Planes and Volume problems

[talmir]

Good day fellow CA forum patrons...

I have just a small question.. I've been drawing quite a bit lately and posted it in my sketchbook.. The response I got was to practice volume or making the image look like it has "mass".. Anyone have any good techniques to practice with? I've tried drawing planes but its been a bit complicated.. not sure how you build up an object out of planes. they always end up looking like some kind of stretched/squashed thingomabob... Anyone have any simple techniques to practice these things?

[AnarchyAo2]

Well, when you draw you make lineart usually. So, ask youself this: Whats the difference between the contour of a sphere, and a sphere? Shading. Shading adds a lot of volume. Everyone has a different shading style, mine is smooth shading. Yours may be hatching. The type of pencils you use affect the outcome of shading. For example, I use conte. They're incrediably smooth and gritty. Almost like pastels. So that gives a great effect with my style of shading. Yours maybe be hatching, cross-hatching etc. So a harder lead may be better for you.

I know that i'm going off topic here, but i think it may help you, because it helped me with shading and volume. Go into your local art store. They usually have pencils in singles, just take one and try it out on a sheet of paper. Try out the different brands. I tried out faber-castell (or whatever it is), generals, and conte. I thinkt hat faber-castrell is the hardest, then generals, and then conte with the softest. Of course, you'll have to try themself.

[John]

Check out "Figure Drawing For All It's Worth" by the fantastic Andrew Loomis for a great introduction on drawing the planes. You can even download it for free on http://saveloomis.org/.

Look at the planes of the head in this book. You basically look for planar surfaces ("planes") that you can break up the form into. Think of low-poly 3d models as in quake. Then you figure out how much light falls onto each plane. A good way to practise it is doing lots and lots of self portraits. And don't be angry if they don't look great at first, if they did you wouldn't have to practise. Figure out what's wrong and do it again, and take your time. :chug:

[talmir]

thank you for your comments.. once again CA has proven its worth and so have the great artists that inhabit it :)

AK : I have been using Derwent graphic pencils. theyre a bit on the soft side but I like the feel of them.