Newbie needs help with spheres

**.Spooky** · August 31st, 2011, 02:16 AM

Hello, I've recently started to learn how to draw, specifically I've been using Loomis' book "Fun With A Pencil" because it was recommended to me. I don't know how much help anyone can be as I don't have any way to take pictures/scan, but any general tips that could help are welcomed.

Currently I'm learning how to give a circle more dimension by adding curved lines to help when drawing faces, I did well with two lines, but as soon as I start to add a third line it doesn't look like I'm giving the circle more depths, it just looks like I'm adding curved lines inside a circle.

If anyone could give some tips it would be helpful, I know it may be a bit difficult to understand what I'm talking about without seeing a visual.

**Saramel** · August 31st, 2011, 02:41 AM

There's really no way for you to take a picture or scan? Does your computer/lap top have a webcam? Do you go to school or work where there is a scanner? What about the library?

Without being able to see what your problem is, I guess I can only suggest that you reread the section on spheres, really try to understand what the curves that he draws on the sphere represent in three dimensional form, and then practice until your hand is doing what you visualize.

But, seriously, it's gonna be really really hard for people here to help you if you have no way of uploading your sketches/studies/WIPs - so you should maybe research the cheapest or free ways to do this.

**.Spooky** · August 31st, 2011, 02:45 AM

At the moment, no I have no way to show my work unfortunately. In a week or two I will be able to get a tablet for drawing and will be opening up a sketchbook here for criticism though.

**arenhaus** · August 31st, 2011, 04:33 AM

Continue sketching on paper. You won't need a tablet for a while; stick with real media until you're confident enough with a pencil to handle the tablet.

Instead of the tablet, buy a scanner.

**Charlie D** · August 31st, 2011, 06:34 AM

The lines you are drawing are position lines. They are used to help position the eyes,nose, ears from any viewpoint.

Just keep reading and doing the exercises imho.

**Kweckduck** · August 31st, 2011, 07:01 AM

I figure you can't see the 3D shape since you are just following instructions and don't really know where you are supposed to be headed or what it is done for.

To help you conceptualize the idea that loomis is trying to explain:
- draw a circle
- render the circle like a ball with light coming from upper left (this is THE most basic tutorial you can find and there should be plenty of them around)
- now draw that third curve loomis desribes. So basically you are drawing an elipse inside the circle you just rendered. I'm going for a head that is in 3/4 view and looking left, so put the elipse on the right side of the circle.
- now render that elipse with a monotone darker shade.

If everything went well you drew a ball with the side cut off just like Loomis intended you to. Now do it without the rendering.

**Strato** · August 31st, 2011, 10:45 AM

I'd suggest trying to inscribe the sphere within a cube. You don't have this problem with cubes, do you? If you can think of the cube in 3 dimensions, and place a sphere in it you'll probably have no problems visualizing the relationships between the axii and why you're placing the lines where you need them to be after that.

Also, your vocabulary reveals that you're really approaching this with the wrong mentality. If at all possible, ALWAYS think with 3d shapes and fundamentals. You're not "adding depth to a circle." You're drawing a sphere. Adding depth to a circle is an uhh..assbackwards way of doing it. Besides, if you try "adding depth" I'd imagine you'd wind up with a cylinder and not a sphere.

**vineris** · August 31st, 2011, 11:30 AM

You can also play around with actual spheres. Ping pong balls are pretty cheap and you can draw on them (I think you can use pencil but if you can't a sharpie should work) or put rubber bands on. Then you can see how the lines curve. You can also sometimes get transparent Christmas ornaments at the craft store which will let you see what's going on on the other side of the sphere.

**Elwell** · August 31st, 2011, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by .Spooky

At the moment, no I have no way to show my work unfortunately. In a week or two I will be able to get a tablet for drawing and will be opening up a sketchbook here for criticism though.

Your money would be better spent on a scanner, not a tablet. For stuff like this, even a crappy phone camera or webcam pic would do in a pinch.