From Observation to Imagination Using Perspective (Due Jan. 19)

[Seedling]

Sorry I've been away!

This week I’m going to draw from one of the Perspective 101 assignments: Drawing from Observation Using Perspective. Of all the assignments in the Perspective 101 thread, this one is the most important, because this is what connects that strange abstract world of vanishing points and rectangular solids with what we’re all really here for: drawing actual pictures of things.

But I’ll add a little more to the assignment to make it more fun. I would like to see four drawings:

1. Select a rectangular object from the stuff you’ve got around you. If you don’t yet have much experience with perspective, than make it a simple object, such as a shoe-box, or a box of chocolates. For those of you ready for more challenge, try a piece of furniture, or something more complex. Sketch this object, loosely and lightly, from observation.

2. Sketch the same object from the same vantage point for a second time, again, lightly and loosely. Then, using a straight-edge and perspective, correct the drawing. You should end up with a pair of drawings similar to the drawing of a cardboard box that I have attached.

3. And now the fun part. . . envision a fantasy or sci-fi box of similar size, shape, and position to what you have drawn. It could be an iron-banded treasure-chest, or the cigar box of a space pirate, or a Personal Companion Cube – whatever you like. Sketch the object, lightly and loosely, from imagination.

4. And now use that straight-edge again, along with perspective, to tidy up the drawing.

While it might be possible to do all four of these drawings on one sheet of paper, I recommend giving yourself plenty of room, especially on the two drawings that require perspective. Don’t worry about making a pretty composition. (Pretty compositions would be the next step after learning this stuff.) Instead, draw the object rather small, and right smack in the center of a piece of paper, so that you will have room for as many of the vanishing points to fall on the paper as possible.

Are you ready? Go go go!

[chaosrocks]

omg we're back to that bloody chair!
HEHEHEE
CRX

[Asatira]

Hmm. Sounds fun and challenging. I need to do this one because I'm reluctant to use an aid *coughrulercough* when doing drawings from observations. If it goes anything like the last perspection assignment, a straight edge is going to help alot.

[ElementalMist]

I always need practice with perspective drawings, this is great.

[Seedling]

I look forward to seeing what you guys do with this!

[supermonchi]

Here's my entry this week: organiser stack-on boxes morphed into boring control desk and a BBQ (sorry can't help it :), as well as other ideas like vehicle, balcony and rows of seats that aren't all that relevant but oh well ..
I like drawing perspective :)

[deep_in_food]

hm mainly you look at the object first before you actually draw the grid for prespective. It appears to me that the whatever thingy on the right bottom corner of the drawing is a bit off, unless the object isn't rectangular in shape.

Just wonder if you guys drew stuff from top view

[Asatira]

supermonchi: Congrats on first image post. I think you did a good job with the first set. The straight edge helped a lot, helps give it a cleaner look. Ditto with the center barbeque images. I really like the theater seats.

[Seedling]

Nice job Supermonchi! Why don't you do some more revisions on those fun vehicles? Nothing has to be boring! Slap some nice gooey burgers on the BBQ for instance. . .

[supermonchi]

Thanks guys. Yeah I ran out of space so I drew everything from the same 2 vanishing points, when I really should have moved them over to keep everything the same perspective - which is why the control desk on the bottom left looks way different. Well it is different from my original freehand sketch, I changed my mind halfway drawing it .. like I always do ..

Here's another drawing for the part 3 and 4 of this week's assignment based on my original stack-on organiser boxes - a tank!
I tried to keep it somewhat in-line to my original item the stack-on organiser boxes with some additional tank photos for loose reference, though I changed the perspective a little compared to the boxes. I preferred this looking-up perspective to make the tank look tankier lolz

Got a bit carried away with the details, even bothered to do some shading with a marker ..

[D-Holme]

Got back into practicing this week.

I started with a piano stool but it rapidly (and wonkily) went down hill so I finished off with a much simpler radio (which really was just a box) so I tried to make is a bit more interesting for the imagined version. I feel that I should have stuck to the complex work and tried to learn/practice more. Ironically the straight edge version seems to have come out worse, might have been a bit too small to work nicely.

Tried to bring the shape out a bit but putting some colour down on it - discoloured line down the centre is where I had to join two scans.

[Seedling]

Supermonchi – that’s terrific! Ha! That’s a wonderful leap pf imagination from a box to a tank, and you did it well.

Looks like circles in perspective and spheres are an area that you might want to focus on next. That, or try pushing the shading farther.

D-Holme – Sounds like you already have a sharp eye for spotting your drawing’s weak spots. That’ll serve you well. Is that variant-on-a-radio a brain-in-a-jar? If so, I’m awful curious if the brain is a radio, or a data storage unit, or if it’s just a box for transporting live brains!

You also might want to spend some time practicing drawing circles in perspective. (Heck, I should do that as well.)



Sorry I’m so short on comments this week. You guys have done good work.

[D-Holme]

Thanks for the feedback - I'll look into the circles section of the perspective 101.

Not sure about the function of the sci-fi box, it was sort of going for a multi-purpose transport and monitoring container and perhaps the content is a brain - a strange green monstrous brain.