Project - Simple Animal Portraits

Lesson by

Stan Prokopenko

inDrawing Basics

10K

Course In Progress

Assignments 1.4K

Downloads 8

Project - Simple Animal Portraits

Lesson by

Stan Prokopenko

in Drawing Basics

10K

Course In Progress

Assignments 1.4K

Downloads 8

Deadline: Submit your assignments by 06/15/2023 for a chance to be featured in the next critique video!

Level 1:
Create animal portraits using basic shapes. Try to simplify the animal using 10 shapes or less. Keep your shapes organic and simple. Simple shapes could be stretched, bloated, indented, or curved to capture personality. Don't worry about perfect proportions. Instead, focus on creating cool, simple designs. No details or shading! Use the three reference photos I provided and find 5 to 10 more.

Level 2:
Take Level 1 assignment and push them further. Play with your basic shapes and size relationships to give the animals different personalities. Don't hesitate to experiment and look for additional references to understand your subject better. Now, go have fun!

Christle Panickar

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Here's my attempt. I got stuck at the hippo but eventually managed to do it :) Had a lot of fun doing this one.

Rachel Dawn Owens

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So much variety in style!

Styrbjörn Andersson

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Here is my attempt at the animal portraits. In retrospect and thanks to a really nice explanation from one of the moderators (thank you Patrick!) I think I will revisit this after work today and look more into shape design. I was a bit too focused here on keeping the shapes geometrical (perhaps with the exception of the buffalo horns, which were frankly really hard to simplify).

Patrick Bosworth

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I think you nailed this! These are really beautiful simplified design explorations! Nice work!!

@shadesea

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This is my assignment

Nancy Larson

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As a beginner who tended to draw lines, I found this exercise a bit of an awakening. Still seeking confidence in drawing lines, I now seek to develop confidence in seeing and designing shapes. I did my set of animals twice, the second time after viewing all the videos. I sought to simplify the second time. And maybe I did some. I was challenged with designing shapes to create a new look to my creatures. The challenge was akin to drawing from the imagination exercise earlier in the course. In any case, it was fun and even though I could hang back to continue to develop confident lines and shapes, I post this and will move on in the course and seek to develop confidence as I go. I am motivated to get better. Comments welcome.

Pat Lou

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I noticed that it's easier to get the proportions right by simplifying shapes. I started with basic forms using light strokes, then sketched over them to add more detail. Feedback is very much appreciated!

Jin Park

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I try to follow some of the shapes, very good practice work! I'll keeping more do that!

Tori Tempo

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12d

I like a lot of the shapes I ended up with. If I were to do this project again, I would try to explore more personality and character instead of only focusing on shape.

Melanie Scearce

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11d

You were getting to that idea with the raccoon and dog drawings. Shapes have a language that can help support the character, so don’t think of them as separate. Regardless, these look awesome and super clean. Nice work!

Abitha J

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13d

Here is my attempt, what do you think?

Ruben Rado

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14d

Monster Rooster and some others

Amel

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15d

Here is m’y assignement… I found it quite challenging. The proportions were difficult to get…

Martha Muniz

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14d

Good start! I think you can continue to further simplify some of the more complex areas into simple shapes -- think basic ovals, rectangles, triangles, etc... Starting with these as the 'building blocks' helps make proportions more manageable later on as it sets the foundation to launch off of.

Lau Dabo

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17d

Here is my assignment, what do you think?

Patrick Bosworth

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16d

Great simplifications! I love the cat, excellent work!

@araka

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17d

Hello, this is a really fun project and one I think will help me improve. I took this course because I needed some guidance and a challenge. I usually draw the same things over and over again. I want to get better at drawing from imagination, and I feel this exercise will really help. Thank you.

Oscar

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16d

Nice work, I really like your frogs in particular

@pierreyves

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17d

Hello this is a few of my try. The buffalo was very hard to get into simple shapes. None of them I try worked. Here my best shot. A little help to design better shapes would be appreciated. Thanks a lot

@nampapapa

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20d

Ary 27 P

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22d

Stéphane Mor

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25d

Hello ! I gave it another try with other animals found on Pexels.com. This time, after reading other assignments and feedbacks (and before the demo, which I always postpone as much as I can to get a chance to practice and discover myself), I tried to use really simple shapes. It feels really good, and I feel that I can get a sense of a subject more easily. @Melanie Scearce's comment on "paper cut outs" below really helped me, thanks for that ! https://www.proko.com/s/S8S8 I also tried it in one of our "improv drawing" sessions with my kid : we choose a loose theme, and draw freely in a short time. A lot of fun !

Melanie Scearce

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24d

Awesome, glad to hear it's clicked for you. Love the improv drawings, that's such a fun way to spend quality time with your family!

@cobaltfoxartist

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25d

This is my submission for the project. The buffalo was particularly difficult.

@cobaltfoxartist

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25d

I also took it upon myself to do three more from reference. Included below.

Nancy Larson

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25d

Admittedly, I did not follow the directions initially...to create simple shapes for each image. I locked in on the word "shapes" and began to sketch, starting with the chicken, then the hippo and lastly, the bull. I then listened to the demo video and had to shake my head at myself about not hearing the word 'simple'. In any case I love working with shapes, knowing I still need to simplify even when I was aware they need to be simple. I look forward to continuing this project for another 5-10 animals. Then and only then, will I see about doing the Level 2 project. (The first image of each critter is Before-Demo viewing and the second image is After Demo viewing.)

Alekai

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26d

Well, tried this with cats and I'm happy somewhat but something feels off, maybe proportions with eyes, gonna keep doing them with more animals!

Alekai

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25d

later did some more! liked this ones more! I find this assignment harder than expected but equally fun!

Stéphane Mor

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27d

Hi everyone ! Here is my level 1 submission, with all provided reference images. I started with the buffalo, which I couldn't get in a way that satisfies me fully. The hippo is OK, and the rooster (which I did last) is starting to please me. My line quality is not the best I can do though, and it feels a bit dull overall. What I love with this course is that I often go from "hell, this is hard" to "hey, I kinda mastered this new skill, not bad". This part is no exception, and I really enjoyed started to grasp what new possibilities it opens ! I'll practice more very soon ! As always, all critique is very welcome and helps me a lot.

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Stan Prokopenko

Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.