Assignment 1: Thumbnails from Life
Now that you are familiar with achieving accurate proportion and the illusion of three-dimensionality, you are ready for the next step. Although drawing from photographs is useful, there will be many times in your education and your career where you will be required to draw exclusively from life. Therefore, this assignment will require the application of the drawing and perspective principles you learned from the previous lessons in order to successfully accomplish it.
Specifications
Subject matter: Pick an object that has an interesting silhouette shape as well as opportunities for focal points within the shape. For example, because books, CD cases, cell phones, and iPods are flat, they have very little opportunity for three-dimensionality, focal point, or design variation. Household objects such as blenders, doorknobs, some toys, even close-ups of parts (such as the spout of a hand-lotion dispenser or a bicycle pedal), allow for more interesting silhouette shapes, and consequently better use of three dimensions, the design principle of dominant/subordinate, and focal point, etc.
Set up your object in a place that will not be disturbed during the week of this lesson so that you can draw from life and not the photo.
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Assignment 1 Step 1: Using your object, create 6 thumbnails. Experiment by rotating your object to see different viewpoints and eye levels. Each thumbnail will be 2 x 3 inches and either horizontal or vertical. Draw using line only. Scan and submit. In the class discussion board, identify the two best line thumbnails and be prepared to explain why you chose them.
Note: Thumbnails are not miniature drawings, they are quick, simple, sketches to show placement and size ratios within the format. Click this link to see examples of thumbnails.
Size: 9"x12"
Media: Graphite or Charcoal.
Deadlines
Post your thumbnail line drawings by Thursday 11:59 PM: Scan in and submit your thumbnail drawings to the discussion board.
Provide feedback by Friday by 11:59 PM: Provide feedback to members of the class. The instructor will also provide general feedback as needed. In your feedback, answer the following questions:
- Which compositions are best and why? (Look for size, placement, rotation and eye level)
- Do you agree with the top two suggestions?
- Are the objects in relative proportion?
- Make suggestions for improvement.
Discussion
In I-Learn, go to Week 5 — Construction Drawings II and click on Week 5 Exercises. Create a post and submit your completed thumbnail drawings there.
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