QriousK

These organic forms look much better! Nice work angling the curves and the ellipses to match the varying perspectives.

That could also be a factor. I'll try to be more deliberate with my lines then.

Thanks for the advice!

Hi Chieftang! Thank you for taking the time to review my work. I was hoping this CamScanner setting would be better, but I'll likely try a different scanner next time.

I really appreciate the notes on organic forms and the animal constructions. The part about being implicit with textures was helpful. It's difficult to resist drawing each group of strands.

Based on your critique, I noticed may of my stray lines look like I cut into the forms. Would you have any advice on how to avoid to drawing stray lines while sketching?

• Your organic forms look good; the contour curves hook around the forms and most don’t overshoot. There’s also a variety of angles, dependent on the curve of the form(s).

• The first four insect drawings read a bit flat. To remedy this, it would be best to use contour curves and ellipses. These will give the insects more dimension. The Ambush Bug for example, could have organic forms for its forearms.

  • See Uncomfortable’s example here: https://drawabox.com/lesson/4/7/turningform

• Your draftsmanship looks to improve from the jumping spider onward. The perspective on the spider is confusing however, Don’t forget to use a heavier line weight to distinguish which limbs are in the forefront. A shadow under the arachnid is typically used if the creature is grounded. Is your spider jumping? Or being viewed from below? If so, there is no need to place a shadow here.

• The wasp is the most impressive drawing. There is a clear understanding of overlapping forms in the artwork. Your bumblebee and slater illustrations could use more overlap. In the latter, the tops of the shell just seem to touch each other instead of sitting on top of one another.

  • See the Louse Demo to see what I am referring to: https://drawabox.com/lesson/4/3/step7

• The organic forms are smooth and volumetric. I see a solid understanding of curvature, perspective, and variation in these drawings. The first few insect drawings are less volumetric. The wasp, for example, would benefit from having “sausage forms” (https://drawabox.com/lesson/4/2/sausages) for its limbs. Currently, they appear too flat because they are angular.

• The next drawings are better. Again, do not hesitate to use round forms for insects. The lines of praying mantis’ thorax appear shaky. Next time try sketching a cylindrical form instead. Subsequent drawings look much more dimensional. Especially the hercules beetle.

• The ellipses in your organic forms all appear to be at the same angle. This causes all of the forms to look flat. Remember to angle, widen, or shrink your ellipses as the perspective changes. I highly recommend drawing a line through the center to give yourself an axis to work with.

• The organic forms with contour lines are a bit better, but the contour lines could use more variation as well.

• The progression in your insect drawings look promising. I can tell where you advanced from flatter shapes to more dimensional forms. For instance, your mantis looks mostly dimensional, but its femur could be more rounded to demonstrate form. Later on, your grasshopper exemplifies a better understanding of 3D space.

• All that being said, don’t be afraid to use ellipses to make your critters appear more lively. Notice how Uncomfortable’s insects are full and rounded.

Of course, best of luck on your Draw A Box journey!

• The ellipses and “C's” in your forms all appear to be at the same angle. Remember to tilt, widen, or shrink them as the perspective changes. (As shown here: https://drawabox.com/lesson/2/5/ellipses)

• The insect drawings look good. Going forward, practice a variation of line weight like you did in the scorpion illustration. Many of the pictures lack heavier line weight so it's difficult to differentiate the forms (I.e., limbs).

• Try to keep the fur or hair light. It looks quite realistic in your latest drawings, but we need to see the forms underneath clearly. You'll have to practice this technique in your animal drawings. I know it's hard to resist going into heavy detail, but just try to keep it light.

• Your organic forms are smooth, but some are a bit bloated (particularly the one in the middle). Try to keep both sides of them even.

• Your insect drawings are volumetric and visually appealing. Your strongest drawing is definitely the rhinoceros beetle. There's ample use of forms and contrast.

• The louse, the cuckoo wasp, and the dogbane beetle could be more dimensional. When drawing these insects you can use horizontal ellipses to demonstrate their form. For instance, the cuckoo wasp could use one in its head, thorax, and abdomen. The dogbane beetle could have some in its thorax and abdomen. Same goes for the louse, which needs just a bit more curvature.

• That said, nice work on this assignment! I see your skills improved as you drew these insects.

Thank you, your feedback has been immensely helpful. I especially appreciated your notes on contours for the organic forms and for the insects. The drawings were a big help as well. They gave me a new perspective on how to approach three-dimensional forms. I'll be sure to practice these techniques in the near future.