Sometimes it is hard
to look at something 3 dimensional and see the 2 dimensional
shapes that make it up. The shadows and details can get in
the way. This exercise, using tracing paper, will help to block
out the details and really see the shapes!
Supplies:
White paper
Pencil
Eraser
Tracing Paper Photo reference of apple branch (below)
Tape
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Directions:
1. Tape the photo
reference to the table and tape a piece of tracing paper
over it. (Place a piece of tape on all 4 sides to make
it really flat.)
2. Using the
pencil, trace only the basic shapes that you see:
3. Trace the
apples first.
4. Trace the
leaves next.
5. Trace what
you can see of the branch last.
6. Remove
the tracing paper and lay it on top of a piece of white
paper to see it better.
7. Now use
the traced drawing as your new reference. Copy (don’t
trace!) these basic shapes onto a clean piece of white
paper. Draw them twice as large as the traced reference.
8. Now you
may look at the photo reference and add the details,
like the veins on the leaves.
9. In the next
lesson, I will address shading. If you would like to add
some shading now, you may, or just leave it and add shading
in the future.
Photo
Reference:
Photo Reference courtesy of USDA, ARS Gallery
Printing of this art lesson plan is allowed for
personal or educational use. It may not be copied for resale
or reprinting without the author's permission. Copyright 2003
Karine Bauch.
