Exercise: An objective drawing

Shoe, Umbrella, Pair of trousers, Pair of glasses, Hat

Take an item from the list above and explore it visually to become aware of its textures, physical qualities and function. What is the item for – what does it do? Using a pencil or fine liner do an objective drawing of your object on an A4 sheet. You are trying to achieve a drawing that has a high degree of visual accuracy and is technically controlled. Be analytical and use drawing to clearly convey this visual information.

You are trying to record what you see in this drawing so be aware of the relative scale of different elements of your object and position of component parts. Use marks that describe the texture of the object and vary line quality to suggest its contours. You may find that if you place your item on a white surface you can observe it more easily. Colour is reflected by white and you will be less distracted by background contrasts.

OCA Key Steps in Illustration

I selected my old wooly winter hat as I thought this would be interesting to draw due to the texture and soft malleable quality of the fabric.

I think this turned out pretty well. I should most certainly do this more often, as I think it would benefit my drawing skills overall.

Exercise: A subjective drawing

Take another object and write a list of a series of words to describe it. In this drawing you are not describing its function or purpose but its particular qualities. Is it shiny, hard, soft, fluffy, delicious or antique? These adjectives are subjective – there is no wrong or right – whichever words you select will be appropriate because they reflect your interpretation and understanding of the object. Choose one word from your list as the basis of your idea. You don’t need to look at your object; at this stage you are exploring your idea visually. Make a moodboard and include collage and found materials. Cut images from magazines based on their visual properties. Be exhaustive.

Photocopy, trace or scan and print your line drawing. Choose a paper with a texture or surface which best relates to the idea you had about your object Use colours, textures and materials identified during your exploration with your moodboard to translate the line drawing into an image which communicates the adjective which you associated with your object. Use them to colour, or fill your line drawing. You are still attempting to describe the object but focussing and exaggerating the quality that you have selected to communicate.

OCA Key Steps in Illustration

For my second drawing I wanted to use the umbrella.

Describe the item:

• Sturdy
• Hard
• Rigid
• Wet
• Protective
• Plastic
• metal structure
• Spider legs

I wanted to look at some things that remind me of umbrellas but wanted to exclude actual images of umbrellas for this exercise. I have put together the above board. I could not help but had to include things that are about the function of the object. I think because an umbrella is a highly utilitarian object it is pretty difficult to be subjective and not think about it’s function.

I wanted to create my illustration that would show the object its qualities and also show something about it’s purpose.

I first drawn the image digitally, and then printed this on glossy photo paper and drew over this with coloured sharpies.

I think subjective drawing comes more naturally to me. Although the second drawing is less accurate, I feel it has more content than the first one has. I guess whenever I do drawing it is subjective, not so much objective, however this exercise have put this in order for me, so now I know.