LESSON 10 INTRODUCTION TO OBJECTS STRUCTURE 10.0
OBJECTIVES
10.1
INTRODUCTION
10.2
FORM OF AN OBJECT
10.3
DRAWING OF A CUBE 10.3.1 10.3.2 10.3.3 10.3.4
10.4
W HAT IS A CUBE? DRAWING A CUBE FROM FRONT VIEW DRAWING A CUBE FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES DRAW THE CUBE SO THAT THREE FACES OF THE CUBE AND NINE EDGES ARE VISIBLE.
ASSIGNMENTS 10.4.1 10.4.2
CLASS ASSIGNMENTS HOME ASSIGNMENTS
10.5
SUMMING UP
10.6
POSSIBLE ANSWERS TO SELF-CHECK QUESTIONS
10.7
TERMINAL QUESTIONS
10.8
REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED FURTHER READING
10.9
GLOSSARY
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10. INTRODUCTION TO OBJECTS In this unit we introduce yet another aspect that we see around us to represent in Object Drawing. Once again, the principle is same; that the drawing must reflect the character of the Object and the elements that are the basic structure of the form and its volume, viz., angles and curves, projecting and receding planes, and spatial relationships across the overall dimensions of height, width and depth. This lesson will give a brief introduction to man made objects. The next lesson will teach combining effects with objects and the final lesson of this unit will explain the perspective drawing of the objects.
10.0 Objectives After studying this lesson you will be able to •
Understand that accuracy in object drawing is far more important than in nature drawing.
•
See, observe and draw the objects after understanding the underlying simple geometrical form of the object.
•
Understand the different materials and qualities of those materials used for the object.
•
Draw a Cube, which is simple linear (3 dimensional) object.
10.1 Introduction A Drawing is an evidence of a thought process of recording an object. As the master Leonardo da Vinci stated, “To see is to know – to know is to see.” While a well rendered drawing may represent the peak of presentation values, it is far more important to have an ability to observe and analyze form and details of a subject, which is then represented as a drawing. Skill in drawing, as you now understand, is the basic building block of designing. A drawing may involve the artist in visualizing an object not yet in existence, which is the beginning of the Design and development process. It is somewhat more important than the nature drawing of leaves, plants, fruits etc., to accurately draw the object in its form and details. Objects are man made and hence always have a function for use. An object’s function will give you an insight into its structure, which in turn helps you draw accurately.
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10.2 Form of an Object Most of the Objects around us are closer to the basic geometrical shapes in form, unlike nature where free flowing curves abound. When you look at an object try and see it broken down into basic shapes and forms. Observe how many objects around you such as desks, chairs, cabinets, mug, plate, pencil, light fixture, etc. are based on square, cube, cylinder, and prism (Figs. 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4). Objects are made by man, using different materials such as wood, metal, plastic, paper, fabric or their combinations. Some examples of objects made of different materials are given below:
Fig. 10.1 Square Table
i)
Fig. 10.2 Cubical Stool
Fig. 10.3 Cylindrical Candle Stands
Fig. 10.4 Prism Shaped Lamp Shade
Wood – Furniture items like chairs, tables, and cabinets, some implements in kitchen etc. (Fig. 10.5)
Fig. 10.5 Wooden Table
Fig. 10.6 Metal Ware
ii)
Metal – Stainless steel, copper and aluminium utensils, iron implements in agriculture, bicycle, car etc. (Fig. 10.6).
iii)
Plastic–Plastic bucket and mug, storage boxes and containers, dustbins, some tableware etc. (Fig. 10.7).
Fig. 10.7 Plastic Recycle Bin
Fig. 10.8 Paper Bag
Fig. 10.9 Kurta made of fabric
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iv)
Paper– Paper bags, Newspaper, paper decorations etc. (Fig. 10.8).
v)
Fabric–Garments, Bags, Curtains etc. (Fig. 10.9)
You will also notice that the objects are primarily of three kinds: i)
Opaque, through which no light can pass. You can’t see the back of the object. For example: a stainless steel drinking glass, a table (fig. 10.10) etc.
ii)
Transparent, through which light can pass. All sides of the object are crisply visible. For example, a drinking glass made of glass, a glass or pet bottle, a cellophane paper (Fig. 10.11).
iii)
Translucent, through which light can pass only partially. The other sides of the object though visible are hazy. For example: a muslin curtain (Fig. 10.12), a translucent plastic bag.
