Hi Benj,
I redid a frame. I wasn't sure if a frame constituted a single frame or a page of these. If you want a whole page, please let me know.
This time turned out a little better except for the box top right. I knew I messed that one up, but I couldn't erase and start it over.
This is better, as it shows some consideration of each point, but it could be better still. I’ll start by giving you a step-by-step, in the off chance that there’s something you’ve overlooked, and that’s the reason behind this being not quite there. If that’s the case, then good. If not, no worries, it’ll continue improving as you continue to practice it.
First, you plot the points for your front face. There’s 4 of them, and they form 2 sets of lines that are parallel/perpendicular to the horizon. Before you draw the lines that connect these points, pull back, and make sure that this is the case. Then, pick one of these points, and ghost a line between it and the VP, all the way to the horizon. Do this multiple times, and, when you’re ready, place a point in the path of that line. Again, pull back, and confirm that it’s in the correct place. Don’t ask ‘it’s correct, right?’, as your brain will be more than happy to tell you that it is, but rather specific questions, based on prior observations. Do this for the remaining 4 points, and remember that each following one will have more boxes it’ll need to check. For example, #2 will need to be in the path of that line (the one from the initial point, to the VP), and form a parallel/perpendicular line (depending on which point you choose as your #2) with the previous point. #3 will do the same, and #4 will need to be in their intersection. Now. All you’ve got on your page are dots. Yet again, pull back and check whether all of the above is correct. If it’s not, alter it. Then, you connect the points. And once you do this for an entire page, you look at your mistakes, take note of your habits, and compensate for them in the next attempt. In doing so, you’ll get a little better each time. If you don’t do this, then this is a great way to build mileage, but, in that sense, is no different from the ghosted lines exercise, which is much less time consuming. If you’re practicing this one, practice the things it’s trying to teach you, ideally.
ANYWAY, despite all that, I’ll be moving you onto the box challenge. I just figured it might help. Hope it did. Good luck either way.
Next Steps:
250 box challenge
Thanks, Benj. I will practice this in my warmups. I think repetition is the only way I'll get better. I did try to think about where the points were plotted according to the vanishing point, but I would still sometimes place points incorrectly. Once the lines are down it's sometimes easier to see where things went awry. The worst is when you have your points, ghost the line and then still mess up the line when you draw it.
While I have a massive library of non-instructional art books I've collected over the years, there's only a handful that are actually important to me. This is one of them - so much so that I jammed my copy into my overstuffed backpack when flying back from my parents' house just so I could have it at my apartment. My back's been sore for a week.
The reason I hold this book in such high esteem is because of how it puts the relatively new field of game art into perspective, showing how concept art really just started off as crude sketches intended to communicate ideas to storytellers, designers and 3D modelers. How all of this focus on beautiful illustrations is really secondary to the core of a concept artist's job. A real eye-opener.
This website uses cookies. You can read more about what we do with them, read our privacy policy.
