Project - Simplify from Observation
Project - Simplify from Observation
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Project - Simplify from Observation

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Course In Progress

Project - Simplify from Observation

20K
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, so I can begin filming and producing the critique video.

Submit your assignments here
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Newest
Ryan
12h
Take 2, Pear 2, after watching the demo. Layering graphite to arrive at values is so obvious and yet... I had a harder time finding the discreet shapes with this pear, and again separating values or being left with hard outlines. But it's time to keep moving! Thanks to everyone who commented on Take 1 ☺️
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@beniema
This is the first attempt at an project like this before. I kinda realize now that it wasn't necessary to darken the contour lines but any other critique is welcome. Thanks in advance.
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Henrique Costa-Biana
Hey y'all! I really enjoyed this exercise. It was my first time drawing with the intent to simplify a picture. It kinda reminded me of vectorization/image tracing. I'm not sure if I nailed the shadow as it looks a little bit shorter than it should be. Also I tried to add more value to the shiny area on the left but it looks like it has the same value as the two shiny spots on the right (these have the value of the paper itself). Anyway, I didn't want to keep on doing touch ups otherwise I'd be working on this drawing forever! Haha Thx
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@fabled
Hey Henrique, beginner here as well, I'll tell you what I can spot: Yes cast shadow is a bit too short and perhaps the darkest shadow of the pear is a bit narrow, or too light? Keep up the good work!
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Sally
As I finish I notice that I got off track from the assignment in that I didn't simplify with straight lines. And, I must admit, I just couldn't find enthusiasm for the shirt, so I bailed early on that. I did rough it in with straight lines (which is less stressful, for sure) but I think I wandered from simplicity as I adjusted those lines and added values.
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@abswing
First attempt at the pear before getting to the demo. Don't think I'm quite grasping the correct values but it's exciting trying to figure out which parts should be dark / lighter.
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Ernesto Canas
Much harder than I thought . Isolating values into shapes is definitely challenging in a good way! Any feedback critique would be greatly appreciated.
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Ernesto Canas
Thank you Hanna , That is good advice . Now it's time for my second attempt after watching the tutorial.
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Hanna Looye
Well done! Your shadows are pretty spot on. Maybe not necessary to as many lights in the hair as you did. But definitely impressed by how you did the lips. Really great.
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Casey B
I used pear #2 for my simplified portrait. I did have some problems deciding what was the darkest sections of the pear.
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@calley1
Submitting my attempts with the first pear. The first photo has my two attempts before watching the demo. The second is my 3rd attempt after watching the demo.
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May Berry
My first attempt. Cherries were taken from a stock image. Had a bit of trouble deciphering between dark shadow and light shadow, so it felt like I had to guess a bit. Didn't feel ready for Lv. 2 as I'm not familiar with drawing faces, but I tried it anyway. It's scuffed but I will attempt a second time.
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@fabled
Hi guys, first attempt at both pics, with digital painting tools. I'd love some feedbacks, especially regarding values! And thanks in advance!
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Henrique Costa-Biana
I'm only going to comment on the pear since I'm a beginner. I think you did a great job with simplification and area distinguishing on the pear.
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Sparrow Pennington
My three attempts at the pear, the third one is after watching the demo. Have never really drawn before so a lot of this takes some getting used to. I'm excited to continue on and put my all into learning to draw so I can supplement my writing with art. :)
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Sparrow Pennington
Decided to do a fourth one for fun and see how a paint brush vs pencil would look doing this exercise :)
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Tyler Graves
Second try with pear number 3! Making myself post so I get in the habit of it!
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@marcemac
First attempt is the graphite one, second the one with no background and third one the one with background. I used the three provided photos in order. The first two were done before watching the demo, the last one after the demo. This project was fun, it was also the first time I drew digitally (clip studio paint) and I'm loving this program's brushes. After watching the critique video I found some improvement opportunities myself, but I'd love any critiques, even if just to confirm what I annotated. I know I used colour but it's the same shade of green in 4 different values, I just couldn't resist taking advantage of having exact colour choices with drawing digitally.
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Martha Muniz
Looks great! There is good improvement and self-correction between each step :) In the graphite one, the midtones do start to get a bit blurred together, so if you decide to return to traditional, it's something to keep an eye out for. In the second one, the shapes get a bit complex, but by the final pear, it's definitely on the right track. Overall good work!
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Eryn
First attempt at both the pear and portrait before watching the demos.
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@lucaslm
Hey, here's my first attempt to the pear assignment! I would appreciate any critiques :)
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Martha Muniz
Nice work :) I might just suggest bringing in the highlight seen at around the middle of the pear, where the pear's bottom curve starts. This can help bring in some more dimension and description to the pear's shape. I would also recommend removing the outline between group shapes, as this border can break up a bit of the 3D illusion.
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@jmhallah
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Martha Muniz
There's a good illusion of three-dimensionality. I think you can further push this by bringing in a clear scale of 5 values, as right now I can only really see 3 distinct value steps. It seems like the reference has more values in the shadow than the light (though it may be in part due to the camera, so cross reference with your first-hand observation) so a good breakup would be two values for the light--one for the main area of light and another for the brightest highlight--and three for the shadow side. You're definitely on the right track though, so you got this!
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Pierre Gds
Hi everyone. First try without any drawing experience and before watching the demo. I have to say I did not like the texture of the paper I used (Canson 160 gsm). I will probably try a new one after watching the demo and on a different paper. First step in that very long journey I guess. PS: yes I ran out of paper for the shadow... !
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Guillermo Andrés
Hi everyone!! 1st try (before watching the demo video), 2nd try (after the demo), and 3rd try (after watching the critique video). Any critique or comment would be appreciated.
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Tamir Bahar
The improvement from the first to the other two is really impressive! One thing I'd still try to work on is avoiding the outlines. They are still visible on the lighter parts of the pear in the 3rd drawing.
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Aaron Hayman
Second attempt at the pear.
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Mark Denny
My second attempt at a pear, and the first with pencil. Right now, for me, it feels a bit flat, and I don't get a sense of light cast. I also struggled to differentiate the 2 shades of the dark part of the shadow, and have some small, dark pointy shadows (along the upper left) that I don't find satisfying. Welcome to feedback!
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Tamir Bahar
I like the way the pear looks. It does seem a bit flat (as opposed to rouneded), but it clearly is standing on a plane and has shadow. As for the shades - the dark shadow and light shadow seem clearly separated to me. But then the dark half-tone is almost the same value as the light-shadow. I'd work on separating those. Maybe draw the values you're aiming for side-by-side on the page, as squares, to see the gradation and work on that a bit? I'd also try doing without the outlines, as they create false separation between values. One last thing - I don't know if it's the picture or the page, but the page looks kinda dark. If it's not white paper, I highly recommend drawing on white. I tried drawing on toned paper, and it's so much harder to get the values right!
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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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