Project - Learning to Sketch from Observation

12K
Course In Progress

Project - Learning to Sketch from Observation

12K
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

Good luck and please have some fun!

Newest
@acorn9
4h
Well, I think it’s fair to say I was too focused on getting it right v. thinking about the subject and expressing that through more expressive lines.
@tonyhcf
13h
Ann
1d
first attempt before demo
Noah Myburgh
Did some more animal sketches. Im having some trouble with the lighting when I take my pictures any suggestions on how to make the lighting more neutral and evened out.
Rachel Dawn Owens
Wow! Your drawings are so beautiful. Nice balance of straights and curves. I really love your giraffes the most. As for photographing your work, using a scanner could be helpful. Sometimes I take my work outside on nice days to get good lighting.
@dollydigital
prior to watching demos. i like this process - i get so much out of watching the demos after attempting it.
Jerome
3d
I draw my cat for a practice but will do the other exercices too for that lesson. Feeback please. Thanks
Donna Swibas
Sam
3d
Redid The VR girl and The spider hand with more loose hand after watching The demo. Sure the pictures were familiar from The first pass, but time i spent in drawing the second versions was but a fracture after i didn't try to copy every line and detail.
Donna Swibas
Sam
4d
First try before watching demo. But i noticed that i was a little too "literal" with the VR girl and the hand, trying to copy the Image instead of capturing the likeness with just loose lines
Aaron St. John
First pass on these before watching demo. I think I should probably give it another go and strive for cleaner versions.
Kesha
4d
very artistic sketch. I loved it.
Rachel Dawn Owens
Looks like you’re getting it. It’s ok to be a little messy, but you will want to have a clearer mark. keep your lines measured and confident. It gets easier with practice. This is a great place to start. Keep it up!
@cutillo
6d
heres the hand. I feel like my lines are still too searchy and not confident. But the exercise is a good one. I’m going to keep practicing with these.
Tommy Pinedo
The image on the left is before watching the video and the image on the right is after watching Stan attempt and the critique. When I first did this attempt, I was in the mindset of perfectionism, where each line or stroke has to be perfect and clean. I wasn't gestural or going with the flow for this exercise. After watching Stan and listening to what he said, I looked back at my drawing and noticed that I was too clean. I did it again trying my best to not be perfect and explore, and keep it gestural. How I understood it was to draw the VR girl reference as a "concept" design or how would its first rough draft look like. I was trying to get it perfect and identical first try. Lastly, I have to get out of the mindset that every drawings I do has to be perfect and finished. I assume that if I dont make a drawing thats clean, I am not improving but that is not the case. Just wanted to share my thoughts. What do you guys think?
Rachel Dawn Owens
These are great. Look like you’re getting exactly what you need out of this assignment. Being a perfectionist isn’t a bad thing when drawing. You want to make pretty drawings. It’s also important to learn how to design, not copy what you are seeing. Learning to keep loose, slow down, and be mindful of your marks will serve you well. Nice stuff. Keep it up!
Gabriele Minelli
Here they are
Rachel Dawn Owens
These look wonderful! I appreciate the pentimento look of your hand drawing. These are all sketchy, yet clean and confident. Perfect for this assignment.
Tate Green
@cutillo
9d
heres my first attempt at the singer
Antonio Santiago
First attempt for all three. I feel like the penguins head is way too small but didnt want to erase anything per the assignment. I am very happy with the hands but they were definitely the most challenging. The robot's left foot is waaaaaay too big but also didnt want to erase due to the assignment. Overall pretty happy with it but please let me know what I can improve on.
Antonio Santiago
I definitely noticed that my searching lines were too dark and i dont give myself the opportunity to trace over it and make it darker. It just ends up looking like a bunch of dark lines.
Jason Dahlke
I had to share this hand cause it's been in some sort of unfortunate industrial accident where it maimed their proportions. Anatomy and perspective are the main reason I started this course because clearly I need the practice. Penguins are my favorite and one day I hope to have an entire sketchbook of them drawn from life, so might as well rip this off with a bad one. Need to learn to slow down from reference and not got bored then rush to "finish."
Thomas Nolan II
I have experimental lines in here, but i still have a tendency of erasing some rough draft lines in attempt to be PERFECT. I think ghosting prior to experimental strokes will do good for my following sketches to carry more flow in form and not get caught up in the contours seen.
@ree_m
11d
Tried my best As always critiques welcomed! 🤗
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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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