Topic 1 : Methods in angle selection and in sketching before drawing lines
Methods in angle selection in drawing lines
The angle of vision can be classified into 3 levels.
1. Man’s Eye View is the human normal visual level, horizontally to the ground. It’s commonly used in drawing because it is the human’s eye level and familiarity which is used and accurately conveyed.
Image shows the Man’s eye view.
2. Bird’s Eye View is the view of a bird while flying or clinging on a tree branch, seeing things from top to bottom. This kind of drawing requires more expertise in perspective so as to not produce a distorted drawing from the nature.
Image shows the bird’s eye view from top to bottom.
3. Ant’s Eye View is a viewpoint from bottom to top. This kind of drawing is difficult to draw accurately, requires more expertise in perspective so as to not produce a distorted drawing from the nature.
Image shows the ant’s eye view from bottom to top.
Image shows the selection of angles for drawing beautiful landscape using a cardboard punched into a rectangular shape.
Selection of angles using a cardboard punched into rectangular shape
This method is suitable for drawing all types of scenery, using a 5*7 inches rectangular cardboard punched into 3*5 inches. Holding the bottom corner of the cardboard, stretching the arm to view the suitable landscape for drawing, the drawer sees through the rectangular hole with one eye closed, slowly slides the cardboard in or out to find the right and beautiful angle.
Selection of angles in drawing still life
Still life drawing requires a method of still life composition as a model that light and shadow can be directly reflected on objects by an artist, depending on an artist’s satisfaction whether which angle to draw or which type to choose as a model.
Image shows the composition of still life as a model which light and shadow can be directly reflected on objects.
How to sketch before line drawing
To be successful in line drawing especially realistic pattern is to focus on sketching the structure of the objects. If it is not proportional, it will always be distorted, no matter how good light and shadow weight is shaded, the finished drawing will also be distorted as it was originally sketched. Whether the object structure is correct depends on the proportion of objects, thus, it is necessary to know how to proportionate the objects.
How to proportionate the drawn objects
The method to proportionate the objects by visually estimation is a comparison of proportionated drawn objects or models to minimize on paper to get the accurate proportion, by using a pencil to measure the distance. A drawer needs to hold the pencil perpendicularly or vertically, stretching his arm to its end, parallel to the ground, with one eye closed, he must look through the pencil to that object or model. Set the distance of one part of the object as a criterion for measuring to compare with the other parts of it.
Example of teapot drawing by visual estimation, this is how to measure the proportion of the drawing.
Step 1 Measure the height of the teapot A drawer should set a center line of the teapot shape by holding a pencil vertically, stretching his arm to its end, parallel to the ground, use his thumb to set the bottom of the teapot, and the pencil tip to the top, he will get the height of the teapot. This is drawn vertically on a drawing sheet suitably with the picture composition, as illustrated.
Image shows the method of height measurement of the teapot
Image shows the application of height measurement on a drawing sheet
Step 2 Measure the width of the teapot A drawer should hold a pencil horizontally, parallel to the ground, stretching his arm to its end, setting the pencil tip closest to the left of the teapot, and his thumb to the right, he will get the width of the teapot. (If a drawer is left-handed, do the contrary.) This is drawn on a drawing sheet. After that, measure the rest (the teapot holder) by doing similarly, and sketch the geometrical shape of the teapot part by part until done, as illustrated below.
Image shows the width measurement of the teapot by visual estimation, using the pencil as a tool to determine the distance
Image shows the application of width measurement by visual estimation on a drawing sheet
Step 3 Sketch the teapot from the estimation
When the height and width of the teapot is designated accurately, details of the teapot could be drawn geometrically by first drawing the circular lines with correct adjustment as seen by the drawer, shading the light value for the light exposed side, and darker one for the shadowed, which make the lines self-shine.
Image shows the circular line from the estimation of height and width of the teapot
Image shows the drawing shaped of the teapot as seen from the real vision
Note In visual estimation, the drawer must hold a pencil extending his arm to its end, if not, the error estimation will be occurred. In addition, the drawer’s standing or sitting point should be the same place, the measurement of height and width will be accurate.
To proportionate the model objects in drawing needs 3 methods to compare the proportion.
1. Proportionate to find the center of the height of the object.
This includes the top and bottom setting to know the total height, making the drawing within the paper frame. Then, the drawer can add sketching lines, draw other details accurately to the actual object as seen.
Image shows the center setting drawing of the tree
Image shows a proportional representation of the tree on a drawing sheet.
2. Proportionate using the vertical and horizontal lines.
Use a pencil as vertical or horizontal lines to compare and check the accuracy of different positions of the object.
Image shows the checking of height by a pencil horizontally on an object drawn.
3. Proportionate by comparison
The length of a pencil is used to designate a part of a shape to be drawn, then compare it with the others at the same length to get the right proportion in drawing.
Image shows the comparison proportional comparing a part of the object with others of the same one.
Summary
The angle of vision to the line drawing are divided into 3 types. 1. Man eye’s view at a normal level is commonly used in drawing. 2. Bird’s eye view is viewing from top to bottom. 3. Ant’s eye view is viewing from bottom to top. Type 2 and 3 are very difficult to draw, they require expertise to draw without distortion.
Selection of angles using a cardboard punched into a rectangular shape is suitable for searching the right and beautiful angle for drawing all kinds of landscapes.
Sketching before drawing lines requires outlining the structure of object in a correct proportion and the image not getting distorted. To proportionate by visual estimation is to compare the proportion of object to be drawn, with the minimized proportion on a drawing sheet to get the accurate proportions both height and width of one object and between similar objects.
There are 3 methods to proportionate the objects 1. Proportionate to find the center of the height of the object 2. Proportionate using the vertical and horizontal lines 3. Proportionate by comparing one proportion of the object to the others at the same length.