Project - Simplify to CSI

24K
Course In Progress

Project - Simplify to CSI

24K
Course In Progress

Download the photo reference images and try to simplify them using CSI lines. Draw each line with a focused and intentional path.

Your pace should be quick, but not rushed.

For this exercise, we will just consider the individual segments of the contour of a shape.

Same instructions for level one and two. Just a difference in difficulty of reference. The level two photos have more fun little tidbits to tempt you to get into the details, but fight the urge and simplify.

Also, no shading in these please. This is not meant to be a portfolio piece.

CSI
C = C Curves
S = S Curves
I = Straights

If you'd like to have a chance to be included in the upcoming critique videos, you must submit your drawings below by February 16th

Newest
Abitha J
3h
This was my first attempt before watching the demo. After the demo, I realized I had made my shapes too complicated in skeleton.
@jungy
7h
Was feeling proud of the shape of the boots, and then it came time to put those laces in the right place and everything started to fall apart. May have made a few shapes that weren't just Cs and Ss.
Petra-Kate Huff
I did drawings and then watched the demo. I think I put in too much detail. Ooops. Simplify is the idea Petra! ARGH!! I learned a lot though and that is what counts. I don’t think I will redo these but may follow the suggestion to find other objects to practice simplifying to C S L.
Johan de Jong
Did I miss the assignment again? I find it so hard not to get distracted...
@great399
Please I need some critiques, I have problem with proportions
Petra-Kate Huff
The boot and snail look really good. In the demo, the instructor states not to worry about proportions too much. He also gave the tip to draw big container shapes to help with placement and proportion. I think you did a very good job on these.
Terry D
3d
I had a hard time with the laces. the slug was much easier to simply for me
Rachel Dawn Owens
Looks like you’re getting it. These drawing look pretty clean. You could probably loosen up more. Use longer, lighter lines to start and carve in smaller shapes as you go.
Denina J
3d
Had a rough time, but this was fun. Might try again after seeing the demo.
Petra-Kate Huff
When watching the demo, you will see the instructor mess up the laces on the boot to the viewer’s left. He states it and keeps going. It made me feel like I could give myself a little grace. I think you did a good job on these.
Rachel Dawn Owens
Here’s another demo to help you along your way. It looks like you’re getting in the swing of it though. Keep stretching out your lines more.
Antone Gonzalez
Nice to see my progression. Focusing more on purposeful line placement and less on proportion helped me.
Melanie Scearce
You’re getting it! Keep going!
@pierreyves
Hello here my assignment I am terrible at proportion and the beginning of my drawings is completely disproportionate to the end. Any tips to improve will be welcome. Have a nice day
Melanie Scearce
These are not terrible in terms of proportion even remotely! The boots look especially awesome. Many students find the boots to be the most difficult to work through. If you’re finding that you’re not happy with the placement of your lines by the end of your drawing, you may need to slow down in the beginning phase. Try to keep yourself from darkening your lines until you feel good about the proportions. It will take concious effort at first to hold yourself back and keep your lines light, but doing so will help you avoid getting to the end of a drawing and realizing that the foundation isn’t correct. Also, try not to get distracted by the small details too early. That can sometimes lead to disproportionate drawings, especially when you render something to your liking and realize that it’s in the wrong place. Work simple to complex. The details should be the last 10% of the drawing.
Tony Zhang
Glad I did this! But maybe I should try a different brush.
C3
3d
Nice tapered strokes
Jacob Granillo
Wow, very cool Tony!
Lau Dabo
6d
Assignment done! what do you think? :)
Melanie Scearce
Absolutely perfect! You may have gotten a bit too much into the detail in the skull drawing but you still used your CSI lines. Nicely done 👍
@syeaple
6d
simplify to csi - haven,t watched the demo yet, but I have a feeling I didn’t “simplify” as assigned.
@benwilhelm
Really struggled to go at a reasonably quick pace on these boots. I always wanted to slow down and measure where every line is relative to the lines around and nearby and on the opposite side of the boot, etc.
Katerina Waddoups
Had a lot of fun with this, the camel was my favorite to do! the shoelaces made me hate myself a little but I still had fun :)
Eryk Świątek
Somehow it worked out :D
RB CG
9d
these shoelaces....
Aniciaga
11d
definitely treated this one more like a quick sketching session without going into details, but at the same time tried to simplify it as much as I could. I felt like if I spent too much time on it my curves would be less confident? And I avoided the eraser too
Melanie Scearce
It sounds like you struck a good balance in your pace for this exercise. Not working too slow where you start getting too precious about your lines, and not too quickly that you get ahead of your thoughts. The result looks great, nice work!
Dondon
12d
It is quite difficult because there are many details, and I don’t know where to use c, s, i to draw. However, it provided me with a useful way to observe objects.
Melanie Scearce
These are perfect! Nicely done 👍
@linetime
17d
Thought I’d give the level 2 a shot. Got a bit more sketchy with the skull than the camel. Going for drawing from imagination next and really gonna try and work on loosing up.
Daniel Oliveira
I don't really know what level I am at, so I did all of the assignments. I haven't watched the demos for these assignments, just the turtle one, so I am going to watch it now and understand what I did wrong. Honestly, the boots were a lot harder than the rest for me, not sure how that's level 1, so I am a bit worried I made it too much complicated and missed the point of these assignments, but let me know what you think. Extra question: How am I supposed to take a good picture of this? I used natural light, but I wonder if that's just how a simple drawing like this gets on camera.
Melanie Scearce
I think these images look good. If you're using a phone camera, you could maybe mess with the adjustments a bit to reduce the highlights or shadows, but I don't think it's really necessary if it is a hassle. It's easy to see your drawings in these images. You did great with this assignment! The boots look awesome. It's a common sentiment amongst students to find them difficult because of the laces, but you make great choices while simplifying. I don't think they look too complicated, other than the detail of the leather. Out of all 4 of these drawings, I think you could have simplified the skeleton a bit more, particularly in the spine, which is where your lines are a bit hairy and less confident. Overall, great job, and kudos for doing levels 1 & 2!
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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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