Project - Simplify to CSI
Project - Simplify to CSI
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Project - Simplify to CSI
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Patrick Bosworth
I got a little too precious with the boots once I tried to simplify the laces.
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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level-1-boots.jpg
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level-1-snail.jpg
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level-2-camel.jpg
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level-2-captain-skull.jpg
4 MB
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project-simplify-to-csi.mp4
147 MB
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project-simplify-to-csi-transcript-english.txt
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project-simplify-to-csi-transcript-spanish.txt
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project-simplify-to-csi-captions-english.srt
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project-simplify-to-csi-captions-spanish.srt
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ASSIGNMENTS

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. 

Chris McGill
Chris McGill
Watching the critiques, def needed to stick more to C and S and straight, and cleaner lines
@tpeaslee
Gave all 4 a shot, had some fun. Did the snail before watching any critiques - easy peasy. Went on to the boots and got about halfway before getting confused and frustrated by the laces. After watching Stan's demo on the boots, I had a much easier time understanding the approach to drawing through forms and blocking out proportions with straight shapes. Skull and camel felt easier after that. Happy with the results, but definitely see some large proportion errors in each of the drawings.
@grlpatch666
Tried the assignment with pencil this time. Haha
miguel hernandez
first try, i think i have problem with proportion and accuracy... i can't really do straigth lines or curve lines with the whole arm. And i got impatient with the details
Kevin
•
2d
These are the three drawings that I was able to do for the assignment. I had the most trouble with Snail. I think I might be the happiest with the pair of shoes. I do think I went into this more of copying the image rather than simplifying.
@pushchair180
I did these over the course of a few days about a month ago. Maybe I could do with committing to a single line instead of drawing a few over each other... I feel that I did better in that regard with the level 2 drawings. For the skeleton image I did the skull and hat first, then decided I might as well get some practice with observational drawing and went ahead and drew the rest less simply.
Camille Varner Kolafa
These are great! I would actually not recommend committing to single lines, because with this project is meant to practice sketching with confidence, so we are practicing loose, energetic, tapered strokes with CSI lines. If you commit to a single line, it might make things appear too stiff and hesitant.
Blase.tattoos
My assignments, done in Procreate
Fiona Parker
Finally attempted the boots I was very intimidated by them at first and they took a while but I am mostly happy with this attempt! Any advice is very appreciated!
Fiona Parker
Attempt 1 here I’m not feeling great about it but I’m not really sure what is off about it, critique very welcome
Camille Varner Kolafa
I think the main problem is you kept your lines very uniform and like "one" line. It looks like you were focused too much on keeping it neat and clean. Don't worry about that too much! With this project, we're meant to practice keeping our sketches loose and energetic with tapered strokes that utilize CSI lines.
@georgeg
•
4d
Tough challenge
Brian Durán
This challenge was quite tough, especially the boots.
@uncannievalley
I tried the snail more than once on three different days. I think by the third time I started to understand how to simplify. I tried the boots with the first snail attempt and definitely got too caught up in the details. After feeling like I was really getting it on the snail the third attempt, I gave the skull and camel a go, and despite having to erase a few times because my proportions/spacing would go a bit off, I felt really good and much more confident attempting them
Ben K
•
6d
You've got clear growth throughout your attempts! The first try is always gonna be a bit weird as you're comprehending something new, keep it up!
Jay C
•
12d
This one was a quite tough challenge.
Jill Bascome
Robert Kinsey
I feel like I really struggled with simplifying and deciding where to put lines. Also, I know we weren't supposed to add shading, but I felt compelled because it seemed like my drawing would be unrecognizable without it. Any feedback is appreaciated.
Matteo Santagata
Couldn’t finish properly the skull :D next stop, 14 days challenge
Camille Varner Kolafa
Nice job, your skeleton has a great start, you should revisit it when you can :)
Sekar Bhavani
Hi, I had been very busy and so never got to do it in a timely fashion. Just Completed it and am uploading it today. Welcome any constructive criticism.
Ben K
•
13d
Nice work! I think you could go even simpler on these, and focus solely on the lines, instead of the details of texture or shading. Keep up the great work!
Simon Bley
•
14d
First decent attempt at the snail. Had a lot of trouble figuring out the correct proportions. Either I drew the house too large, or the snail became really fat. Also the angle of the snail's body on the left gave me issues.
Ben K
•
13d
Nice work! Your lines look clean and you utilized CSI lines really well! For proportions, using the envelope method of sketching out a shape to contain your drawing's subject before starting might be helpful in the future! Keep it up! :)
Mariya Lilith
Next attempt with skull.
@kindacolourblind
Really liked this exercise, because it forced me to focus to simplifying The boots were difficult though.
bliggi
•
18d
You can really see the jump between the first and second try
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