Lesson 1: Lines, Ellipses and Boxes

1:01 PM, Saturday October 10th 2020

Draw a box: Lesson one - Album on Imgur

Direct Link: https://i.imgur.com/iu0OCXZ.jpg

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Hey guys, that's my submission with all homeworks from lesson one. As expected, I really had a hard time with the perspective exercises, specially last ones, rotated boxes was a nightmare and I sure failed but also tried my best. One thing I would like to improve is my line confidence, as you can see my boxes are still way too wobbly, If someone has a tip for this problem I would really apreciate. Thanks for reading and taking the time for review this, have a nice day ; )

2 users agree
2:45 PM, Saturday October 10th 2020

Hi Dopong, like you I just completed the first lesson, so please consider that in my critique.

It seems to me that you didn't use a fineliner in the superimposed lines, I´m not really sure but take an eye if that's the case, other than that you have done a really good job.

In ghosted lines exercises you do a little of wobbling in your lines, I would take more care of that in the warmups when you start the 250 boxs challenge.

Appart of the wobbling, in the ghosted planes and the elipses in planes you do a prety good job, it seems to me that you already have some experience in that.

You did really nice in all the table of elipses, I have nothing to say in that.

In the funnels there are some distortion in the elipses of the extremes, take care of that.

In the plotted exercises I have nothing to say but some trouble in the shadow that you applied on the boxes. All of them should be coming of the same spot. I mean that some boxes have the shadow in the right, when in others of the same frame have the shadow on the other side wich is strange.

In the rough perspective i think you doubt a lot when you do your lines, consider to do more ghosting in the lines, I think that it helps a lot. Another thing is that you don't have to do the same line twice, the idea is to work with the line that you already done to create a strong base.

I have the same problems in the rotated boxes. I think that is important to develop in our minds the sense that you are rotating a 3d object in a 2d space. Keep an eye on the wobbling, remember the ghosting method always and use your shoulder.

I really like the last page of the organic perspective. In the first page i think that you doubted in the scale and proportion of your boxes, becouse in some points you didn't make more big. Try to do the same that you did in the second page, it was a really good job.

One last thing, you did a really nice job, keep it. Do the 250 boxes challenge partner, i see you there.

Next Steps:

Do the 250 boxes challenge, and remember to warm up with the ghosting planes, elipses on planes and boxes.

This community member feels the lesson should be marked as complete, and 2 others agree. The student has earned their completion badge for this lesson and should feel confident in moving onto the next lesson.
11:56 AM, Wednesday October 14th 2020
edited at 11:59 AM, Oct 14th 2020

Thanks for taking your time to reply my submission man, I appreciate it a lot. I took notes of the problems you pointed out and I will work on them, time to begin the 250 boxes challenge, let's dew it ; ) Oh, and about the superimposed lines exercise, I did use a fineliner, but thanks for pointing this out too, you really paid close attention to my homework.

edited at 11:59 AM, Oct 14th 2020
1 users agree
3:46 PM, Saturday October 10th 2020

Some of your works are good you have to improve

Lines

They are great especially your superimposed but after that your lines become wobbly as seen in ghosting and planes.

Ellipses

Same with the ellipses, they are wobbly. Try to strive in making your line straight or, they say, confident while using your shoulder. Don't repeat the lines of ellipses, twice or thrice is enough. This exercises aim to make your line smoother for the next lesson.

Boxes

The rotation is not applied in rotating boxes, especially when they get farther in the center. It is almost have the same VP. One tip in doing this exercise is to remember about the degree, once the box is further from the center, the degree will get narrower. It makes the illusion of rotation. Again, use your shoulder. Same with the organic, try to make your lines parallel.

Next Steps:

Makes your lines confident and smooth. Next lesson is about 250 box challenge, it will teach you about perspective. Applywhat you learned in boxes and lines. Good luck ????

This community member feels the lesson should be marked as complete. In order for the student to receive their completion badge, this critique will need 2 agreements from other members of the community.
2:13 PM, Wednesday October 14th 2020

Thanks for the review man, for sure I will improve wobbly lines and for the perspective problem I think I need to read through the lessons again, I had a hard time to figure the last exercises out.

1 users agree
7:47 PM, Saturday October 10th 2020

Hi Dopong! Here is my review of your work.

First of all I agree with you that wobbly lines are an issue. Something you should focus on before moving forward.

Now, let's proceed step by step.

Superimposed lines look great.

