Course Highlights


Combining Basic Forms

By combining one or more geometric shapes you can draw just about anything you see. The hard part is seeing subjects in terms of their underlying shapes and how these shapes are adapted and combined. Sometimes the shapes will be almost totally obscured by detailing and sometimes an object is made up of so many individual shapes that it is hard to distinguish each separate form.

In this exercise, you will create what are known as geometric sketches to give you practice identifying and arranging basic forms. A geometric sketch is a volumetric representation of a subject using basic geometric shapes. Detailing is completely absent from this sort of sketch. It is an exercise in proportion and perspective so keep in mind that they must relate to each other in both size and position. The same questions you asked yourself when observing and drawing an object composed of a single basic form should also be asked when you draw a complex object. How high, how wide, and how deep is one basic shape in relation to another?

Create a geometric sketch of each of the following drawings:

Pepper Grinder




Refer to visual representation displayed above.

Step 1
Start by marking a dot towards the top of your page. Use this dot as the center point for the sphere that represents the grinder´s top. Add a smaller sphere to the top of this sphere to represent the knob that tightens the grinder. Extend a line down from the center point 2/3rd of the way down the page. Use this as the center point for an ellipse which will be used for the base of cone. Draw diagonal lines from edges of ellipse to center point to complete cone. Construct a cylinder at the base of the cone using this same ellipse. Sketch another smaller cylinder below the large sphere to connect the cone to the larger sphere.

Step 2
To create grooves in base of grinder, draw a series of ellipses of varying sizes within the lower cylinder.

Step 3
Smooth and curve lines to connect various shapes and erase any unnecessary lines.

Coffee maker



Refer to visual representation displayed above.

Step 1
Draw a horizontal ellipse towards the top of your page. Mark its center and extend center line upwards. Draw diagonal lines from this end point to connect it with either end of ellipse. Draw slightly inward diagonal lines on either end of the ellipse down. Draw a second ellipse using these two lines as end points. Draw a second cylinder using slightly outward diagonal lines (mirror image of previous cylinder).

Step 2
Connect the two cylinders with vertical lines. Draw in a horizon line to assist in creating a cube-like handle. Parts of the handles will need to be drawn free hand. Extend existing horizontal lines from the handle across to other side of the coffee maker. This will be your starting point for the spout. Finally, sketch a half cone for the spout.

Other pages of interest

Sketching Cylindrical Objects
Sketching Conical Objects
Combining Basic Forms
Understanding the Fundamentals of Perspective
Compositional Perspective


 

 

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