One of the biggest challenges in much of my personal artwork – and that of many artists – is that I’m painting things that exist in my imagination rather than in the outside world. So I invent “models” from which I draw the imagined scene.
Do you paint from the real…
When I paint a portrait, I’m painting a person who exists (or existed). When I do life drawings (the most fun drawing of all), I sketch live models who pose.
When I was a kid, I used to set up still lifes and draw them. In school (I don’t mean art class), I used to alleviate boredom by sketching classmates. When I painted landscapes, I’d go out in the country, find an appealing scene, and paint what I saw. I might make artistic changes in the scene, but it actually existed.
You may be the kind of artist who always paints real objects from the world around you.
… or from the imaginary?
Or you may want to paint images from your imagination. If so, you may want to learn to invent “models” from which you can create the imagined scene.
An example of this is animated character designs I created for a screenplay I wrote, called ABBIE AND THE DESK DWELLERS. These characters were made of detritus from kids’ school desks – pencil shavings; dirty broken crayons; gum and candy wrappers and scraps of paper; grungy old erasers and eraser dust.
How would you approach drawing these characters?
Here’s my technique, which you might have fun trying: I did things like grinding out pencil shavings using an old-fashioned pencil sharpener. Then I shaped the pencil shavings – or the worn crayon stubs or the battered erasers – as closely as I could to the character I imagined.
It can be hard because in the real world, things like shavings can’t hold their shape standing up as they can in your imagination. Yet to make the character look real, you need to draw the shavings (or whatever you’re using) from the proper angles even if in actuality they couldn’t hold those positions for more than a split second. So it involves a lot of adjusting the objects as you continue to draw.
Have you ever created models from real world materials to draw your own vision? If so, leave a comment about your method and how it worked. If not, give it a try! It’s challenging and fun to experiment with.
Reflective surfaces
Notice the reflection of pencil shavings in the shiny metal of the protractor. What makes any reflective surface look real is that images of nearby objects appear on their surfaces – but not just anywhere.
I carefully set up a pencil shaving “leg” at the distance and angle from the protractor that my character’s leg was positioned.
Notice that the reflections appear in both the upright metal support of the protractor, and the curly metal extension that almost reaches the pencil eraser. Capturing that detail is what makes the protractor look real next to a little man made of pencil shavings.
You might enjoy practicing setting up some objects next to simple reflective surfaces. Look at them really carefully and try to replicate in your drawing exactly what you see.
Don’t bring in preconceived notions of what you think a reflection should look like – its color or shape. Any reflective shape – like the protractor’s – distorts the appearance of the object reflected in it. So just draw exactly the oddities you see, and you will find you’ve drawn a realistic-looking reflection in an object that looks three-dimensional.
But why bother with models? Why not just draw from memory?
Why bother with the hassle of setting up models? Don’t a lot of artists draw purely from memory? The answer is yes, many do.
For me, though, the everyday visual world is full of such surprises that I don’t want to just repeat from memory something I’ve drawn or seen in the past. Drawing from my memory of “what an X looks like,” by definition means I’ve developed a somewhat standardized way of seeing and drawing X. For me – and maybe for you – there’s nothing like the magical pleasure of discovering what’s unique about the particular “X” I’m drawing at that moment, and capturing that uniqueness on paper.
Reality is infinitely variable. If I hadn’t set up my shavings next to the protractor, for example, I might not have guessed that the reflection would appear in the very particular way it does over several surfaces of it. Scroll back up to the protractor closeup image above. Note how the reflection of the shavings continues down the point at the bottom of the protractor as simply a beige stripe. Notice also how the shading of the protractor itself – the grooves down its length, the white highlight at the top of its curve, the indentation around the grommet – all these intermingle with the shavings’ reflections. This interplay is what makes the protractor appear reflective and three-dimensional.
What if your subject is too large to set up a model?
I wish I had human models on retainer who I could call on at any time to dress up in the appropriate costumes and assume the emotions and positions I need to draw! I have a lot of books of models in hundreds of different positions, but I don’t recommend you spend much money on these books. It’s rare to find the exact position you need to simulate a particular activity you want to draw.
