Sunday, July 25, 2010

Draw-Through

Here’s the preliminary line drawing for a Dinotopia painting called “Flight Past the Falls.” I did it on a separate piece of paper, photocopied it, and transferred it to the canvas with an Artograph projector.

The rider on the pterosaur was drawn on a separate layer of paper and moved around until I got the position I wanted.

What I want you to notice is the “draw through,” which means the lines carried across to invisible parts of the form. For example:
1. Circular curve of the bottom half of the globe.
2. Chest of pterosaur hidden by wing.
3. Eye level or horizon hidden behind falls.
4. Curvature of Moorish arch hidden by the flanking buttresses.

Note also the centerline markings on the globe, and the winged sculpture. Also note the perspective grid on the side of the drawing.

Draw-through helps you keep track of what the form is doing when it slips behind something else. If you work out the draw-through on a separate piece of paper from the finished work you don’t have to worry about erasing the lines or covering them up.

You can apply the draw-through principle to figure drawing or any drawing, especially in the early stages. It will make your final drawing or painting more solid and convincing. When an architect draws a building elevation, she knows where the windows and doors are located on the back side of the building.
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Earlier GJ post about the skybax model and the finished image.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for this post.
I am in an online perspective class with the TAD and this is exactly what we were learning from Marshall Vandruff.

Super Villain said...

i love to see the behinde the scenes art of dinotopia.

also your teachings are awsome, especially in person.

i hope you are planning on posting another schedual of shows, classes and lectures for 2011!

SKIZO said...

Fascinating work.
It has been delightful
to visit your gallery.
Good Creations

mikeburns@mikeburnsart.com said...

This is something I should be trying more often. Thanks for the post, you're always keeping me on my toes!

Pyracantha said...

Long ago with your first DINOTOPIA book you created "Waterfall City." Now everyone who designs a "fantasy city" feel obliged to put waterfalls in it. I wonder if these fantasy cities are hydro-powered.

phiq said...

Thank you again Mr Gurney! I need to do more of this, and now I will.