Week One & Two: 1-Point, 2-Point, & Atmospheric Perspective

Whew! Everyone got through a couple weeks of drawing in perspective--without rulers! We got into working with different pencil leads and experimenting with drawing objects from different views. We've got a great group of advanced sketchers, so we'll be exploring lots of cool stuff in the coming weeks.



I think the drawing by Zach (above left) depicts everyone's feeling about the perspective drawing lessons. Check out Zach's new drawings and Arianna's stylin' stapler in eXpReSsiOn sEsSiOn. Click here or on Nick's 'music' drawing in the right column to view new student work.

This Week's Challenge is sUrReAL!: Everyone has put a bunch of awesome drawings together during the last 2 weeks. So.... this week, go for a fun surrealist or cubist drawing using what you've learned so far: lines, shapes, 3D form, textures, different gray values, and perspective. Draw totally from your imagination, or from pictures, or real life. It can be abstract 3D objects or a still life. Twist and distort your objects, make the perspective go in crazy directions. Keep it in gray tones with regular pencils and graphite. (Don't worry, we'll be getting into colored pencils in the not-too-distant future.)

For examples of surrealist and cubist artwork to give you ideas, click here.

Ciao! --Rob

Natalie

Amazingly fantastic drawings, Natalie!!! You nailed the lessons with strong skills and a powerful imagination. Your keen eye helped you sail through the lessons on perspective: parallel vertical lines, correctly angled guidelines to the vanishing points, correct angles of perspective from different viewpoints. And the proportions and contour edges in your drawing of the dragonfly are very well drawn!





This Week's Challenge is sUrReAL!: You've put a bunch of awesome drawings together during the last 2 weeks. So.... this week, go for a fun surrealist or cubist drawing using what you've learned so far: lines, shapes, 3D form, textures, different gray values, and perspective. Draw totally from your imagination, or from pictures, or real life. It can be abstract 3D objects or a still life. Twist and distort your objects, make the perspective go in crazy directions.

For examples of surrealist and cubist artwork to give you ideas, click here.

Zach T

You put some serious effort into learning perspective drawing, but it was well worth your time, Zach! These drawings are stellar! Excellent work in keeping the vertical lines parallel and correct angles to the vanishing points--drawing the street scene was a bit tricky without rulers :-) I like the gray tones added to your composition of books and the composition you set up. The different tonal values in your atmospheric perspective lesson are well drawn, especially the lightest gray used for the clouds in the distance.



This Week's Challenge is sUrReAL!: You've put a bunch of awesome drawings together during the last 2 weeks. So.... this week, go for a fun surrealist or cubist drawing using what you've learned so far: lines, shapes, 3D form, textures, different gray values, and perspective. Draw totally from your imagination, or from pictures, or real life. It can be abstract 3D objects or a still life. Twist and distort your objects, make the perspective go in crazy directions.

For examples of surrealist and cubist artwork to give you ideas, click here.

Nick

You're off to a great start in perspective drawing, Nick!! Cool how your imagination went right to work in the 2-point perspective lesson; the prison scene was a great way to show your skills in drawing 3D form, parallel vertical lines, correct angles to the vanishing points, and shading. Excellent job of drawing the perspective of the tower and the angled lines for the razor wire fence. I really like how you experimented with loosely sketched lines and different pencil leads in your atmospheric perspective drawing. And you pulled off some really cool 'challenge' sketches, man!



This Week's Challenge is sUrReAL!: You've put a bunch of awesome drawings together during the last 2 weeks. So.... this week, go for a fun surrealist or cubist drawing using what you've learned so far: lines, shapes, 3D form, textures, different gray values, and perspective. Draw totally from your imagination, or from pictures, or real life. It can be abstract 3D objects or a still life. Twist and distort your objects, make the perspective go in crazy directions.

For examples of surrealist and cubist artwork to give you ideas, click here.

Matt

Took a little while for you to get into the zone, but you put together some EXCELLENT perspective drawings!! Your imagination kicked in about halfway through the 2-point lesson and produced VERY provocative composition, Space Shuttle and all! Great job of keeping correct perspective on spacecraft and buildings. The gray tonal values of your atmospheric perspective sketch are well drawn, especially where the tones get lighter towards the bottom of each section. The cast shadow under the books in your 'challenge' sketch does a great job of bringing the viewer into the composition. You really have a knack for creating interesting compositions, Matt!

Arianna

Your composition, showing lighter tones for the hills in the distance is REALLY well drawn, Arianna! Cool how you used different pencil leads to create atmospheric perspective. You've got Van Gogh-like impressionistic look going on with the clouds--really cool! Great start with both 1 and 2-point perspective. Overall, your angles of perspective are correct. Check to make sure your vertical lines are parallel to each other, and the guidelines of the windows are angled correctly. I can help you out with that, if you'd like. I really like the flying saucer and iPod in your 1-point perspective sketch. Very imaginative 3D product sketch. ;)


This Week's Challenge is sUrReAL!: You've put a bunch of awesome drawings together during the last 2 weeks. So.... this week, go for a fun surrealist or cubist drawing using what you've learned so far: lines, shapes, 3D form, textures, different gray values, and perspective. Draw totally from your imagination, or from pictures, or real life. It can be abstract 3D objects or a still life. Twist and distort your objects, make the perspective go in crazy directions.

For examples of surrealist and cubist artwork to give you ideas, click here.

Kris

Great to have you contribute to the Sketchers, Kris! You've got a good eye for proportions (the sizes of shapes compared to other shapes) and lots of control of your line work. You did a great job of drawing the contour lines showing the edges that form the glue gun. Cool sketch of the classroom. Check to see if the legs of the table are drawn in correct perspective. I can give you some tips on that.


This Week's Challenge is sUrReAL!: You've put a bunch of awesome drawings together during the last 2 weeks. So.... this week, go for a fun surrealist or cubist drawing using what you've learned so far: lines, shapes, 3D form, textures, different gray values, and perspective. Draw totally from your imagination, or from pictures, or real life. It can be abstract 3D objects or a still life. Twist and distort your objects, make the perspective go in crazy directions.

For examples of surrealist and cubist artwork to give you ideas, click here.

Our Teachers

Patty


A huge, resounding Whoa!! Your drawing hand is back in tip-top condition, Patty! And your eye for perspective is spot-on. Excellent use of different tonal values to show dramatic 3-dimensional form. Cities floating in space? Avatar had a big impact on you, eh? ;) Simply, all-around skillful perspective compositions. The doors of the Rialto may be drawn out of perspective. If you've got a minute I can help you with that.

Reference Pictures: Surrealism, Cubism

Surrealism

Salvador Dali 1931


Joan Miro 1937


Cubism

Pablo Picasso 1921


Georges Braque 1913