Project - Simplify from Observation

29K
Course In Progress
Use Code BLACK20 to Save 20%

Project - Simplify from Observation

29K
Course In Progress

Use the reference photos in the downloads tab or go find your own reference and start drawing! Remember, this project is all about simplifying to clarify.

Make sure to keep these 3 things in mind:

Shapes - Draw your shapes with straight lines
Values - Use only 5 values. 2 in the shadow and 3 in the lights
Edges - Make every single edge sharp!

I'll publish my drawing demos of both levels next Tuesday so you can watch me go through the problem solving process. For a chance to be included in the critique videos, you must submit your drawing to the community by January 26th, 2023, so I can begin filming and producing the critique video.

Newest
@silver847
i did this digitally via procreate. Does it look right? If anyone has any tips for me, please let me know
@robertt5710
I erased the lines that divided the different values and shaded the values in different directions so I would have an easier time keeping track of them. I struggled with evenly increasing the increments of shade for the values and simplifying the shapes in a consistent way. Any critiques would be appreciated.
Ella Stanistreet
Here is my go at pear 3. I struggle with shading , that in mind I don’t hate it. Hope to learn lots in this course. - Ella
Mason Stroud
Pear 1 was done before the demo. Pear 2 was done after demo and while watching the critique video. Trying to shade in shapes evenly with only the pencil tip is a real struggle for me, so this exercise helped a lot with helping me figure that out a little more. The second drawing was done on a slightly toned paper, so i used a white pencil for the highlight. I feel like a cheated a bit doing that, since I didn't have to shade the light halftone at all.
Gabe Patton
I struggle with keeping it light. To improve I think I could push the simplification part a little harder. I kept catching myself getting focused on small details really fast but on the second try found myself having an easier time keeping to bigger ideas.
Nathanael Borjas
Sorta new to art here's my attempt at pear #2. I feel like I didn't do the best at showing clear distinctions between different values in some areas although I'm sure I can improve quickly as I grow more comfortable with graphite. I'd be happy to receive any critiques.
Rachel Dawn Owens
Looks like you’re on the right track! Thanks for sharing. Heres a demo I made for this assignment. Maybe it can help you out with your next drawing.
Mohammed Alshamsi
I’m not exactly new to art, but I really wouldn’t say I’m amazing at it. Most of what I had learned up to this point was from YouTube tutorials, artist friends of mine, and what I learned in high school and college before things kinda got complicated. Still, I wasn’t going to give up on learning and doing art, which is why I’m here now. I also know for a fact that the first and most important thing I need to do is brush up on the fundamentals, so I can have a solid foundation for the future. With all that in mind I thought it would be best if I did the level 1 version of the project, but I made sure to turn off any line stabilization since I also wanted to train my hand to not be so jittery.
@alfredcomic
I’m specifically taking these courses to get better for the purpose of making comics, which involve the final image being done with inks, so I did some different methods for shading more in tune with that. Or at least I tried.
Mohammed Alshamsi
Looks solid! I filled in the different planes on my pears the same way but with heavier or lighter strokes, but I’d say the way you opted to fill in the planes on your pear with differently-spaced lines and points works quite well, and it makes your drawing look really tidy!
Jonathan Ainsworth
Done Digitally, feel free to critique.
Rachel Dawn Owens
Nice simplification
Gavin Houle
Trying to re-learn how to draw the proper way, fundamentals and such. So far so eh, but it's a start
Melanie Scearce
These are beautiful!
Adam DS
5d
So, this is my first drawing in 4 years. I'm going to take a crack at a self-critique and would love it if anyone could spot anything I've missed. For starters, some context. I did this drawing PRIOR to watching the demo and the critiques, but am writing this AFTER having watched those. The whole piece was done using only a plain ol' #2 pencil, which I feel like might have increased the difficulty of this exercise unnecessarily (I've since picked up a set of drawing pencils). It's also the reason why I didn't do the hair, and focused solely on the skin (I didn't want to lay in that much of a dark value using just my #2). Onto the self-critique: - First, I now understand what Stan was talking about when he mentioned using fuzzy mashed potato lines to hide mistakes, and realized through this project that I do that a LOT. I found it surprisingly difficult to simplify curves into hard lines and shapes, which I would have thought would be easier. - Also, I clearly cheated on the contour of the jaw by putting down a hard line to cover the fact that my transitions between values could have been sharper. - While I think I did okay figuring out the separation between light and shadow, I found myself struggling to see the different dark and light halftones. - After watching the demo, I see a major difference between what I did and what Stan did. I "drew" the features of the face, and then just added values on top of them, whereas Stan "built" the features out of basic shapes. - Also, after watching the critiques I now see two more major flaws with my project: 1. I definitely didn't simplify NEARLY enough. 