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
Eryk Świątek
Melanie Scearce
Looks great! Your lines get a bit scratchy in some areas in the penguin drawing, but overall nicely done 👍
RB CG
19h
a second attempt with my own photos
Melanie Scearce
Keep up the sketching! When you're drawing hair, like in your sketch of the long haired dog, try lightly laying in some simple shapes to use as a guide for the hair pattern. That will help you design the hair more intentionally.
Gustavo Duarte
third attempts
RB CG
2d
have no idea if I did it right
Katerina Waddoups
In the past I hated doing this type of exercise since I struggled so much to keep a steady line, drawing from my shoulder felt so foreign and difficult. But this go around I actually was having so much fun I ended up putting in a lot of the details (like on the vr girl) after I felt like I had the big shapes down... Had a lot of fun with it!
Grant
3d
Here is my first attempt at the level one project images. Looking at them now it feels like I might have been too stiff. Feedback is appreciated!
Zetage
3d
Hi! Sharing what I did. I hope I did the assignment this time, as I haven't watched the demo yet.
@mallowmarsh
the arm took a while😅
Osiris
8d
These are my attempts:
William
9d
Very happy, though I feel that I need to be better about not doing scratch marks and searching too many times.
Kzip
9d
Still pretty happy with this fledgling attempts. Excited to learn more and improve.
Jacob Granillo
Good job Kzip!
Stevie Yaas
Hello, posting my attempts at the drawing from observation projects. I had a lot of fun with these. I struggled most with the VR Girl but I think they all turned out okay. Proportions are still off and the spider arm looks a bit broken. Looking for some feedback. I am not very experienced in drawing but I will still give the sketching from imagination a shot.
@daivd
10d
There was an attempt.
Melanie Scearce
A great attempt!
Shane Cruise
Im not sure how far I was supposed to move past the sketch phase, so I stopped. Criticism is welcome.
Disha
11d
I am pretty happy with how this turned out. I feel i need to practice how to lighten my strokes when needed. Would love to hear your views. Thanks!
Disha
10d
Spidey Hands
Brad Hewitt
Feel good about all 3 but my hand cramps up pretty bad after the second sketch….
Patrick Bosworth
Hey there, Brad! How are you holding your pencil when your hand cramps? Traditional "tripod" writing grip, or overhand? Looks like you might be trying both based on your lines? You might want to try warming up before you get started drawing to loosen up your hand. Starting a drawing session with a page of warmup Mario Mushrooms, ghosting them in as lightly as you can to start, will help you get a feel for drawing with a lighter touch. Also taking breaks to stretch your hands and get the blood flowing in your fingers is a good idea if you're drawing for a while. Here's a link to the Mario Mushroom wamup, and a few lessons covering how to hold the pencil. https://www.proko.com/course-lesson/warmup-mushrooms/assignmentshttps://www.proko.com/course-lesson/ultimate-guide-to-pencils-and-erasers/noteshttps://www.proko.com/course-lesson/how-to-hold-and-control-your-pencil/assignments
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
12d
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
12d
Hahaha Wow, hands are hard. Repost - I fixed the thumb. Pinky side is still a be wonky.
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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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