And the books don’t include the variations that come from the emotional intent of an action. Any action – say swinging an axe – shapes the human body differently if it’s taken, for example, in anger than if it’s taken in pleasure.
Before the web existed, I used to prowl libraries and magazines for photos that could serve as my models. The internet has provided a new wealth of relatively easily-found photos of people doing all kinds of activities, from shooting arrows on horseback to singing arias. Of course I’d prefer to draw from a three-dimensional reenactment. But I’ll never have a peasant chasing a soldier on horseback with a pitchfork in front of me – or an entire Mongol battle played out before me.
Next post, I’ll provide some tips on how to find images on the web that you can use as models for drawing scenes from your imagination.
Meanwhile, for Jonathan Linton’s popular video drawing demo and commentary, go here.
For a 2-part life drawing lesson, start Part 1 here.
650 word essay college essay tips essay introduction paragraph
can you buy clomid without a prescription
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having trouble locating it but, I’d like to send you an e-mail.
I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it grow over time.
They will be delighted by Canadian and Indian manufacturers, who set the lowest prices for their medicines buy cialis 5mg daily use PDE5 inhibitors are frequently used in the treatment of ED and clinical studies have reported their positive effect on patients with PE 14-16
accutane cost in uk
sildenafil 50mg united states buy viagra online with paypal in canada female viagra pills price in india
Spot on with this write-up, I actually believe this site needs far
more attention. I’ll probably be back again to see more, thanks for the advice!
Excellent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and
you are just too excellent. I really like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it.
You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it smart.
I can not wait to read much more from you. This is really a tremendous web
site.
tadalafil onset cialis and viagra taken together canadian cialis
I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This post posted
at this site is in fact fastidious.
generic cialis vs brand cialis reviews cialis doesnt work for me canadian drugstore cialis
Howdy I am so delighted I found your web site, I really found
you by error, while I was browsing on Digg for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say kudos
for a marvelous post and a all round entertaining blog (I
also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read it all at the moment but I have saved it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I
have time I will be back to read much more, Please do
keep up the excellent job.
That is a very good tip especially to those new to the
blogosphere. Short but very accurate info… Thank you for sharing
this one. A must read article!
2002; 168 6 2486 9 priligy in usa So a lot of men will be glad to know that VIAGRAconnect is now available without a prescription
That is a very good tip especially to those new to the blogosphere.
Simple but very accurate information… Appreciate your sharing this one.
A must read article!
allopurinol singapore
What’s up to every one, it’s in fact a pleasant for me to pay a visit this site, it includes precious Information.
Very quickly this site will be famous among
all blogging and site-building visitors, due to it’s good articles
Hello to all, it’s in fact a good for me to pay a visit
this site, it consists of precious Information.
antabuse otc
can you buy viagra over the counter in canada how to purchase viagra online in india can i buy viagra online without a prescription
Erectile dysfunction affects more than 30 million men in the United States, but experiencing the condition can feel very lonely as a result of the shame and embarrassment that often affects sufferers buy priligy 60 Generic Revatio is considerably less expensive, and it is the same drug as Viagra with the same safety and effectiveness, says Bradley Anawalt, M
can i buy priligy in usa I don t really want to go to the doctor for a script
I used to be recommended this web site through my cousin. I am now not sure whether
this post is written by way of him as no one else understand such certain approximately my
trouble. You are wonderful! Thank you!
Aw, this was an exceptionally nice post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to generate a very good article… but what
can I say… I hesitate a lot and never manage to get
anything done.
Hi! This post could not be written any better! Reading through this post reminds
me of my good old room mate! He always kept talking about this.
I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read.
Thanks for sharing!
canadian pharmacy effexor
where to buy priligy Although rare, unstable angina a heart condition and sudden death have been reported after taking Cialis
biaxin for strep
where to buy real cialis online
how to reference a book in an essay personal statement essay examples why northwestern essay
cialis generic name Potentially then, adaptive immunity provides a much more sophisticated and versatile immune mechanism
how to get bactrim without a prescription
metformin price in india
Hux regularly sees such price differences between his two pharmacies buy cialis with paypal
In some cases, online physicians won t accept insurance that would give you a reasonable rate, so you may have to pay even more than buying on-line cialis prescription In comparison, a walk at 3 to 5km h in flat terrain multiplies the expenses of the organization by two to three
buy glucophage 500mg
What’s up Dear, are you really visiting this web page daily, if so then you
will definitely get pleasant knowledge.
metformin 1000 mg
Gultekin Ben Gultekin Ben
Hi there to every body, it’s my first go to see of this blog; this weblog carries awesome and truly excellent stuff for readers.
