Betty Edwards’ book is a fun way to get into drawing, but “drawing what you see” only takes you so far. For example, the visible outline of a human figure is infinitely changing: if you learn how it looks for one pose and viewing angle, it won’t help you at all with drawing a slightly different pose or angle. Yet there are many people in the world who can draw a realistic human, in any pose and viewing angle, without reference. That skill doesn’t magically emerge from many hours of drawing what you see, it needs to be learned on its own terms—“drawing what you know” or “constructive drawing”. I think that method might even be easier for LW folks, because it’s more systematic and analytical.
Here’s the difference between the two methods: imagine two artists are asked to draw a vase. Betty, a proponent of drawing what she sees, starts by sketching the outline of the vase, paying attention to the beautiful curves of negative space around the handles. Then she gradually fills it in. Meanwhile Connie, a proponent of constructive drawing, starts with the scaffolding instead. A straight line for the axis; an ellipse for the rim, whose center and minor axis lie exactly on the axis; another ellipse for the bottom; some more elliptical cross-sections. A vertical plane passing through the axis, to make sure the handles are symmetrical. Now drawing the actual vase is easy, and unlike Betty’s, it will look solid and right.
The same method works for more complex shapes, with different kinds of scaffolding for each. Where Betty draws an outline of a human head, Connie starts with a sphere and a plane of symmetry. Where Betty draws an outline of a car, Connie starts with a perspective-correct transparent box around the car, then draws inward. Where Betty draws a cat starting from a fuzzy blob, Connie starts with a posed skeleton and draws outward. It doesn’t give as fast gratification as Betty’s method, but the skill builds on itself: once you know the rough 3D shape of a human skull, it becomes a foundation for learning more detail. Everything stays relevant for future drawings from different angles, and nothing gets forgotten.
Any resources you’d recommend that describe the constructive style further? I’ve read Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain and so would be curious to read about this other approach more.
Check out the books by Loomis, freely downloadable here. For me, one look at page 21 of “Drawing the Head and Hands” was enough to sell me on constructive drawing.
Betty Edwards’ book is a fun way to get into drawing, but “drawing what you see” only takes you so far. For example, the visible outline of a human figure is infinitely changing: if you learn how it looks for one pose and viewing angle, it won’t help you at all with drawing a slightly different pose or angle. Yet there are many people in the world who can draw a realistic human, in any pose and viewing angle, without reference. That skill doesn’t magically emerge from many hours of drawing what you see, it needs to be learned on its own terms—“drawing what you know” or “constructive drawing”. I think that method might even be easier for LW folks, because it’s more systematic and analytical.
Here’s the difference between the two methods: imagine two artists are asked to draw a vase. Betty, a proponent of drawing what she sees, starts by sketching the outline of the vase, paying attention to the beautiful curves of negative space around the handles. Then she gradually fills it in. Meanwhile Connie, a proponent of constructive drawing, starts with the scaffolding instead. A straight line for the axis; an ellipse for the rim, whose center and minor axis lie exactly on the axis; another ellipse for the bottom; some more elliptical cross-sections. A vertical plane passing through the axis, to make sure the handles are symmetrical. Now drawing the actual vase is easy, and unlike Betty’s, it will look solid and right.
The same method works for more complex shapes, with different kinds of scaffolding for each. Where Betty draws an outline of a human head, Connie starts with a sphere and a plane of symmetry. Where Betty draws an outline of a car, Connie starts with a perspective-correct transparent box around the car, then draws inward. Where Betty draws a cat starting from a fuzzy blob, Connie starts with a posed skeleton and draws outward. It doesn’t give as fast gratification as Betty’s method, but the skill builds on itself: once you know the rough 3D shape of a human skull, it becomes a foundation for learning more detail. Everything stays relevant for future drawings from different angles, and nothing gets forgotten.
Any resources you’d recommend that describe the constructive style further? I’ve read Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain and so would be curious to read about this other approach more.
Check out the books by Loomis, freely downloadable here. For me, one look at page 21 of “Drawing the Head and Hands” was enough to sell me on constructive drawing.
Rapid Viz by Kurt Hanks and How to Draw by Scott Robertson are excellent primers.