Curve Fur Around Canine Forms

Transcription

1 Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 7.4 Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: Pages and 23 Illustrations Curve Fur Around Canine Forms Use contour hatching to shade the realistic anatomical structures of a puppy s leg and paw Supplies: paper, 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B pencils, pencil sharpener, sandpaper block, vinyl and kneaded erasers Resource: Module 3.1 Introduction to Shading This activity has fi ve sections: Sketch Puppy Leg Proportions Outline Basic Forms Add Form and Texture to the Leg Outline and Shade a Puppy Paw Add Final Details Sketch Puppy Leg Proportions Even though puppies come in lots of different shapes and sizes, the overall structure and proportions of their legs are similar. ArtSpeak Cast shadow: A dark section on an object or a surface adjacent to a subject that receives little or no direct light. The values of a cast shadow are darkest next to the object and become gradually lighter as they move farther away. Contour: The outline or a section of the outline of a shape or form. Form: An element of art that is created in drawings and paintings by using shading and/or colors to transform shapes into three-dimensional structures. Proportion: The relationship in size between two or more components of an artwork. Shading: The process of adding values to a drawing so as to create the illusion of texture, form, and/or threedimensional space. Sketch: (noun) A simple representation, outline, or drawing that captures the integral aspects of a subject quickly and effi ciently. (verb) The process of rendering a sketch. As an Aside The various techniques used throughout this activity are applicable to drawing any animal with fur.

2 2 For example, in Figures 1 to 3 each leg is the same width but their lengths vary. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 The illustrations in this activity are based on the proportions of Figure Outline a drawing space approximately 3.5 by 6 in (8.89 by cm). Peek ahead to Figure 5. A drawing space is an invaluable tool to help render accurate proportions. Figure 4 The lines in your sketch and outline drawing need to be kept very light. Many illustrations in the fi rst two sections of this activity have been darkened in Photoshop so you can clearly see the lines. 2. Sketch a horizontal oval shape close to the bottom of your drawing space (Figure 4). As you draw, constantly double-check the proportions of your sketch. This shape marks the location and approximate size of the puppy s paw. Make sure you leave plenty of space above and to the right for the rest of the leg and a small part of the body (peek ahead to Figure 5). 3. Lightly sketch the shape that identifies the location and basic forms of the leg. Observe how the shape of the leg becomes narrower at the bottom where it meets the paw. As an Aside Establishing accurate proportions is extremely important. If the overall proportions of an animal are not accurate, even perfect shading can t make your drawing appear realistic.

3 3 Figure 5 4. Add a curved line to mark the location of a small part of the puppy s body (Figure 5). This curved line cuts through the upper section of the leg. 5. Use your kneaded eraser to pat your sketch until the lines are very faint. Outline Basic Forms Figure 6 6. Add neat outlines to the leg and paw with a freshlysharpened HB pencil. Don t draw directly over your sketch lines! Figure 7 Figure 8 Rather, closely examine Figures 6 to 8 in sequence and make adjustments to the lines until your drawing is accurate. 7. Use your kneaded eraser to lighten your outline.

4 4 Add Form and Texture to the Leg 8. Add graduations of curved hatching lines to the leg and the small section of the chest in the upper left (Figures 9 to 15). Graduations made up of short, curved lines draw attention to the furry textures and accentuate the three-dimensional forms of the puppy s leg and chest: The primary light source originates from the upper right; therefore, the shading is darker on the left and lower left. The fur curves in several different directions. Freshly-sharpened pencils from 2H to 4B help keep the fur looking realistic. The fur on the center part of the leg appears to grow downward. The fur that is close to the outer edges of the leg appears to grow outward at a downward angle along each side. Figure 9 Figure 10

5 5 Figure 11 Caution! To prevent rough and messy shading lines, keep your pencil sharpener and sandpaper block handy and make sure the points of your pencils are always sharp. Also, don t rush! Take your time and watch closely the various directions in which the shading lines curve. Figure 12 As an Aside Drawing realistic animals requires special attention to the: textures and/or patterns. directionality of the fur. different values created by the light source(s).

6 6 Figure 13 Tip! When adding shading to a drawing, many artists prefer to work from light to dark. By shading the light values fi rst, you can then layer the medium and dark values over top of specifi c sections of the light shading. Figure 14 Tip! You can make a smooth transition from one value to the next by drawing individual shading lines of varying lengths. Sometimes a short line placed between two other lines helps make the transition look even smoother.

7 9. Use a freshly-sharpened 4B pencil to add short, thin, curved hatching lines all over to darken some values and enhance the furry texture (Figure 15). Figure 15 Outline and Shade a Puppy Paw 10. Draw five toenails on the puppy s paw (Figure 16). Take your time and closely examine their locations and individual shapes. 11. Add a fur textured outline around the furry section of the paw and each toe (Figure 17). Figure 16 Figure 17 The underside of each toe is simply a curved line rather than a fuzzy outline and identifies the pads of the feet. 7

8 8 Figure Continue the shading of the leg down onto the upper section of the paw (Figure 18). 13. Add shading between the two toes on the right (Figure 19). Figure 19 When viewing a paw from this angle, the toes on the left overlap one another and therefore hide the fur in between. 14. Add dark shading to the toe pads. 15. Complete the shading of the toes (Figure 20). Figure 20 Note how some furry lines extend down past the bottoms of the toe pads. 16. Add shading to the toenails (Figure 21). Leave a thin section of a light value on each toenail to create the illusion of form. Figure 21

9 Figure 22 Add Final Details 17. Use a freshlysharpened 4B pencil to add a little section of dark fur to the chest (Figure 22). By making this shading darker, the leg appears to be in front of the chest. 18. Add extra shading to the shadow sections of the paw with a 4B pencil and short, slightly curved hatching lines (also refer to Figure 23 on the next page). 19. Add a cast shadow under and to the left of the paw. Use HB to 4B pencils and a graduation of horizontal hatching lines that ranges from dark directly under the paw to slightly lighter farther outward. 9

10 Use a freshly-sharpened 6B pencil to add some very dark hatching lines to the darkest shadow sections. Keep your pencil nice and sharp! Figure 23 Don t forget the section of the shadow closest to the paw, the fur on the left of the leg and paw, and the tiny section of the chest closest to the upper part of the leg. Check over your drawing and make changes to sections you aren t happy with. Sign and date your drawing, put a big smile on your face, and go hug a furry animal!