Fig. 10.10 Opaque Wooden Table
Fig. 10.11 Transparent Glass
Fig. 10.12 Translucent Muslin Curtain
10.3 Drawing of a Cube 10.3.1 What is a cube As a first step, we will study a cube (Fig. 10.13). •
You all know; what a Cube is. It is a 3 dimensional object having six equal square faces (you will be provided with a paper model as part of the teaching kit).
•
The cube has 6 faces, 12 edges, 8 vertices. All the faces are square. Hence all 12 edges are equal.
In an attempt to draw a cube, one can understand the basic principles of Perspective – Proportion, Scale, Eye level, diminution, convergence, foreshortening, and so on.
Fig. 10.13 Cube
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10.3.2 Drawing a Cube From Front view •
You have a Cube in front of you. Place it at eye level. The view point of the cube has been established now. In this case, the eye level is near the centre line of the cube.
•
First place it with a face and the edges completely parallel to you so that you do not see any other side or back face. The drawing will also indicate your view point with respect to the object.
•
As a simple quick sketch on your exercise sheet, draw the Square face as you see. You may recall the method of measuring an object in view with the help of your pencil or ruler. You can see that the length and width of the square are equal and are the two longest and right (relative, yet accurate) dimensions.
•
The length of the first line, whether horizontal or vertical will establish the dimension of the other edge of the Square face. Remember, it is not the actual measurement but the relative measurement of the length that is required. This is one view of the cube. This view helps you to understand that a cube is a 3 dimensional development of the 2 dimensional square.
10.3.3 Drawing a Cube From Different Angles •
This time place the cube at eye level with the longest vertical edge parallel to you. There are three vertical edges (lines) and the central vertical line is the longest one. Now there are also 2 faces visible to you. Each face is seemingly decreasing or diminishing.
•
In drawing this view of the cube, first draw the central vertical edge. The length of this line, which is the longest vertical line, will establish the dimension of all the other lines you see. It is with respect to this line that other edges and corresponding angles will be determined.
•
The two edges of the two faces each that diminish to the left and right of the vertical line seem to converge at some point. This imaginary point in fact lies on the imaginary line of the eye level.
•
Now draw two edges, the top and bottom edges of the right face. Take a mental measure of the angle at which the two edged are converging. (Hint: Since your eye level has been fixed at near centre line of the cube the angles of convergence of top and bottom edges will be near equal).
•
Draw these two lines of the edges from the central vertical line lightly to the side vertical line. Check the length of the side vertical line using the pencil/ruler method. If there is a difference, adjust the top and bottom edges accordingly.
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•
Take a measure of the other two vertical edges with respect to the central edge. First take the distances from the central edge and mark these with light vertical lines.
•
Remember the vertical lines being parallel to you are the true measure in their length and the two edges are being derived with respect to these.
•
You now have a freehand drawing of the cube in front of you, where three parallel vertical edges and two faces are visible.
10.3.4 Draw the cube so that three faces of the cube and nine edges are visible. •
For this view, place the cube is such a way that it is below your eye level and the vertical edges are parallel to you. Can you say what is visible to you?
•
To draw a freehand cube in any size or any view, you need only draw the nine lines of the edges correctly and in accurate relationship to one another.
•
Take measurement of the longest vertical edge and draw it freehand on the paper. As before, the dimensions of all other eight lines of the cube will be in relation to the length of this line.
•
The second set of lines that you should draw, are the side edges from the bottom and top of this vertical edge. Remember, the angles of these lines, with respect to the vertical line, determine the rest of the corresponding angles. These would also give you an idea of the lines that tend to converge on the imaginary line of the eye level.
•
Now take measurements of the side vertical lines and also the distance from the main vertical line, mark the points of intersection and draw them.
•
To draw the top face, you need to understand the angles at which the 2 remaining edges start from the top of side vertical line, as in your view. Although you will realize these lines are actually parallel to the other two sets of horizontal lines, but they seem to converge along with them at some imaginary point outside the object.
•
These two lines of the top face and the rear edges can be drawn after understanding the respective angles and using the first vertical line as a measuring unit. These two lines will always be shorter than the lines of the front edges.
•
Where these two lines intersect at the rear of the face represents the hidden rear edge, behind the cube.