2. I used the side of the pencil liberally, which contributed to the fuzziness of my values and edges (ironically, this last habit of using the side of the pencil is something I picked up from the last drawing course I took that made drawing with the tip of a pencil sound evil...) So, what else did I miss?
Melanie Scearce
I think you really nailed it here with your analysis. Congrats on picking up the pencil after 4 years. It was a good move to pick up some drawing pencils, I think you'll be able to get a wider range of values. Looking forward to seeing more of your work!
Jim H
5d
I had to take this at a funny angle because the light was shining off of the graphite. I already sense that my hands are remembering how to draw a bit.. and I am remembering how to see shapes. My ability to lay down accurate tone is still a bit wiggly as well as my proportions. These are good basic exercises that I was never taught in school. :(
@darkart
4d
I guess the only issue I see is a bit of a lack of simplification of the values like a bit of highlights where there shouldn't be any. But idk I'm new to drawing.
Ben Whitfield
Level 1 Assignment. I first did the drawing myself and then did one while watching Stan drawing it. For the one I did myself I don't think I separated the values enough. I also used some curves when drawing the pear (I think I should have used only straights). Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks
Biruh Abadi
very nice
Biruh Abadi
be honest. :)
Rachel Dawn Owens
Good job simplifying the values!
Ethan Haney
I have just kind of fell in and out of drawling for a year and it's time to actually follow a bunch of organized courses so I can realize my goals. After watching the demo I can see that my proportions are off and I should have created more distance between the values. The stem I was a bit lazy about. I don't have much experience with physical shading so wasn't sure on the direction the lines should flow so I tried to create three dimension with horizontal lines. I think I will enjoy working with oil paints most since the medium more connects to the brushes and style I used to use on digital. Can't wait for the journey!
esther kim
This is my first time drawing sth after high school. I am using Ipad mini 6, procreate. Thx if you give me some feedback 🥹
Biruh Abadi
good start.
Martha Muniz
Hey there, welcome to the course! You've got a great start! What could help is looking to distribute the values more evenly across, so I think just the small change of lightening up your 2nd darkest value and darkening your middle value a bit could help make things more even across the board. Also, when it comes to filling in the values, try to make sure there aren't white gaps left inside your value groups, as this can make the value unclear or even change it. Especially when it comes to the darker values, having white sections can throw off the illusion of the 3D object. With the lighter values, try having a lighter shape outline (which luckily with the Ipad, you can make the outlines on a different layer, then hide it), as to also continue the 3D illusion without having a harsh line breaking it up. Keep at it, hope to see more of your awesome work! :)
@jackb
5d
I had a go at the portrait after having a go at the pear and then following the demo, I found this a lot harder with working out where to put shadows along with trying to make things look proportional but this is really the first time I’ve tried to draw a portrait so I’m going to try and be easy on myself 😄
Melanie Scearce
It makes sense that a portrait would be more difficult to simplify than a pear -- please be kind to yourself! We humans are highly sensitive to faces which adds a layer of complication to the process, but if we think about the face as a whole instead of individual parts, we might have an easier time simplifying. I like to decide before I start drawing how I'm going to divide on average the lights and the darks, starting with the darks first. With portraits, it helps to remember the rule of thirds too! Hope that helps.
Bree Bree
It's been a year since I've drawn anything, so I'm very rusty. I'm still trying to get used to shading with pencil again. As always, the demos were really helpful.
Melanie Scearce
These are great! Really nice range of values. I think on the bell pepper, I would lighten up the shadow on the first lobe -- since it's closer to the light source, it won't be as dark as the shadow that is the farthest away from the light source.
РАСПИЛИ МЕНЯ БОЛГАРКОЙ
Bill Wadkins
Project 1, level 1
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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.
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