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project-organizing-line-weight.mp4
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ASSIGNMENTS![]()
![@4grounds]()
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![@toki]()
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![Christian Denis]()
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![@spacecowboy850]()
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![@4grounds]()
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![Clément Douziech]()
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![@jt0610]()
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![John Thompson]()
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![@flappymcbitey]()
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![John Thompson]()
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![Alexandre Frazao]()
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![Sean]()
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![John Thompson]()
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![Chloé Kanaumi]()
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![Martha Muniz]()
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![Cristopher Briceño]()
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![Chuck Ludwig Reina]()
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![Sneek]()
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![Martha Muniz]()
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![Cinthya Itzel Garduño Sanchez]()
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![Patrick Bosworth]()
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![@darthtomkat]()
In this project, we'll practice organizing line weight in our drawings.
Level 1 - Trace
Trace over the provided linear version of the photo to avoid getting distracted by proportions. Trace it twice, using two different line weight approaches discussed in the last video:
- Hierarchy of importance method - Heavier on the contours of large and important shapes. Lighter on details within.
- Shadows and light direction method - Reference the original photo to identify the shadows.
Note: Don't use the depth and form method yet.
Level 2 - Draw from Observation
Level 2 students, in addition to the tracing exercise, try to trace it again, but imagine the light coming from a different direction IF you’re ready for that.
Then, draw from observation, focusing on line weight. Choose objects around you and draw as many as you'd like. If you draw a landscape with a clear foreground, middleground, and background, you can use the depth approach to line weight.
Deadline for submissions to be included in the video critique is next Thursday (4/13/2023)
For this project I attempted it 3 times. The 1st one I did the hierarchy method but don't think turned out as well as I hoped, I think it blended both the hierarchy and the shadow methods with a little of the distance method I think. The 2nd is the shadow method, I think some of the shadow lines may have been over done. Then the last one I attempted the hierarchy method again with a new pen and really tried to make the contour stand out.
Another practice for line weight. It's almost like I discovered a while new world now that I'm doing this. I really feel like it takes drawings to the next level. How fun this is! :)
Hi! My attempt! Looking for criticism! I'll give some of my thought processes on each one so it's probably easier to know my decision making and the issues *I think* I see
Hierarchy Lines: First thing I went for was the contour, as per Proko's video, but I do think I may have overkilled it in thickness. Second thing I tried to highlight after the contour were any body parts, so a bit of thickness on eyes, mouth, legs, ears, and then a bit thinner on the overall important contours within the shape like the belly and the head. And lastly any details or wrinkles within those shapes! I tried to do the whole ''merge with the ground'' thing proko mentioned with the grass and paws/feet? so I made those lines kinda disappear.
Light/Shadow Lines: This was definitely harder to think through. The part I thought had the thinnest lines were the face, on the right side, so I tried to disconnect my lines to make it even thinner. I wasn't sure how to represent how dark the front legs were, I made it very thick but it looks kinda off for me, like a random contour line compared to the rest.
I then struggled a bit with overlapping shapes, like a shape that was being hit by light overlapped over another one that's darker, because how do I deal with the contour line between them? My solution was to make any overlapping lines darker to show the difference. So for example I saw the belly was hit by light but the back leg wasn't, so I just made it thicker line there.
I'm not fully satisfied with the light one but I don't have the current knowledge to know what to look for, so any comments are welcomed! :)
I think you did very well. I personally like how thick you made the contour outline, it has a very graphic quality to it that makes it very pop-y. I think the merge with the ground was successful. But I do think some of the lines in the first are a little too light. The second one I would echo the light lines being too light as well, but in the second one I think it works far better. The stark contrast between the darkest heavy lines and the barely there light lines really sells the 3D form in my opinion. Overall I think you did a very good job with the project and your line quality is on its way to being very strong.
Very good. I feel like the light and shadow lines might need some work. Just because I feel like it starts to get more into the graphic territory instead of the realism territory. Overall though very nice. I do like how the head in the bottom stands out. Feels like you're implementing a combination of the depth approach with the light and shadow approach which I like.
Line by hierarchy of importance, I first did the exercise on a simpler model to understand better what to do.
Really struggled with this one. I adjusted the light and shadow one after watching the critique video a little bit. While doing the hierarchy of importance task I thought of the coffee cup example and thought that I have to outline the outside thicker and all what is inside thinner. 🤷🏻♂️😅
1. picture: Hierarchy of importance
2. picture: Shadows and light
nice--highlighted lines well chosen--i think your own comment is correct--you varied the intensity of the lines, but i think would be more interesting if you also varied the thickness.
I struggled with the rather basic question of what pencils to use. I did the "hierarchy of importance" drawing first. I used three different pencil and struggled with how the softest pencil changed character as it dulled. Then for the "shadows and light" drawing I used only a 2B and rotated the pencil periodically to slow it from dulling. What pencil grades should I be using? Should I use multiple?
i wouldn't worry about the pencil choice with this one, you're just adding another variable to think about. just stick with the 2b and vary the lines with pressure or going back over them. (recall stan's advice that just because it's a line, it doesn't have to be drawn with a single stroke. you can go back over a line as much as you want to vary its darkness or width.)
Somewhat confused about which lines to include... passed on all red but graphite pencil is almost invisible in some lines
i like the light and shadow attempt--it looks like you played with the lines a bit where you darkened them--the curves are a little smoother and "prettier," which makes the image hang together in a nice way
Here is my work for this assignement. I'm not too sure about the one organised by importance but I'm pretty happy about the light & shadow one.
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16d
The Light & Shadow one reads really clearly, great job! With the Importance one, it's on the right track -- I see the main idea being implemented. I think what would help, however, would be using more of a middle weight to reduce the thickness of some of the lines within the inside area of the rhino. That way, the thickest lines are only reserved for the outside outline. That would help distribute the weight around more evenly, without being too much on the heavy side, and instead helps guide the eye hierarchy level by hierarchy level. Hope this helps! :)
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15d
This looks great. Reading really well.
The shadow and light lines were harder than I thought. But it's cool to see that line weight can make a drawing stand out.
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16d
Nice! For the Hierarchy of Importance version, I like the bold, clear outline! It definitely solidifies the most important part, the silhouette. I would just recommend using some thick or middle weight lines inside the rhino's outline as well, so the viewer's eye can travel from the outside outline towards the next important sections, such as the face and eyes of the rhino.
And great job with the Light & Shadow version, too! You're on the right track overall :)
At the beginning I was lost with all the lines haha, but after the feedback demo, I finally got it a little bit more, but I'll continuo practice ;)
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22d
Nice work! These are really well organized line weights, the "Importance' line weight is looking great, but I think the "Light" line weight is somewhat inconsistent, and could use some more weight on the bottom planes underneath the rhino. The spot of heavy lineweight on the rear also seems out of place if the light is hitting the backs of the legs. Keep up the good work!
Line weight Level 2: From Reference
Line weight is never something I've every really used or developed technique at. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Some thoughts:
The Red XIII one has a bit too much stark contrast between foreground and background that makes it look like two separate objects IMO.
The bridge needs more heavy lines on the bottom right, as that would probably be closer to the viewer than the left side of the bridge.
And maybe a bit darker on the belly/right leg (to us) on the baby bird too. That part seems in distinct compared to the rest.
Really like the last one, and great shapes over all!
