Robo cyborg sketching

Transcription

1 Robo cyborg sketching Learn how to sketch a seemingly complex robot The Tutor The sketch has areas that are full of detail and areas that are fairly bland. This is a design choice to help the eye flow. Plastering detail over every surface is generally a bad thing. Darren Bartley Concept Artist This character is meant to look like he could handle himself but not be extremely aggressive or intimidating. The round forms which make up most of his shape language help with this. DOWNLOAD EXTRA TEMPLATES 3dtotalpublishing.com/resources The lines are loose and rough; the way I like to sketch. If you prefer to draw neat that is fine too, what s important is that the line quality is consistent. The overall silhouette of the sketch is vaguely human and recognisable. This helps ground the design and makes it easier for people to relate to it, and ultimately believe in. Sketching a cool and believable robotic character can be a little intimidating. Unlike when drawing humans, we rarely have the luxury of a full set of recognisable human features to help us convey emotion, and drawing masses of overlapping shapes and machinery can seem difficult. This workshop aims to show you how to draw a complex robot and give him character, revealing to you how things like shape language can help define a drawing s personality. So let s get started

2 The head area of a character is nearly always the most important part. It is vital that it looks both cool and believable. The following references have all been drawn to the same scale as the original and help to show how to construct a nifty robot head. The angular forms used in this head variation make the character seem more aggressive. Pointed sharp shapes tend to do this, whereas soft shapes suggest friendliness and squares imply strength. The nuts and bolts of robot design is machinery and is used to suggest character and function. Different technical forms such as these different pistons can all have a subtle effect on how we perceive a character. Robot heads should have a focal point, like the large lens here. Different shapes within the lens can suggest different characteristics. Simple lines could indicate high tech, whereas nuts and bolts could indicate a lower tech. Once believability has been established, adding elements which break the silhouette up further is a fun way to make your character feel unique. It is important that each part of the design at the very least looks functional and believable upon first glance. Pistons, ball joints, servos and so on are a great reference and starting point.

3 Using these templates and the references above draw a cool robot upper arm. Experiment with different forms here; think about thick/thin transitions as well as materials. Using these templates and the references above draw a cool robot hand. Now you ve drawn all the parts of the sketch separately, it s time to combine what you ve learned and do the whole thing

4 The wing section and laser canon references on this page are to the same scale as this image. They will help give you some ideas for your own drawings. They ll also help you grasp how the parts relate to each other and how different designs can fit over the same space. These designs use a partially exposed bonelike skeleton which gives the wing strength while staying light and maneuverable. These laser canons have protective cowling which covers the inner workings. You can use cooling fins on your canons. Experiment with different angles; your design s appendages don t have to follow the perspective lines. Try designing the main, larger shapes first, then add the support struts afterwards to balance everything. Finish by breaking up large panels with a few small details.

5 How to draw a robot warrior Learn about mechanical shapes and their importance in robot design The Tutor Where is the robot s processor? I ve inserted mine behind the machine gun and made some holes in it to prevent it from heating up. What weapon does this warrior use? An automatic Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser? Electric shock? I have chosen a machine gun. Fuad Ghaderi Concept Artist DOWNLOAD EXTRA TEMPLATES 3dtotalpublishing.com/resources A robot warrior needs to be able to move. This could be on foot, wheels or tracks. It may vary based upon the war situation. What is your robot s fuel? I want to implant two big batteries in the feet of my robot. This way, my robot will be able to function well during long battles. Everything in this drawing is made up from simple shapes, like cubes, cylinders, triangles and spheres. The most important thing to keep in mind when drawing these kinds of shapes is the perspective that you re drawing in. You will get better at understanding perspective through constant practice, so don t worry if it feels daunting at first. To help you through, learn to view the robotic objects as a set of simple shapes. With a little imagination and using correct perspective, you should be able to draw a robot by outlining several cubes and detailing from there. Also viewing the robotic objects in a 2D perspective can help you see solid and useful shapes, which will lead you to a successful drawing. robots & spaceships

6 Using geometric shapes like boxes or cylinders, try drawing on these templates to build up your robot s battery, using the references above for ideas. Remember to think about perspective. Using geometric shapes like boxes or cylinders, try drawing on these templates to build up your machine gun, using the references above for ideas. Remember to think about perspective. Try picturing your object in a cube or a cylinder. Don t forget you can always erase errors and always think about the silhouette of your overall shape. In the next part which focuses on the final drawing we will draw a complete robot following a basic template robots & spaceships

7 Picture your robotic shapes inside the template provided. Start with general shapes and then move on to build up details as you gain confidence with the form of your robot. download extra templates from 3dtotalpublishing.com/resources

8 Master spaceship concepts Discover how to sketch a space cruiser in three-quarter perspective Creating a variety of details on the surface of the main parts will give scale to your design. Big cruisers usually have antennas, which are very small compared to the thrusters, for example. The Tutor Ken Le Bras Designer The most important aspect of the design is the main shape and structure. In this case, large chunks of cubic parts roughly assembled immediately gives a feeling of a bulky, slow machine. Simple horizontal and vertical lines displaced on the hull are a quick way to show some paneling. Panels are supported by bolts and small elements. By making the nose pointy, the ship looks more aggressive. Diagonal lines throughout the ship s hull will improve this effect DOWNLOAD EXTRA TEMPLATES 3dtotalpublishing.com/resources We all love a spaceship, but these fictional vehicles must be welldetailed and believable for the audience. The realism can be obtained with simple readable shapes and a variety of different details. Even though drawing spaceships is closer to industrial design, you can give your ship a personality and attitude if you use the right tricks. Throughout this workshop, we will learn how to create basic shapes for the main body of a spaceship, and then add detail to convey a sense of realism, and more importantly scale. We will tackle this workshop using a simple three-quarter perspective view. By the end of the exercises, many different design options will have been proposed, and you will be able to create your own giant space cruiser with its own unique characteristics and personal touches.

9 All these spaceship forms are based on the same rough sketch. By stretching shapes and playing with proportions, you can create a wide range of ships huge cruisers or small shuttles. Reducing the length of the ship will improve the utilitarian aspect of your design. On the contrary, making it long and sleek will make it look military and aggressive. Making the central area of the ship heavier is a good way to keep a strong balance in the overall shape. No air in space means there is no need for aerodynamics. Don t hesitate to make flat noses and parts in order to make the space flight technology look advanced.

10 Observation of reallife technology is very important at this stage. Details cannot be added all over the hull s surface in an equal manner. Making a cluster of small elements on certain areas will convey a sense of scale to all the parts. Remember that a ship must have propulsion. Some areas must be free of windows. The small fins will give an extra aeronautical feel to the ship. Keep in mind that it could be asked to land on a planet. Don t hesitate to repeat smaller details, like artillery guns. These are often displaced throughout the hull. Insert bolts and rivets near the edges and borders of the panels. Keep in mind that this ship has been manufactured; look at references before randomly adding detail.