Drawing; where would you start?

[nonperson]

If you were to do a drawing of the Eiffel Tower where would your start?

[ApeTheDog]

The base, of course - because if you were to start drawing the top first, it would have nothing to rest on and fall.

[booyalab]

I think it would be best to start by purchasing some sort of drawing utensil, and maybe some loose leaf paper, or a sketchpad.

[Xenolith]

First I would think about why I should do it.

[Kyrielle]

Your options are too limited, I think.

Anyway, I would start with a general gestural shape, and then a gestural sketch, and then I'd work on the details.

Which I guess means I need an "everywhere" option.

[djm]

I just tried it, and started at the top.

[ApeTheDog]

Hmm. I guess it would be best to start at the top. If you start at the basis, you'll have to draw the four standards the thing is resting on, and then manage to get them all to connect neatly at the top. You'll have to guess the distance between them, and the angle at which the thing slants upwards, and then still somewhat get lucky to get the final result to look high enough that it resembles the real thing.

I would definately start by placing a point at the top of my page, drawing some helper lines to the bottom at the correct angle, four of them... then once that was in place, I would probably start by drawing the four bases. Possibly, if this is on the pc and you can easily erase things, by drawing the back 2 first - then the foreground.

Oh, also, draw the two platforms where the people can rest, first. Then just jot the rest of the details in as it comes, when you have the outline.

[Kanamori]

the bottom so that i wouldn't end up with a leaning, or funkier than normal, eiffel tower.

[charred_heart]

I dont "start" from somewhere. I draw a base or a skeleton made up of single lines to work out the symmetry, then I add detail.

[Zero Angel]

I'd first faintly draw a huge rectangular cube that represents the proportion of the eiffel tower, then with pictures of the eiffel tower analyse its other proportions, ie: the width of the beams. Having a decent picture of its elements in my head. I would begin filling in that 3D cube by drafting out portions of the structure. Occassionally making little markings where something needs to be paid attention to to get a perfect proportionally-sound version of the tower.

Once thats done, you will have a sketch of the tower, but with a bunch of unpleasant looking markings all over the page. I'd then retrace the tower but without the guiding marks, and fill in the finer details.

[s0978]

I voted left.



Moved fr MBTI Talk.

[Petroleum Prole]

I usually start at the top in all of my drawings.

[ryan_m_parr]

I would start at the nipple and work my way around the . . . Oh . . . Nevermind

[PonderBee]

It really depends on the linear perspective of me to the tower. Looking at it straight on I'd start at the middle which may or may not be the top. I start faces at the nose.

[stopharian]

are we talking a drwing from memory?


cause otherwise it would totally depend on where i was standing in relation to the the tower or from what angle etc the picture was taken. but probabbly along one of the sides.

[Limey]

I'd start from home using a picture of said tower, 2b and HB pencils, some heavy premium paper and a cup of Kenya AA coffee.

[Ivy]

Top- single swipe down and left- return to top- second swipe down and right- crosshatching the entire length- crumple up- throw away

[helium]

I dont "start" from somewhere. I draw a base or a skeleton made up of single lines to work out the symmetry, then I add detail.

Well, you have to start somewhere, sort of. But I know what you mean. I'd start top to bottom in the center for height, then left to right at the base for width. The rest is filling in the blanks.

[Limey]

Why not just draw a cheese eating surrender Monkey, or a man on a bicycle in a black beret, black/white striped top, string of Onions around his neck, sporting a "molestache".

Eiffel tower drawings are so passé.....Shit! they got to me.

You could start on the clitoral hood, if caught, just pretend you're drawing a Jawa.

[kenkakuza]

Wheres the option for 'why' I would start?

[bluebell]

Top left, regardless of what I'm drawing. Freehand all the way, no tentativeness, no erasing.

[euterpenc]

My drawing class started with perspective.

[Rajah]

I'm glad this poll is private, cause I wouldn't want anyone to know I start at the top.


Damn.

[helium]

I'm glad this poll is private, cause I wouldn't want anyone to know I start at the top.


Damn.

:highfive:

[intpgolfer]

I draw with variation on negative space. Since I'd be using a photo-reference, I'd start where the space was least-detailed... So, maybe the bottom? Depends on the shot and lighting.

:theclap:

Read this well INTPs - because we do enjoy - different ways of looking at things. I took a class once purely working with NEGATIVE SPACE.

NEGATIVE SPACE is drawing everything that - is not - what you are trying to draw.

It is art the wrong way but it works very well, and is completly counter-intuitive.

Try it ....

[Diggory]

Bluebell has it down. After drawing some general guidelines I go up to the top because I almost always work with a medium that can smudge so you have to start at the top or resign yourself to getting very angry.
I would also start by not taking art classes unless you are really having trouble even with the simpler stuff. I think that classes force you into perceiving art in the way your teacher does, but art should be personal and come from what you want to draw, not what someone else wants you to draw.
Question for Bluebell: Are you just naturally gifted? I've come to accept that I'm an exceptional artist from the opinions of the people who see my work, but I never practice. I've drawn maybe a picture a year for the past four or five years and I can see that I'm getting better, but I never practice. Do you get that too?

[bluebell]

Bluebell has it down. After drawing some general guidelines I go up to the top because I almost always work with a medium that can smudge so you have to start at the top or resign yourself to getting very angry.

I think I start at top left because it's the same as for writing - if I draw, it's usually in pencil or felt-tip pen which doesn't smudge.


I would also start by not taking art classes unless you are really having trouble even with the simpler stuff. I think that classes force you into perceiving art in the way your teacher does, but art should be personal and come from what you want to draw, not what someone else wants you to draw.

Hmm, not sure I agree with this. I am really glad I did art for 3 years at high school. It kind of teaches you to see what's really there, rather than what the brain thinks it sees. And you get to learn new techniques etc and get feedback on how to improve and what works and what doesn't. And a new way of seeing things.


Question for Bluebell: Are you just naturally gifted? I've come to accept that I'm an exceptional artist from the opinions of the people who see my work, but I never practice. I've drawn maybe a picture a year for the past four or five years and I can see that I'm getting better, but I never practice. Do you get that too?

Before I did art at high school, my drawings etc were the usual childish crap. Ability kind of developed after about a year of art classes, I'm not sure why. Maybe it was there all along but buried, and classes unburied it? Or maybe something else, dunno. Practice does improve it. But... I also didn't draw or paint in my 20s. When I started again a few years back (after about a 10 year break), new abilities rapidly emerged that hadn't been there before, despite the complete lack of practice.

And I wouldn't say that I'm exceptional at art. My pics are good enough to enjoy having up on my walls and occasionally a friend will commission me to paint something. But I'm not talented enough to ever make a career out of it (and it doesn't interest me enough to want to do that, so all good :)).

[Limey]

The space between, where you're smiling high.