was more difficult. Just more going on! After taking a peep at the thumbnail for this exercise, I wonder if I’m using big enough strokes. Feedback welcome!
Madelyn Henning
Also seeing on the side by side that the ring proportion is quite a bit off 🥴
Madelyn Henning
I can see some differences when side by side with the reference. Excited to try a different image. I notice that I sketch out pretty hard to begin with so I will work on using lighter strokes. Feedback welcome!
Jake Guillereault
Before the demo
Kzip
1d
I am pretty okay with this little guy. I know I was moving my whole arm cause my shoulder is tired. haha And I could definitely tell when I did 't move my arm, the sketching tightened up. He's a but shorter and squatter than the original, but that's just lack of confidence in longer lines.
Stephen Clark
This is a pretty solid one for an early project! While you're right that the dude is a little shorter than the reference, it still feels pretty good! Reading your post with it, I think you know that some proportion work and line quality practice would be a good idea. But you're doing really well here and in the others you posted recently, Kzip! I look forward to seeing you post some more and you work through the lessons 💪
@bjuarez7_1
I’m pleased with the result but watching the demo afterward made me realize I should’ve used more “big” lines and used more shapes before details. Good lesson.
@linetime
Did second penguin after watching demo/critique. Feel like I need to loosen up a bit more. I really like the more sketchy look and don’t really think mine have that.
Oliver Wan
I feel like I did a lot better on the penguin than on the other two. Even though I also struggled a bit with the penguins feet. But still overall pretty enjoyable.
Jessica Ambron
Tommy Pinedo
Great attempts Jess! :D
@brimarie
They look great!
Jessica Ambron
forgot the circular device in front of her when planning the page composition. Oh well !
@iguanart
Thx for your help !
Flo
5d
Well, I have a lot to learn
Rachel Dawn Owens
Don’t we all. I think it’s cool how you pushed the proportions. And your line quality is really strong.
Enzo reda
Here are my attempts. When i first saw the reference images i was really confident i would do this easy but damn it proved me wrong. I struggled quite a bit and i'm not really happy about the result. But still, i feel like it was a great exercice to improve!
Katie King
I really struggled with working on these. I think sketching from a line drawing is something I have never tried and I found it very difficult to not want to just replicate the lines as I saw them. I tried the level two project as well and had a much easier time mentally on that one, although confident lines are still tricky.
@kuhmu
11d
Martha Muniz
Nicely done!
Bennett Jimenez
Had fun with these! All feedback is welcomed! 🙏
Ella
11d
Nick
11d
My proportions definitely need some work, I'm happiest with the penguin despite his large foot and larger gut. I had a hard time figuring out which spot to start out with for the VR girl, I ended up starting with her head but that may not have been the best path. All comments/suggestions welcome.
Full course
You will be given unexpiring access to watch the videos online .
View course details
Give a gift
Give a gift card for art students to use on anything in the Proko store.
Or gift this course:
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.
Help!
Browse the FAQs or our more detailed Documentation. If you still need help or to contact us for any reason, drop us a line and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!