Shape Design /// Part 1 : Seeing Abstract Shapes in the Figure (Patreon)

The fundamentals of shape design are often discussed in the context of character design and illustration. However, I’ve rarely seen them applied directly to figure drawing—and I aim to change that!

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Before you can design with shapes, you first have to see them. In this video, I present several exercises to help train your eye for shape recognition.

But it’s not just about seeing shapes—we also want to identify their unique character. Abstract forms can evoke surprisingly specific ideas, and learning to recognize that opens up new possibilities in your creative process.

Train yourself to see shapes on both a macro (big picture) and micro (detail) level. You can quickly capture the overall expression of a pose through its enclosing shape. Likewise, once you recognize the character of smaller shapes, you’ll be able to translate them to your drawing with more confidence and conviction.

So if you ever place down timid lines, this is for you!