Project - Learning to Sketch from Observation

15K
Course In Progress

Project - Learning to Sketch from Observation

15K
Course In Progress

Use the three reference images of clean line drawings and sketch them using simple loose lines. Don't try to match the cleanliness of these drawings. Instead, sketch them out with energetic, tapered strokes. Don't hesitate. Just practice moving your arm with confidence. If you draw some lines and then you realize that, Oh, shoot, I need to curve that more. Go ahead and just draw the new curve right over it. As you get more confident that you've found the shape, you can darken those lines and the lighter lines start to disappear. Focus on the big idea and the shapes the lines represent, rather than on each individual line. 

For you, Level 2 monster trucks, I want you to start with this Level 1 project as a warmup, and then head over to the Learning to Sketch from Imagination project page for your instructions.

If you'd like to have a chance to be included in the upcoming critique videos, you must submit your drawings below by March 9th 2023

Good luck and please have some fun!

Newest
@mallowmarsh
the arm took a while😅
Osiris
4d
These are my attempts:
William
5d
Very happy, though I feel that I need to be better about not doing scratch marks and searching too many times.
Kzip
6d
Still pretty happy with this fledgling attempts. Excited to learn more and improve.
Jacob Granillo
Good job Kzip!
Stevie Yaas
Hello, posting my attempts at the drawing from observation projects. I had a lot of fun with these. I struggled most with the VR Girl but I think they all turned out okay. Proportions are still off and the spider arm looks a bit broken. Looking for some feedback. I am not very experienced in drawing but I will still give the sketching from imagination a shot.
@daivd
7d
There was an attempt.
Melanie Scearce
A great attempt!
Shane Cruise
Im not sure how far I was supposed to move past the sketch phase, so I stopped. Criticism is welcome.
Disha
7d
I am pretty happy with how this turned out. I feel i need to practice how to lighten my strokes when needed. Would love to hear your views. Thanks!
Disha
7d
Spidey Hands
Brad Hewitt
Feel good about all 3 but my hand cramps up pretty bad after the second sketch….
Patrick Bosworth
Hey there, Brad! How are you holding your pencil when your hand cramps? Traditional "tripod" writing grip, or overhand? Looks like you might be trying both based on your lines? You might want to try warming up before you get started drawing to loosen up your hand. Starting a drawing session with a page of warmup Mario Mushrooms, ghosting them in as lightly as you can to start, will help you get a feel for drawing with a lighter touch. Also taking breaks to stretch your hands and get the blood flowing in your fingers is a good idea if you're drawing for a while. Here's a link to the Mario Mushroom wamup, and a few lessons covering how to hold the pencil. https://www.proko.com/course-lesson/warmup-mushrooms/assignmentshttps://www.proko.com/course-lesson/ultimate-guide-to-pencils-and-erasers/noteshttps://www.proko.com/course-lesson/how-to-hold-and-control-your-pencil/assignments
Andrew Kovachik
Another pretty fun project :) I think the project difficulty is progressing nicely where there are parts in all the drawings where I can feel myself struggling but then other parts of the drawing that I feel confident in. Oddly the drawing which was most cartoonish, the robot singer thing, was the one I felt by far the least comfortable with. The penguin felt the most comfortable and was probably the point I was getting towards feeling like the lines were somewhat loose and searching. My final guess before looking at Stan's is that there are probably still way to detail focused. I could kind of see from the thumbnail what I think he was expecting which looks like much mofocused on the big arcs and shapes. But I think at the moment adding some of the smaller details helped me under stand the larger shapes better.
Jacob Granillo
Well done with the drawings! And especially a very good observation with the shapes.
Brian
8d
I tend to go slow and try to get things “perfect”, so I tried to do these quickly without worrying as much about mistakes. Spent around 15 minutes on each one.
Kzip
9d
Hahaha Wow, hands are hard. Repost - I fixed the thumb. Pinky side is still a be wonky.
Jake Guillereault
This is before the demo, I feel impressed with this. I sketched it out loosely than darkened the lines
Madelyn Henning
This one was more difficult. Just more going on! After taking a peep at the thumbnail for this exercise, I wonder if I’m using big enough strokes. Feedback welcome!
Madelyn Henning
Also seeing on the side by side that the ring proportion is quite a bit off 🥴
Madelyn Henning
I can see some differences when side by side with the reference. Excited to try a different image. I notice that I sketch out pretty hard to begin with so I will work on using lighter strokes. Feedback welcome!
Jake Guillereault
Before the demo
Kzip
10d
I am pretty okay with this little guy. I know I was moving my whole arm cause my shoulder is tired. haha And I could definitely tell when I did 't move my arm, the sketching tightened up. He's a but shorter and squatter than the original, but that's just lack of confidence in longer lines.
Stephen Clark
This is a pretty solid one for an early project! While you're right that the dude is a little shorter than the reference, it still feels pretty good! Reading your post with it, I think you know that some proportion work and line quality practice would be a good idea. But you're doing really well here and in the others you posted recently, Kzip! I look forward to seeing you post some more and you work through the lessons 💪
@bjuarez7_1
I’m pleased with the result but watching the demo afterward made me realize I should’ve used more “big” lines and used more shapes before details. Good lesson.
@linetime
11d
Did second penguin after watching demo/critique. Feel like I need to loosen up a bit more. I really like the more sketchy look and don’t really think mine have that.
Oliver Wan
13d
I feel like I did a lot better on the penguin than on the other two. Even though I also struggled a bit with the penguins feet. But still overall pretty enjoyable.
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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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