(250 box challenge) I consistently fail at drawing natural-looking boxes
https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtFundamentals/comments/x2iav5/250_box_challenge_i_consistently_fail_at_drawing/
2022-08-31 16:42
alanmh
Hi!
I finished lesson 1 from Drawabox and am currently doing the 250 box challenge. I think I just missed the how-to part, as I don't have a good clue as to what steps I have to follow to draw a good enough box.
I know I'm only on day 2, but I don't feel I will get any better if I just keep doing it blindly as I currently am, so I figured I would see if anyone has any clue to how I can get more consistent at my method.
Here is what I do:
1 - Draw Y
2 - Draw first line trying to converge with the parallel Y arm, extending far enough so that the perpendicular line will converge with its parallel Y arm (sometimes I have to extend it afterwards to ensure that)
3 - Draw the line closing that face and then follow to the remaining line for the initial Y arm
4 - Close that face trying to converge with the other 2 parallel lines, then draw the last visible face also trying to converge
5 - Draw the internal lines, which I almost always have no clue how to do. It is very difficult trying to converge with 3 different lines (especially since here these 3 are most likely not converging).
The result is I usually draw boxes that look unrealistic and whose lines don't really converge. It is making me really frustrated since I don't see any improvement since the rotating boxes exercise.
Boxes I drew for the challenge
I am also trying to figure out how to draw other stuff not related to drawabox, as recommended, since I don't really know how to draw anything, kinda starting from scratch.
Thank you!
Uncomfortable
2022-08-31 18:10
At a glance, I can see that you're extending your lines incorrectly - you're doing so towards the viewer, rather than away, as explained here in the notes. Below that section there's on explaining a straightforward way to extend in the right direction based on the original Y you started with.
If we extend our lines incorrectly, the analysis we're performing in order to get a sense of how to adjust our approach to improve the next page becomes largely useless - or worse, can encourage us to actually shift our approach in the wrong direction, so it's a pretty big oversight - but fortunately you're still early into the set.
AnimeBeginnerAcct
2022-08-31 22:45
Your lines should all extend to their own vanishing points and they should all be going in separate directions. They should follow the same directions as the initial Y drawing. For example, your bottom most drawing I can tell the initial Y shape has a VP above it. it should be going down because you're looking at it from the top. The two on the sides are correct except that they don't head towards the same VP but they go in the correct direction
Just take a second and think about it. If you're looking down at a really really tall building, is the bottom of that building smaller or bigger from your perspective? It's much much smaller. If you look at a really really wide building from an angle, are the end edges of the building bigger or smaller from your perspective? They're much smaller
After you've drawn your initial Y shape, you should be able to guesstimate the angle of the line you're about to lay down by ghosting. Make sure it is angled *towards* the line that's already drawn on the Y shape
Also, I notice that every single one of your VP lines go up? The other two extended lines imply that it should go down. As in, you are looking down from the top. If you have a VP above your box that implies that you're looking from the bottom. Your initial Y shape can help you determine where the VPs should be located. If it's going the opposite direction from that initial Y shape that could explain why your boxes look funky
alanmh
2022-09-01 01:58
You're right, I'm drawing my "y" lines converging above when they should converge below the box. Thank you very much for the advice! It was really helpful :)
alanmh
2022-08-31 22:13
Thank you very much! I felt something was off, glad I posted here.