Weekly Sketching Exercises
As with last semester, we will be devoting the first 30 minutes of each studio class to sketching. These sketches are in addition to ideation and presentation sketches for the other exercises and projects for this studio. This semester we will also produce orthographic line drawings to go with the 3/4 view sketches.
Process:
- The sketching exercises are intended to extend the skills we developed last semester. The goal of sketching is to be able to communicate ideas quickly. It is more important that the sketches be accurate and quick than being perfectly rendered. Construction lines are important to continue to develop your understanding of and your ability to communicate the underlying geometry of your forms. YOU MUST USE and SHOW THEM.
- You will also produce dimensioned orthographic drawings of your designs. The orthographic drawings are intended to be diagrammatic (as opposed to mechanical drawings aka drafting). The orthographic drawings are for communication purposes and to reinforce your understanding of descriptive geometry. You should provide overall dimensions (h x w x d), but it is not necessary to provide internal dimensions. True mechanical drawing standards are very specific and go beyond the scope of these exercises.
- If you are using markers and paper, start with the warm-ups from last semester. Also, use a new sheet of paper for each session, and add additional sheets as necessary. Being able to draw accurately and quickly on paper is still a highly valued skill because impromptu conversations where there is no access to digital tools is still incredibly common.
- If you choose to use an iPAD, you must print your sketches for pin up. It is critical that you start with a high resolution document (ideally 3300px x 2550px @300ppi for print).
- Regardless of your sketching tools... get in the habit of having them with you always.
- I recommend searching Spencer’s and/or Robert’s tutorials for assistance with new materials and techniques regardless of your decision to use digital or analog.
- Generally we will pin up the sketch for the week on Mondays. Save all of your sketches (even the bad ones!). We will add them to your sketching portfolio at the end of the semester
Materials and Software
For analog sketching you will use the same tools and media as last semester. You have freedom to use whatever worked best for you, but markers with white pencil highlights are still the standard. As with last semester, you may (should) clean up analog sketches in Photoshop as you add them to your portfolio.
For digital sketching, we are sketching to improve hand/eye coordination. Therefore, you should use Fresco or ProCreate. ID drawing style still relies heavily on the tradition of marker sketching and you should choose your “brushes” in these programs to adhere to the basic style but also to start to develop your own style. “Sketching the Basics” is the best reference to ID sketching
Orthographic drawings should be vector-based using vector brushes in Fresco or ProCreate or using Illustrator.
Deliverables:
The number of required sketches will vary with the assignments, but you will PRESENT at least one sketch
each week.
each week.
Week 1:
Milk Carton
(graphics, plastic cap, crimp marks and curved folds)
Milk Carton
(graphics, plastic cap, crimp marks and curved folds)
Week 2:
Shampoo Bottle with graphics
Shampoo Bottle with graphics
Week 3:
Glass Tumbler
(go beyond a simple truncated cone)
Glass Tumbler
(go beyond a simple truncated cone)
Week 4:
Cast Aluminum Rim and Tire
(include valve stem and tire graphics)
Cast Aluminum Rim and Tire
(include valve stem and tire graphics)
Week 5:
Inkjet Printer
(include cord, buttons, other signifiers, and logo)
Inkjet Printer
(include cord, buttons, other signifiers, and logo)
Week 6:
Analog Wristwatch
(include hands, lug, crown, and band with a buckle)
Analog Wristwatch
(include hands, lug, crown, and band with a buckle)
Week 7:
Your Portable Table
(include wood grain and hardware if applicable)
Your Portable Table
(include wood grain and hardware if applicable)
Week 8:
Your Iron
(include cord, buttons, other signifiers, and logo)
Your Iron
(include cord, buttons, other signifiers, and logo)
Week 9:
Spring Break
Spring Break
Week 10:
Sketching Reset
(back to basics using analog tools)
Sketching Reset
(back to basics using analog tools)
Week 11:
Black Only Vector Drawing of Hardware Item
(go beyond tracing)
Black Only Vector Drawing of Hardware Item
(go beyond tracing)
Week 12:
Sunglasses
(include logo and hardware)
Sunglasses
(include logo and hardware)
Week 13:
Athletic Shoe
(include logo and surface details like leather grain, suede, and/or mesh)
Athletic Shoe
(include logo and surface details like leather grain, suede, and/or mesh)
Week 14:
Open Sketch
Open Sketch
Week 15:
Your Fragrance Packaging
(include bottle and box with graphics)
Your Fragrance Packaging
(include bottle and box with graphics)
Week 16:
Your Coffee Table
(include wood grain, metal parts, welds, and hardware)
Your Coffee Table
(include wood grain, metal parts, welds, and hardware)
Student Work from DAAP (University of Cincinnati)
Sketching Reset
Warm-ups and scales
50 straight lines
50 ellipses of varying minor axes
7-step value scale in #2 pencil
7-step value scale in single color (marker)
7-step value scale with a pen (hatching)
5 distinct line weights with #2 pencil
5 distinct line weights in pen
5 distinct line weights with marker
50 ellipses of varying minor axes
7-step value scale in #2 pencil
7-step value scale in single color (marker)
7-step value scale with a pen (hatching)
5 distinct line weights with #2 pencil
5 distinct line weights in pen
5 distinct line weights with marker
Draw linework for a
Rounded rectangular prism
Vertical cylinder
Horizontal cylinder
Vertical cylinder
Horizontal cylinder
Render
Pick one of the above to shade in a single color using marker
AI Generated Sketches using ADOBE Firefly with the prompt
"paper milk carton on white background" adjusted for each sketch based on the assignments above
Style reference image "floss packaging sketch" by Sam Ladwig,
Other style prompts; film noir, ink, watercolor, line drawing )
The one (obvious) exception is a vector sketch of a Lath Screw by Derrion Jones from 2019
Style reference image "floss packaging sketch" by Sam Ladwig,
Other style prompts; film noir, ink, watercolor, line drawing )
The one (obvious) exception is a vector sketch of a Lath Screw by Derrion Jones from 2019