How to Draw Ep.2 - PERSPECTIVE 3D Drawing & Sketching Course

This is the 2nd episode of my How to Draw 101 series.

In this beginner drawing course you can learn step by step how to recognize the 3D structures of real-life subjects, and how to draw believable 3D forms with your pencil in order to create the illusion of 3-dimensionality in the viewer.

We will use the basic principles of volumetric drawing and perspective drawing to create depth on the 2-dimensional paper.

Understanding volumes, depth & space is an essential drawing skill that you will use all the time in your artistic carrier.

What previous drawing experience do you need?

Some basic drawing skills would be useful (check out the 1st episode of this series), but not mandatory for this course. I designed the lessons in a way that you can also benefit from it with very little or zero previous drawing experience.

What drawing tools do you need?

You can enroll in this beginner drawing course without any special drawing tool. I'll be using a regular 2B graphite pencil, and cheap office papers. But you can use any drawing tool you like or have (pen, marker, crayon).

What can you expect by completing this course?

You will understand how complex 3D forms are built from simple building blocks. You'll be capable to recognize the 3D structure of any subject you see. Also, you'll be able to draw simple and more complex forms using the rules of perspective drawing (1-point, 2-point, and 3-point perspective). First, you will learn to draw the simplest basic 3D shapes from any angle: the cube, the cylinder, the sphere, the cone, the pyramid, and the torus. Then, you will learn how to make different transformations (like rotation, bending, twisting, stretching) on these basic shapes to get more complex forms. To practice what you've learned we'll be doing plenty of drawing exercises. We'll be sketching & drawing a lot.

By the end of the course, you'll be able to draw rock solid 3D structures on the paper about your favorite subjects, which is the very first phase of creating any kind of artworks.

Course Content

Day 1 - How to See Volumes?

How to recognize the 3D structure of

• a blocky subjects - a classic arch

• rounded forms - a glass of wine

• a human figure - a yoga pose

• more complex, organic forms - the lips

• Day 1 - Assignment: analyze the structure of a windmill, and make a sketch about it

Learn about construction lines.

Day 2 - Perspective Drawing Basics

• Projection in visual perception

• Graphical projection types

• 3D isometric projection

• 2D multiview projection

• Perspective projections

• 1-point perspective

• 2-point perspective

• 3-point perspective

• 5-point perspective

• Day 2 - Assignment: practicing perspectives

Day 3 - Basic Building Blocks

• The cube

• The cylinder

• The sphere

• The cone

• The pyramid

• Day 3 - Assignment: draw simple 3-D shapes in a 2-point perspective grid

Day 4 - Transformations

• Draw a P letter in 3D

• How to draw a coffee cup handle step by step

• How to draw rounded glass-like forms

• How to draw a donut shape

• How to draw a complex 3D form, the banana in different angles

• Day 4 - Assignment: imagine you're drawing

Day 5 - Let's do some sketching

• Make a sketch about a camera in 3D

• Make a sketch about a coffee cup with a spoon in 3D

• Day 5 - Assignment: 3D sketching about your favorite subject

If you'd like to take your drawing skills to the next level, enroll in this course now!

See you in the first lesson!