The Cornell Lab Bird Academy › Discussion Groups › Nature Journaling and Field Sketching › Illustrating the 3D World
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I thought it was easy to find certain points (highlights and core shadows), however I am having a hard time with my casting shadow. I'm not sure if it's due to the lighting since I couldn't find the reflected light. Doing the squint test was helpful to see the value scale, but I definitely need to practice more.
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I get a real sense of the weight and volume of this pear. I bet it would be juicy if I bit into it.
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I sketched blocks from photo, I feel like the shadows are not quite right. Carry on.
Indoor lighting
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Wow, I need a lot of practice. It's really helpful to see everyone's sketches here and compare different approaches. I'm not yet patient enough to try stippling, but scribbling is definitely right up my alley. I'll need to grab some veggies from our CSA share and get to work drawing them. Thanks to everyone who posted -- I aspire to get my produce to look as lovely as yours!
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I am starting to feel more comfortable with just starting to draw something, knowing that there are techniques that I can use. It's not easy for me to see yet which type of marks are best to use in different situations. I need to practice more on simply sketching outlines and trying different ways of shading. Now, with adding light and dark to the sketch, I have trouble showing the difference between what is an actual feature of the object versus a shadow on the object.
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I enjoyed this, but some things worked better for me than others. I am not very good with dots. I love the hatching and cross-hatching.
However seeing the shadows and tones can be tricky, especially if the light changes as you are doing it. My drawing is still a bit stiff, but hopefully it will become freer with use. Can one mix different forms of shading in the same image? My guess is to a small extent and with a lot of care.
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My hatching needs a lot more practice, but I feel like I got better as I went—although it helps that more complex objects are sometimes easier to add value to than simple ones. Round things are challenging!
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(Also just realized that apple is called ‘Arkansas Black’, not Arizona. Oops!)
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That is just so good! They are almost tactile.
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I really like how you did the hatching. Your sketches gave me some good ideas on how to use this technique!
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This was very helpful lesson. Working on 3-dimension and light and dark qualities.
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Your highlights are excellent
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I'm finding this very challenging, but what I draw is better than I thought it would be. I need to work on changing value from light to dark to that it is gradual, rather than abrupt.
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I love your mark-making!
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Love your style.
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I am still struggling for the reflective light and shadows but I am improving. Like others, it did help to watch some videos to gain further understanding. Sketching is quicker when filling in values of light and dark. I am definitely getting more comfortable with the process and enjoy looking back on the sketches I've done so far.
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I tried! I think this will be easier to accomplish with the paints and color. I noticed some of you are venturing into the watercolors or colored pencils and it helps to bring out the actual lights and darks apart from color and texture. The cast shadow was the most difficult part for me.
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Requires a lot of practice, but lots of fun.
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Interesting to see other's drawings so will try uploading one - I am enjoying the challenges and coaching. This carving also has a lovely rough style of etchings that were fun to try to represent.
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Getting the chiaroscuro along with the lights and darks of the skin tone of my pear was a challenge. The skin in the brightest part was a darker green than the yellowish skin in the shadow area where the pear gets narrow, and I wasn't sure how to represent that. I'd include a picture of the pear but I ate it! (Destroying evidence)
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This is a very elegant, believable pear. Sorting out The light and dark values from the colors can be challenging. I think you did that well,
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Nice.
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I've enjoyed practicing these drawing skills. It seems to take me forever to draw a simple object. I expect my confidence will improve with practice. I can't imagine taking this much time while drawing in the forest. The days are shorter here in British Columbia I'd be drawing in the dark lol! Haven't tried fruit yet. Great to see everyone's art!
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Good economy of line. Less (lines) can be more (satisfying(!
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This is fun I need to try some hash marks and convince myself they belong. I always feel like they are inappropriate for my subjects but then I see others use them for nature subjects and they look great .
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It might be easier if I drew an apple and then went to the store to find one that looks like my drawing! This is a great course, I'm learning and having fun.
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This will take some practice, but the clear instructions provided give me a starting point for adding dimension to my drawings.
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That shell was more difficult than I had expected. But I don't have any fruit to practice on. This is so much fun!
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My first attempt.
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This is really good!
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@Sharla Thank you Sharla
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Looks great! 👍🏻
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This course is great! I needed something to get me back at it again and I need to do much more! Preparing for a trip next year that I hope to illustrate during the journey.
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Having fun with these exercises. I need a lot of practice with light and shadow!!
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It was very hard to get the three dimensions of the apple at first. I felt stuck. Then I watched a video that gave some hints. That helped me get started. Now I am excited to try another drawing. Bring on the fruit!
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