Tài liệu Seeing Shapes and Proportions - Hình dạng và tỷ lệ hình doc

SHAPES AND PROPORTIONS
Brenda Hoddinott

B-02 BEGINNER: LEARN TO SEE
An illustrated discussion surrounding a photo of a duck-
shaped candle introduces the basic process of breaking
down a subject into simple shapes and then measuring
spaces. Super simple step-by-step instructions and
illustrations then take you through the process of using
your vision to render accurate proportions and neatly
outline a drawing.
Suggested supplies include: paper, HB pencil, kneaded
and vinyl erasers, and a pencil sharpener.
The process of drawing any subject becomes less intimidating when you understand how to
render the proportions properly, and can draw the fundamental shapes of the various parts in
their correct places. This lesson is divided into the following five sections:
INTRODUCTION: provides a brief overview of the process of drawing a cute little candle-
shaped duck, from initially looking at shapes and spaces to completing a contour drawing.
VISUALLY IDENTIFY SHAPES: demonstrates the importance of a thorough visual
examination of a drawing subject.
VISUALLY MEASURE SPACES: discusses and illustrates how to visually measure spaces
and compare them to others.
SKETCH PROPORTIONS: new skills are put into action and the proportions of the duck-
shaped candle are lightly sketched.
CHECK PROPORTIONS AND ADD FINAL DETAILS: the duck is outlined with thin
neat lines by constantly referring to step-by-step illustrations and the reference photo.

This lesson is recommended for beginner level artists with limited drawing skills, as
well as home schooling, academic and recreational fine art educators.
7 PAGES – 14 ILLUSTRATIONS
Published by Hoddinott Fine Art Publishers, Halifax, NS, Canada – 2005


Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may
not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
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- 2 -
INTRODUCTION
This lesson takes you step-by-step, through the entire process of drawing a cute little candle-
shaped duck, from initially looking at the shapes and spaces to completing a contour drawing.
Seeing and sketching accurate proportions is the foundation of drawing. Proportion is the
relationship in size of each of the various parts of a drawing when compared to others. To
accurately render proportions, artists study their subjects very carefully, visually measure various
distances within spaces, and visually break the whole object down into simple shapes.
ILLUSTRATION 02-01 ILLUSTRATION 02-02
Shape refers to the outward outline of a form. Basic
shapes include circles, ovals, squares, rectangles,
and triangles. A Contour drawing is a drawing
comprised of lines that follow the contours of the
edges of various components of a drawing subject
and define the outlines of its forms.
VISUALLY IDENTIFY SHAPES
ILLUSTRATION 02-03
These six photos of a duck-shaped candle
demonstrate the importance of a thorough visual
examination of a drawing subject. Each section

of the duck is visually broken down into shapes,
and then put back together as a drawing, similar
to putting together a jigsaw puzzle.
Follow along with each photo to identify the
various shapes and see how they are put
together in a drawing.
1. Photo of the duck is in grayscale to allow
for easier viewing.
2. The duck’s body is shaped like a kidney
or a kidney bean.
3. A simple circle defines the basic shape of
the head.
4. The candle wick is a long thin rectangle.
5. The beak is defined as a simple triangular
shape.
6. Each of the shapes, the kidney, circle,
rectangle, and triangle come together like
pieces of a puzzle to complete an outline
of the overall shape of the duck.

Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may
not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
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- 3 -
VISUALLY MEASURE SPACES
To render believable proportions, you need to thoroughly examine the subject before you draw.
By visually measuring and then comparing each of the various parts of the drawing subject to
others, you are more likely to end up with a drawing that is more accurate.
ILLUSTRATION 02-04 ILLUSTRATION 02-05

As I examine the photo of
the duck, I immediately
notice similar distances
inside the shapes of the
head and body.
The length of the head
(marked A) is almost
exactly the same as the
distance from the bottom of
the head to the bottom of
the body (marked B).

ILLUSTRATION 02-06 ILLUSTRATION 02-07
I then search for more clues
to seeing the proper
proportions by comparing
the horizontal distances
inside the shapes.
I focus on the width of the
body at the halfway point of
distance B (in Illustration 02-
05). I discover that this
section of the body is
approximately twice as wide
as the width of the head.

SKETCH PROPORTIONS
Time to put your new skills into action and draw! As you sketch, visually break down each
section into simple shapes, measure proportions, and constantly check the relationships of lines
and spaces to one another. If you’re not happy with some of the lines you draw, simply erase that

section, redraw the lines, and keep on going.
Keep in mind that you can turn your sketchbook around as you draw,
especially when sketching a circle. Rotate your paper and look at your drawing from
different perspectives to find problem areas.

Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may
not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
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- 4 -
1) Draw a kidney shape in the lower section of your drawing space as the duck’s body.
Observe that the section on the left is much larger than the tail section. Keep your lines
very light by pressing very gently with your pencil (I used an HB).
2) Add a circular shape as the head.
Note that the circle does not sit on top of the kidney shape. Rather, the lower section of the
circle extends into the upper section of the kidney shape.
ILLUSTRATION 02-08 ILLUSTRATION 02-09










3) Add a triangular shape as the beak and a thin rectangular shape as the wick.
Observe that each of the lines used to sketch the beak and wick are at an angle rather than
horizontal or vertical.

ILLUSTRATION 02-10 ILLUSTRATION 02-11












Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may
not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
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Web sites and
- 5 -
CHECK PROPORTIONS AND ADD FINAL DETAILS
In this section, you visually re-measure spaces to confirm that the proportions are correct as you
outline the duck with thin neat lines. Keep in mind that each of the shapes represents an
independent form. Hence, you need to constantly compare my drawings to the reference photo to
understand why the lines need to curve around these forms. In addition, you need to pay close
attention to the lengths of the various lines and the directions in which they curve.
As you complete this contour drawing, continuously check whether the size and proportions of
each section is correct, and adjust as needed. Keep the following in mind:
Don’t press too hard with your pencils! No matter how careful you are, accidents do happen,
and you may need to erase sections you aren’t happy with.
Draw slowly! Accuracy is more important than speed. Your speed will automatically
improve the more you practice.

Keep your pencils sharpened so your lines stay neat and thin. Try using a piece of fine
sandpaper or a sandpaper block to keep your pencil points nice and sharp. Pencil sharpeners
tend to wear down pencils very quickly.

4) Use your kneaded eraser to pat your entire sketch until the lines are very faint.
ILLUSTRATION 02-12
5) With a freshly sharpened HB
pencil outline the perimeters of
the duck’s beak and the wick.
Round off the outer section of the
beak and add rounded corners to
the triangular shape.
Don’t outline the lower
section of the wick, because
it needs to look like it’s
attached to the top of the
head.
6) Outline the sections of the
duck’s head on either side of
the beak and the wick.
Don’t outline the lower
section of the head or the part
where the wick meets the top
of the head. The head needs to
appear to be joined to the body.
7) Outline the duck’s body and tail.

Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may
not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
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Web sites and
- 6 -
ILLUSTRATION 02-13
8) Outline the eye and the tiny circular
shape inside it.
Take note of the distances of the eye
from various points on the outline of
the head, such as the top and sides.
9) Draw a line to indicate the opening
of the bill.
Again, pay attention to the length of
the line and the sections that are
straight and curved.
Always examine the
object you are drawing very
closely, and take note of whether
shapes appear to be in front of or
behind others.
ILLUSTRATION 02-14


10) Erase any
fingerprints, smudges,
and/or sketch lines
that you don’t like
with your kneaded
eraser molded to a
point (or a sharp edge
of your vinyl eraser).

Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and may
not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
E-mail
Web sites and
- 7 -
BRENDA HODDINOTT - BIO
As a self-educated teacher, visual artist, portraitist, forensic artist, and illustrator, Brenda
Hoddinott utilizes diverse art media including graphite, technical pen, colored pencil, chalk
pastel, charcoal, conté crayon, and oil paints.
My philosophy on teaching art is to focus primarily on the
enjoyment aspects while gently introducing the technical and
academic. Hence, in creating a passion for the subject matter,
the quest for knowledge also becomes enjoyable.
>Brenda Hoddinott<
Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Brenda grew up in the small town of Corner Brook. She
developed strong technical competencies with a personal commitment to self directed learning,
and the aid of assorted “Learn to Draw” books.
During Brenda’s twenty-five year career as a self-educated civilian forensic artist, numerous
criminal investigation departments have employed Brenda’s skills, including Royal Canadian
Mounted Police and municipal police departments. In 1992, Brenda was honored with a
commendation from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and in 1994, she was awarded a
Certificate of Membership from “Forensic Artists International”.
Her home-based art career included graphic design, and teaching recreational drawing and
painting classes. As supervisor of her community’s recreational art department, Brenda hired and
trained teachers, and designed curriculum for several children’s art programs. In 1998, Brenda
chose to end her eighteen-year career as an art educator in order to devote more time to writing,
drawing, painting, and developing her websites.

Drawspace
incorporates her unique style and innovative approach to
curriculum development. These sites offer downloadable and printable drawing classes for
students of all abilities from the age of eight through adult. Students of all ages, levels and
abilities have praised the simple step-by-step instructional approach. This site is respected as a
resource for fine art educators, home schooling programs, and educational facilities throughout
the world.
LEARN-TO-DRAW BOOKS BY BRENDA HODDINOTT
Drawing for Dummies (March 4, 2003): Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., New, York,
NY, this 336 page book is available on various websites and in major bookstores
internationally.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Drawing People (August 2004): Published by Alpha -
Pearson Education – Macmillan, Indianapolis, IN, this 360 page book will be available on
various websites and in major bookstores internationally.