Sketch (2)

Author: Chief Editor: Zhang Peichu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-09-01
Features:
Fragment: Tools and Materials
Pencils: Pencils marked with H or B symbols, where H indicates hardness (e.g., H-6H), B indicates softness (e.g., B-8B), and HB is a medium-softness type. The number represents the degree of hardness or softness, with higher numbers indicating stronger hardness or softness. All illustrations in this book are completed with pencils.
Erasers: Suitable erasers for drawing include plastic erasers (also called scented erasers) and moldable erasers (soft erasers), which resemble putty.
Blades: Single-edged blades or craft knives.
Paper: All illustrations in this book are drawn on drawing paper. Drawing paper is affordable and ideal for pencil sketches.
Preparation Before Drawing
(1) Choosing the Drawing Position
Selecting a good drawing position is crucial for the success of your work.
Optimal Angle Position:
First, from the perspective of form and structure, it should highlight the features and spiritual expression of the subject.
Second, the area of bright tones should be slightly larger than that of dark tones.
Third, the distance between the artist and the subject should be twice the total height of the object.
(2) Relationship Between Drawing Paper and Easel
In works created with an easel, it is common to see vertical lines in the drawing appear tilted. This is not due to the artist's observation or representation errors but rather the result of uneven holes in the left and right supports of the easel. Therefore, students should develop the habit of aligning the top and bottom edges of the paper horizontally when mounting it.
(3) Picture Plane, Horizon Line, and Viewing Point
Picture Plane: A hypothetical transparent plane between the scene and the artist's eyes is called the picture plane.
Horizon Line: A horizontal line at the same height as the artist's eyes is called the horizon line. There is only one horizon line, and it does not necessarily appear on the drawing paper—it can be outside the frame. The height of the horizon line is determined based on the artist's eye level. A standing person has a higher horizon line than a sitting person, and as a standing person crouches downward, the horizon line becomes progressively lower.
Viewing Point: When observing and drawing an object, the artist should maintain a single viewing point. For example, when drawing a portrait, the subject's head should be as still as possible, without excessive left or right movement, and the artist's position should not be arbitrarily shifted.
(4) Determining the Representation Style of Sketches
Structural Sketch: The characteristic of structural sketching is to use lines as the primary tool to shape objects, focusing more on the internal structure. It seeks to organize the rhythm and harmony of points, lines, and planes in a two-dimensional space, enriching the effect through the interplay of line intersections, combinations, and variations in thickness, weight, and speed, creating a flat,-like effect.
Value Sketch: This method depicts objects based on the five major tones produced by light hitting the surface: bright areas, mid-tones, the light-dark, dark areas, and reflections. Value refers to the tone, which should be understood as the amount of light reflected by each surface of the form. Since the distance between the light source and the surface, the angle of incidence, and the color of the surface vary, the amount of light reflected also differs. This drawing method emphasizes the realistic representation of the object's volume, spatial depth, and texture.