In this way, you have now drawn freehand 3 different views of the cube. With each careful drawing, you must understand the importance of seeing, thinking, and comparing. The degree of accuracy you attain in your drawing is 6
entirely up to your understanding of corresponding angles and the measures you have taken of each line. The drawings of the different views of the cube may not appear to you the accurate Perspective drawing composition they need to be. You will gradually understand the Perspective drawing in more detail. However, there needs to be concentrated effort and practice done in order to achieve the accuracy in representation required.
Self-check Questions 1. What are the basic geometrical shapes Objects are based on? Give examples. 2. What are the common materials used for Objects? Give examples. 3. What is the best way of classifying the solid objects from an artist’s point of view? 4. What are the three types of objects based on the reflection of light? 5. What is a cube? What are its dimensions?
10.4 Assignments 10.4.1 Class assignments i)
Having gone over some basics of object drawing, let us attempt to draw an object from our environment. Using a pencil, draw with detailing and shading an opaque object, such as a mug, a plate, a bowl, a tea kettle, a cooking utensil, or a flower pot.
•
If you recall, during the class on drawing flowers you had seen that in top view a circular flower appears elliptical when the angle of view changes to the side.
•
This also is an example of Perspective view of an object.
•
Now, imagine there is a circle drawn on the faces of the cube, with the length of the square’s side as its diameter.
•
When you shift the placement of the cube, can you see the circle seeming to become like an ellipse. Do you get a feel of viewing a Cylinder within this object?
•
So, when you draw the object of your choice, whether a mug, or a utensil, or a flower pot, apply the understanding of perspective as applicable to a circle and a cube. 7
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Draw the object as a line drawing first and then add detailing and shading.
10.4.2 Home assignments i) Using a pencil, draw with detailing and shading, a transparent object (e.g. a glass of water or a plastic bag with vegetables / fruits inside). •
In drawing a transparent object like a tumbler of water made of Glass, basically, you are looking at the full object with all sides visible.
•
The perspective view of the object will be visible through the transparent material.
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Draw in as many details as you can.
•
In transparent materials, the highlights become more important than the shadows. Highlights, as you will remember are represented by the whiter areas.
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Whatever is contained in the transparent object is slightly subdued in crispness. If it is colourful, it will lend some shade of that colour to the object.
• This is a difficult assignment to do. However, in your attempt you will learn a lot. Try to get the outline of the object right and as accurate as possible in perspective. Add only as much shade or highlight as you can to convey the transparent character.
10.5 Summing Up In this lesson after a brief introduction of object drawing, various man made objects of various different types of materials has been discussed. And then features and properties of a cubic structure are discussed. Lastly a stepwise procedure of drawing of a cube from different angles is explained. Thus this lesson proves to be the first step towards skillful object drawing.
10.6 Possible Answers to Self-check Questions 1.
The basic geometrical shapes objects are based on are • • • •
2.
Square – A table, Cube – A shelving cabinet Cylinder – A candle stand, a pencil, a flask Prism – An ice cream cone, a lamp shade
The common materials used for objects are • • •
Wood – Furniture items Metal – Stainless steel, copper and aluminum utensils Plastic–Plastic bucket and mug, plastic containers 8
• •
Paper– Paper bags, Newspaper, paper decorations Fabric–Garments, Bags, Curtains etc.
3.
Classifying objects depending on their shapes.
4.
Opaque, through which no light can pass, Transparent, through which light can pass and Translucent, through which light can pass only partially.
5.
A cube is a 3 dimensional object having six equal square faces. The cube has 6 faces, 12 edges, 8 vertices. All the faces are square. Hence all 12 edges are equal.
10.7 Terminal Questions 1.
What are the features and characteristics of an object, which should be studied, to draw it on a sheet? Support your answer with an example.
2.
Take any solid man made object and sketch it from three different angles Explain the specialties of the object along with the description of each of the drawing steps.
10.8 References and Suggested Further Reading 1. Anonymous. 2006. The Complete Guide to Drawing and Painting. Quantum Publishing Ltd, London. 2. Powell, W.F. 1997. The Art of Drawing Still Life. Walter Foster Publishing, Inc, California.
10.9 Glossary 1.
Visualizing
Seeing
2.
Receding
Moving back
3.
Spatial
Pertaining to space
4.
Projecting
Imagine; see in one's mind
5.
Perspective
The appearance of things relative to one another as determined by their distance from the viewer
6.
Diminution
Becoming smaller
7.
Convergence
The act of converging, that is coming closer
8.
Foreshortening
Shorten lines in a drawing so as to create an illusion of depth
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