I have read so many articles or reviews about the blogger lovers
but this article is genuinely a good article, keep it up.
Hi! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this website?
I’m getting fed up of WordPress because I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform.
I would be great if you could point me in the direction of
a good platform.
It’s an awesome post in favor of all the web people;
they will get advantage from it I am sure.
Because of its effects on your blood vessels, Cialis may cause you to develop facial flushing cialis online purchase ШЄШШЄЩЃЩЂЩ„ Ш§Щ„ЩЂЩ‡ЩЂЩ†ЩЂШЇ Щ‡Ш°Щ‡ Ш§Щ„ШЈЩЉШ§Щ… ШЁШ§Щ„Ш°ЩѓШ±Щ‰ Ш§Щ„Щ…Ш¦Ш© Щ€Ш§Щ„Ш®Щ…ШіЩЉЩ† Щ„ЩЂЩ…ЩЂЩЉЩЂЩ„Ш§ШЇ Ш±Ш§ШЁЩ†ШЇШ±Ш§Щ†Ш§ШЄ Ш·Ш§ШєЩ€Ш± ЩѓЩЂ ШЈШ№ШёЩ… ЩѓШ§ШЄШЁ ЩЃЩЉ Ш§Щ„ШЈШЇШЁ Ш§Щ„Щ‡Щ†ШЇЩЉ Ш§Щ„ШШЇЩЉШ« Щ„ЩѓЩ€Щ†Щ‡ Ш¬Щ…Ш№ ШЁЩЉЩ† ЩЃЩ†Щ€Щ† Ш§Щ„ШґШ№Ш± Щ€Ш§Щ„Ш±Щ€Ш§ЩЉШ© Щ€Ш§Щ„ЩЃЩ„ШіЩЃШ© Щ€Ш§Щ„Щ…ШіШ±Ш Щ€Ш§Щ„Щ…Щ€ШіЩЉЩ‚Щ‰ Щ€ШіШ§Щ‡Щ… ЩЃЩЉ Щ€Ш¶Ш№ Ш§Щ„ЩѓШ«ЩЉШ± Щ…Щ† ШЈШіШі Ш§Щ„ШЄШ±ШЁЩЉШ© Ш§Щ„Ш±Щ€ШЩЉШ© Ш§Щ„ШЄЩЉ ШЈШЇЩ‡ШґШЄ Ш§Щ„Щ†Ш§Ші Щ€ШЈШіЩѓЩ†ШЄЩ‡Щ… ЩЃЩЉ Ш·Щ…ШЈЩ†ЩЉЩ†Ш© Ш§Щ„ШЩЉШ§Ш© ШШЄЩ‰ ЩЃШ§Щ‚ШЄ ШґЩ‡Ш±ШЄЩ‡ ШШЇЩ€ШЇ Ш§Щ„Щ‡Щ†ШЇ
Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this site.
It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s difficult to get that
“perfect balance” between superb usability and visual appearance.
I must say that you’ve done a fantastic job with this.
Additionally, the blog loads extremely fast for me on Firefox.
Exceptional Blog!
Hello terrific blog! Does running a blog like this take a large amount of work?
I’ve absolutely no expertise in programming
however I had been hoping to start my own blog in the near future.
Anyhow, if you have any recommendations or techniques for new blog owners please share.
I know this is off subject but I simply needed to ask.
Thank you!
, for their pre-markup price , members can expect to get a huge discount on their Cialis prescription cialis 40 mg Tadalafil is thought to work by relaxing the smooth muscle in the prostate and bladder
I used to be recommended this web site via my cousin. I am no longer certain whether or
not this post is written by way of him as nobody else know such certain about my trouble.
You are incredible! Thanks!
Hey there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering
which blog platform are you using for this site?
I’m getting fed up of WordPress because I’ve
had issues with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform.
I would be great if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.