Practice 3D Form Manipulation
We practiced primitive 3D forms in an earlier chapter. These are functional building blocks for constructing more complex three-dimensional forms. But they become even more powerful if you allow yourself to manipulate the forms further, and that is what this practice session is about.
The form manipulations that will be discussed in this chapter are:
Stretching, squeezing:
Twisting:
Bending:
Adding:
Subtracting:
Here are some examples that show why it is helpful to manipulate forms: The chassis of a car can be simplified to two boxes stacked on top of each other, with two cylinders subtracted from the bottom box. A box can be twisted, and that can be the basis for a torso in a dynamic pose.
Deforming Primitive 3D Forms
3D Form Manipulation Assignment 1: Stretching And Squeezing
When stretching or squeezing a form, it is important to remember that the volume typically stays the same; it is just distributed differently. That means that if you stretch it, it becomes narrow in the middle, and if you squeeze it, it becomes thicker.
Follow the link below, and practice stretching and squeezing primitive 3D forms by drawing them from observation using the stretched and squeezed 3D models for reference.
Various Stretched And Squeezed Forms
3D Form Manipulation Assignment 2: Twisting
Draw a box twisted from observation using a 3D model for reference. Here is a demonstration that shows how to do that:
Drawing Demo: Twisted Box, Step By Step
Follow the link below and practice drawing a twisted box from observation.
Twisted Box
3D Form Manipulation Assignment 3: Bending
Follow the link below and practice drawing bent primitive 3D forms from observation.
Various Bent Forms
Adding And Subtracting Primitive 3D Forms
3D Form Manipulation Assignment 4: Adding
Adding forms leads to interlocking forms. This can be useful for anatomy. For example, Bridgman’s anatomy books contain many sketches where he uses interlocking forms to invent anatomy.
Follow the link below and practice drawing these interlocking primitive 3D forms from observation.
Various Interlocking Forms
An example of the use of interlocking forms for Bridgman can be found in the Bridgman 3D model drawing demonstration here:
3D Form Manipulation Assignment 5: Subtracting
Subtracting is about removing one form from another form. This can be particularly useful when drawing man-made forms. In the earlier example, a car chassis was constructed by adding two boxes and subtracting two cylinders from the bottom box.
Follow the link below and practice drawing subtracted primitive 3D forms from observation.
Various Subtracted Forms
You can also use the Gridspective tool to experiment with adding and subtracting boxes from each other.
Try it out yourself. It is highly enlightening and helps understand the mechanisms behind adding and subtracting without having to go through the tedious steps of drawing perspective grids and following them.
Play With Perspective
Easily play with perspective in your browser. Draw lines using perspective grids, start new lines from intersecting points, remove overshooting lines, and construct more complex 3D forms as you learn the principles of perspective. Download the perspective grid and drawing as an image to use as an under-drawing for a finished piece.Check it out
3D Form Manipulation Assignment 6: Manipulate 3D Form From Imagination
Now that you have practiced drawing primitive 3D forms from observation and hopefully have a sense of what they typically look like, try to do the same from imagination. Choose one of the manipulation types and primitive 3D forms to try it on, and try to do it from imagination.
Now we can apply all we learned to construct more complex forms from simpler primitive forms and their manipulated versions.
3D Form Manipulation Assignment 7: Break Down Objects Into Primitive Forms
YouTube Video - What Even Is ART? (And Who Decides?)
Look around you and break down objects into primitive forms. For example, draw tables and chairs as combinations of boxes and cylinders.
The Morning Sketches APP provides reference images, organizes everything, and schedules all the exercises in this course for you.
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