Ghosted lines: this is where the wobbly lines start showing up too frequently. Confidence is the main priority here. Accuracy comes with time and practice.

Ghosted planes: I appreciate that you planned your dots for all the lines. Wobbly lines are still too frequent, even though there are some confident lines here and there.

Ellipses in planes: here again ellipses are fairly accurate but not confident enough. Also remember to draw through your ellipses only two or three times: https://drawabox.com/lesson/1/tablesofellipses

Tables of Ellipses: confident marks are more frequent here and the orientation of the ellipses is consistent.

Funnels: ellipses are well kept inside the borders and well oriented through the common minor axis, but the wobbly lines undermine the overall effort.

Plotted perspective: neat and clean.

Rough Perspective: this is good and the linework starts showing progress toward the end.

Rotated boxes: well done. Boxes are well nested together and they comfortably rotate in space.

Organic perspective: this also is good. You'll have plenty of opportunity to practice perspective during the 250 box challenge and I'm happy to say that lines are fairly better.

Now, I want to be sure that those confident lines are dominant compared to the wobbly ones. We're not aiming toward perfection, absolutely not. Mistakes are expected and totally normal. I just want to be sure you're on the right track so you can get the most out of the 250 box challenge.

To start, read this lesson one more time: https://drawabox.com/lesson/1/ghostedlines

Then I'd like you to do one more page of ghosted lines and one more page of ghosted planes with ellipses inside the planes. The focus must be on confidence, not accuracy.

For every single mark, take all the time you need and be sure to:

rotate the canvas so you are in the most comfortable position

draw with your shoulder

carefully ghost your lines

then commit to your line without skipping a beat, fast enough so your brain doesn't get in the way

Next Steps:

One more page of ghosted lines.

One more page of ghosted planes with ellipses.

The focus must be on confidence before accuracy. Read again the lesson about the Ghosted Lines and be sure to take all the steps required before committing to the line. Good luck!

When finished, reply to this critique with your revisions.
12:34 PM, Wednesday October 14th 2020

First of all, thank you for this super organized and thoughtful critique. "Confidence before accuracy", that's what I needed to understand. I took note of the mistakes you pointed out and I can't thank you enough for the last guide lines, I will work on these exercises right now. Wish you all the best, time to work now. ;)

12:59 PM, Saturday October 24th 2020

Jesus, I did the exercises but totally forgot to reply. The results were...Ok I guess, here is the link for you to check out if you want: https://imgur.com/a/5bRuK27

When you got the time, please reply to this coment.

I will start the box challenge today, I am stalling for way too much time already to tackle this.

8:24 PM, Saturday October 24th 2020

Hi Dopong! I'm really happy to say that your pages show a noticeable improvement.

Ghosted Lines and Planes are very good now and the ellipses look far more confident compared with the old ones. You also carefully drew through each ellipse two times, which is correct.

I'll mark this lesson as complete and since I'd like you to have your well deserved badge right away, I'll go ahead and give my vote to one of the community members that reviewed your work before.

The next step, as you already know, is the 250 Box Challenge.

Remember to practice your Lesson 1 exercises as a warm up before each drawing session.

Congratulations and good luck!

Next Steps:

Start the 250 Box Challenge.

Keep on practicing Lesson 1 exercises as a warm up before each drawing session.

Good luck!

This community member feels the lesson should be marked as complete. In order for the student to receive their completion badge, this critique will need 2 agreements from other members of the community.
1 users agree
1:14 AM, Sunday October 11th 2020

I agree with everyone in that your super imposed lines came out great! I find it interesting that after that, your lines get wobbly considering how strong your initial lines were. I know something that helped me is, I do really good with being super straight with short lines but... as they get longer...well it goes to pot. Learning to draw from the elbow was good for me, but anything that was longer than that reach really messed with me. learning to draw from the shoulder was weird to me. something that helped me was doing shoulder and arm circles as in exercises. Doing this limbered up my arm cause otherwise I felt stiff and awkward. so kind of doing some arm exercises and practicing moving my hand just at the wrist, locking it, moving from just my elbow, locking that and then moving only from my shoulder helped. it was a different type of movement for me to learn, moving from the shoulder....so practicing the movement without actually drawing helped me figure it out a bit and be more confident. hopefully that's helpful for you too! looking good!! keep up the practice!

2:20 PM, Wednesday October 14th 2020

I think that's my problem man, thanks for this advice, I'll be practicing these movements in my next drawing sessions to unlock my bloody shoulder. All the best to you.

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