After coming on this forum its clear I need to up my game, So these are the first set of proper sketches ive done since.
I still think i need to be more fluid with my sketching, need to learn how to render with marker properly aswell…I think some good DVD’s and books will help me undertand the techniques, then its just practice.
So…be harsh…even print the linework and render it yourself if you like, be nice to see what other people can do with my work?
I’m by no means a professional, but I’ll try to offer what advice I can. The first thing I noticed about your sketches was the perspective. Remember that parallel lines are supposed to converging to a singular vanishing point. Also, work on your ellipses, they are jagged and should be more continuous. Remember basic line weight rules. For example, your internal and external lines/details should show a little more variation. Try to vary those for a more dynamic sketch. I recommend the following DVD’s. They are very expensive but worth every single penny. They helped me out a ton:
I was a fairly poor sketcher until recently(within the past year) when I finally noticed some real improvement. The key is to not discouraged and keep posting your work. The designers on this forum are talented and will do the best they can to help you out. When you get some free time, just sketch out cubes in one and two point perspective, as well as ellipses and lines. Build up to cones and cylinders, and when you have those down, start putting them together to form more complex shapes. Focus on your line quality and perspective. Once you have that down, you’ll have plenty of time for markers and photoshop. Good start. Keep working.
Just looking at the front on view - it’s supposed to be a circle, correct?
When you saw that it clearly WASN’T a circle did you think it’d be better to leave it? Or to redraw it/use a template to clean it up.
So much improvement can be made just by critiquing and self correcting your own work. Don’t be afraid to do overlays or do the same drawing 3 times over.
With the amount of stuff on this page you should be able to crank out this drawing 5 seperate times in an hour. Do that as an exercise and then see if you’re actually improving.
So much of drawing is about muscle memory. Practice drawing sheets and sheets of ellipses and circles, and don’t be afraid to go over it again to clean it up.
Are you an actual ID student? You mention books/DVD’s, but aren’t you taking studio drawing classes?
I suggest:
Put the markers down, pick up a prismacolor or pencil and stick to sketching until you’re ready to move on to rendering, or the use of drawing aids.
Master still-life sketching before you try and draw whats in your head. Then move on to simple imaginary still lifes involving basic forms: cubes, cylinders, spheres, cones, pyramids.
Are you an actual ID student? You mention books/DVD’s, but aren’t you taking studio drawing classes?
His coroflot profile says he’s a third year student…
I think he knows he’s behind in drawing, like cg said, start with pencils / pens, overlay, practice, draw still life, use drawing aids, start with cubes, cylinders, spheres, cones. Use perspective grids, and as you begin to “see” the perspective (with time) you can stop drawing those perspective lines. Practice shading, with pencils.
I’m surprised you didn’t learn any of this in school? Did you not have to take drawing classes?
Once you can draw, then you can use markers.
I look forward to seeing your next sketches! post 'em up.
Tupperware-
Good for you to ask for the help. That is the hardest step for many students. Here is my 2c. I have taken a quick crack showing a few stages to attack this from. #1 - Layout (there needs to be a focal point to the rendering and a visual order of importance. #2 - quick overlay and re-order of the layout #3 - a crappy 5 min attempt at tightening up the sketch.
If I were doing this I would take the loose sketch #2 into 3d and bang it out there. That is just the way I like to work.
I hope this helps a little bit. Keep the questions coming.
c2c
very helpful overlay of a more cohesive layout and perspective. i would personally, however not go into 3d. you sketching needs work as you acknowledge and relying on 3d as a crutch won’t help improve it.
just keep practicing you linework, perspective, proportion, and it will come. also second the comment not to worry about rendering before the sketching is solid.
best of luck. keep it up and good to see more students soliciting help/opinions to improve!
I’ve just finished my 2nd year and am going into 3rd
the drawing classes we took were only in the 1st year and werent really that strict. they were more about getting what you had down on paper. they used grids, underlays and the like, but i just wanted to do them without the aids. it’s now clear i need the all the help i can get.
i reckon if i asked one of my tutors for a little extra help they wouldnt say no, so thats something to think about.
Thanks for the examples, its clear to see that with a little extra tweaking the design can look alot nicer.
Thanks alot guys, really apperciate the feedback…just gonna have to get back to basics and really work at this.
i love design so much and i think this is my biggest hindrance in relation to getting work placements.
i dont think my concepts are bad, just not conveyed very well on paper and if i work hard i think/hope ill have no trouble in the future
The beauty of sketching is the only thing it takes to get better is practice. Sketch every day for 3 months and you’ll be ashamed that you hadn’t done it earlier.
Make it fun for yourself, draw things around your house, strangers on the bus, zombie robots with rocket launchers, etc. Find peoples work you admire and copy it over and over till you start to understand how they work and what makes their style work. Everyone has unique takes on lines, color, shading, and other little tricks. Absorb them all and you’ll be awesome.
