Project - Simplify from Observation

Lesson by

Stan Prokopenko

inDrawing Basics

13K

Assignments 2.5K

Lesson Notes

Downloads 9

Project - Simplify from Observation

Lesson by

Stan Prokopenko

in Drawing Basics

13K

Assignments 2.5K

Lesson Notes

Downloads 9

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, so I can begin filming and producing the critique video.

Collin Chuck

I think my pencil is too dark 🤔

Kevin Casey

Did as many as possible and then realised the eyes were misaligned but happy enough with outcome tried to stick to 5 values

Mitch Lovell

Assignment 1 Complete - Procreate

Super late, but here we go.

Justin

1st assignment in the books just started drawing an am super excited about this class. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Eric

Hi, Complete beginner here. I just started the Drawing Basics course and instead of the pear, I chose to draw guava that I had in the fridge :-) It is far from being a piece of art but hey…. Everyone needs to begin somewhere, right? All comments, advices are welcome. Have a nice day!

Siv Nilsen

Nice one! For points of improvement I think you can maybe define each plane more, I mean each shadow plane within each segment of the pear. Right now each segment is clearly defined but the shadow planes within them are blurred. Also I think it would help to use more straight lines :)

Justin

I like how you deconstructed the guava

Heorhii Kuchinov

Hey everyone:) I'm new in drawing and here is first assigments before and after seen lesson

Ángel

Hello fellow artists! Tried to do something different and rendered this delicious yet mysterious looking watermelon 🍉

Chauncey Holder

Hello ^^ I am submitting the assingment, feedback and criticism is much appreciated!

ducsinhsn

Greetings, everyone! Here are my three pear drawings. I kindly request your critique on them.

ola_

Wow. I feel like I'm looking at progression drawings.(I'm a newbie sorry if some of my terminology is off) Did you do all of these during the same day? Pear 1 - You did a good job capturing the shape of the pear but it doesn't look three dimensional. I think its because of the shading. The shading did not gradually bleed into light to dark. You capture the shading better in the last two drawings pear 2 and pear 3. I also liked how your pair is off centered. It makes the composition of the drawing more interesting. Good luck on your art journey.

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Chad Allen

11d

Hey everyone! Here are my submissions for the simplification course. I can definitely improve on the quality and even application of my values and do a better job not creating extra values. My proportions from my lay in are also something that need work too but I would love to hear from anyone and receive some critiques, Thank you!

nickdrinks

11d

pkap

11d

Hi everyone, tried to do the exercise while learning to use the tablet and brushes in photoshop, any feedback are welcome !

pkap

10d

And today I tried the portrait... Any feedback are more than welcome, thanks everyone !

dayeni

12d

This is my attempt at the first pear. Feedback is appreciated.

omrii

11d

this is good

Xuân Phong II

12d

pls critique my drawing : D thank you

Simon Rodrigues

14d

All done on Clip Studio Paint. Was pretty challenging. Any feedback is appreciated.

Ángel

The pear looks so good!

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healthylittleheifer

14d

I’ve never drawn values as shapes. Let alone with edges. Was a fun assignment.

Canyon Braff

16d

This was my first Proko project! I have never drawn anything with strictly straight lines and hard edges, it was really fun and made me think of the subject in a totally different way.. anyways ~ if anyone happens to see this post it would mean so much to receive some critique! Also, I would love to create some community and keep an eye on each others work, too! (this was done before watching Stan's demo)

Josh Fiddler

15d

Consider simplifying the front edge of that core shadow, making the larger 'bay' of grey into a lake of grey, rather. I can see an edge to in the reference just in front of it. The urge to push details for 'realism' is real, believe me but here, try to simplify the shapes.

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rory

15d

you did great! i personally would have softened up the left tip of the shadow but other than that it’s amazing

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Anu V

15d

Hi Canyon, am new here as well. I really like the detail on the shadow. I think your shading really hits the mark.

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Alan Callaghan

16d

Would appreciate feedback! Thank you!

rory

15d

i think the shadow’s angle should be a little shifted and the pear’s “neck” should be lightly curved, otherwise good job!

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Anu V

15d

Hi Alan, You figured out the 5 tones! Any tips on how you went about it?

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Canyon Braff

16d

this is really good! you seem to have a good understanding of planes, values and shapes of them. The thing I notice that could use some tweaking is the shadow could be in perspective more. rotated -45 degrees perhaps? notice the negative space.. examine the top left point of the pear (reference photo) and visualize a line from that point to the top of the shadow. in the reference that almost looks like a 90 degree angle, while in your study it seems a 45 degree. All that being said i think you're well on your way :)

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About instructor

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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.