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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.
LESSON NOTES
This exercise will help you avoid chicken scratch. Instead of uncertain pecking at the paper. We're going to draw each line with a focused and intentional path. Remember to draw from your shoulder, elbow and wrist. Avoid the fingers. When I tell you guys to simplify your lines, I'm usually referring to three types of lines, two curves and one straight.
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DOWNLOADS
project-simplify-to-csi.mp4
147 MB
project-simplify-to-csi-transcript-english.txt
4 kB
project-simplify-to-csi-transcript-spanish.txt
5 kB
project-simplify-to-csi-captions-english.srt
7 kB
project-simplify-to-csi-captions-spanish.srt
7 kB
ASSIGNMENTS![]()
![@juliapicturebooks]()
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![@frat14]()
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![@owo]()
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![J W]()
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![Camille Varner Kolafa]()
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![@yoshyato]()
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![@nlindberg]()
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![Ben Kraske]()
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![@jaygood93]()
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![Jerome Tan]()
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![Andriy Nykolyn]()
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![Camille Varner Kolafa]()
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![Johannah Howell]()
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![Johannah Howell]()
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![Will B]()
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![Camille Varner Kolafa]()
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![@creachur1]()
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![Melanie Scearce]()
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![@sophialia]()
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![Camille Varner Kolafa]()
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![Maddie Gray]()
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![Leoni Bomfim]()
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![Camille Varner Kolafa]()
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.
I found it really challenging, and I’m afraid I lost patience by the time I got to the laces.
These are my first attempts at Level 1. I tried simplifying using CSI, but I’m not really happy with the result. Do you have any suggestions for improvement? Thanks.
I feel I might have went too simplified with the snail and too detailed with the boots. The laces were a pain to do.
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1d
Looks like you might be paying attention to details a bit more than the lines that make up the objects. For example, in the boots, you've started to draw in the edge/lip of the fabric there along the sides where the eyelets go. Easier said than done, but try looking at just the edges of the major shapes in the references. That might help with knowing where to simplify with the CSI lines. You've got a good start overall!
First, the snail. I have quickly discovered I have have little confidence in linework, whch in turn creates some weird porportions. Can't wait to gain some confidence. Boots next!
This was tough for me, I started off simplifying but I couldn't see the full picture until I added some details
•
22h
It takes some getting used to! Keep practicing, it will help to really take your time and understand the lines you need to represent your subject, and which ones can be done away with when you're simplifying the lines. Imagine it sort of like the linework of a picture in a coloring book. The lines are usually simple, but it's still easy to see what the picture is. Keep up the good work! :)
Really tried to focus on doing the simplification steps we have went through only and keeping the perspective accurate
The snail was manageable, but the boots were so overwhelming. Didn't know where to start and procrastinated quite a lot.
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5d
Good job on this! Careful not to focus on shading or detail yet (notably in the snail), just prioritize those CSI lines!
I reworked the laces. I need to learn to simplify. I feel so compelled to put in as many details as I can and that gets in the way of simplifying. I do think that being able to successfully simplify a scene is a critical skill to develop.
It’s amazing to me how much more I got to know what a snail and its shell really look like by studying the photograph. The latest Smithsonian Magazine edition has a great article on how mollusks build their shells. Fascinating.
I welcome any comments/ critiques.
This was good practice. S-curves don't come very naturally, but I will work on them. I still find myself sketching very lightly. The results are darker in person than in the photo.
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5d
Good work! I find the S-curves tricky too, but I think you nailed it :)
i found it SUPER useful to break stuff down from boxes -> straight lines -> curves for proportions but my brain just kinda breaks whenever it comes to a lot of perspective stuff, especially anything rounded... my hand just can't do it!!
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5d
That's okay! The course has a lot of things to teach you before you really get into perspective. Don't sweat it at this point. The main thing to focus on right now is intentionally simplify each line as a C curve, S curve, or straight line. You did a good job of this overall- there's a few areas like the one you marked as not confident on the camel where it's a bit complex and could be simplified a bit more, but it seems like you've already identified that! Keep that up as a good habit as you continue on.
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5d
You did a great job of really focusing on the usage of the CSI! It looks like you didn't get caught up too much in details which can be hard to avoid, especially with the boots. Next time maybe you could try loosening up a little bit more, trying to draw with your shoulder and elbow instead of just your wrist. It'll help get some flow in there :)
Found this to be really tricky, particularly the boots and the footbed part of the them. Open to any and all feedback
I realized that in a small sketchbook it's really hard to use big motions with elbows and shoulders, so most of my lines were drawn with my wrist and fingers..
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8d
I think these still look great even if you were restricted! Good job utilizing the CSI :)
