#051 Shapes | How to Build Shapes
DRAWING REFERENCE: Pears and apple with leaf
YOU'LL NEED: drawing paper 9x12 inches or copy paper, pencil, eraser, fruit (pears)
Hi and Welcome!
Today you're going to learn one of the most important drawing skills artists use!
Almost anything you see can be drawn by first looking for simple shapes. Artists don't try to draw every detail right away. Instead, they identify the basic shapes they see and then combine those shapes to build a drawing.
In this lesson, you'll learn how to use simple geometric shapes as building blocks. By combining and changing these shapes, you can create drawings that look more and more like the objects you are observing.
Don't miss this important idea: artists build drawings from shapes!
Today You Will:
- Look for simple geometric shapes in an object.
- Combine shapes to create a basic drawing.
- Adjust the shapes to better match what you see.
- Create a simple line drawing using shapes as your guide.
As you practice, you'll begin to notice that many objects are made from a combination of circles, ovals, rectangles, triangles, and other simple forms.
What You'll Discover
1. Basic Shapes Can Be Found Everywhere
Many objects can be broken down into simple geometric shapes. Learning to recognize these shapes makes drawing much easier.
2. How to Build Objects with Shapes
Artists often combine two or more shapes to create the basic structure of an object. These shapes act like building blocks for the drawing.
3. How to Modify Shapes
Once the basic shapes are in place, you'll learn how to adjust and refine them so they look more like the real object you are drawing.
Why This Matters
Understanding shapes gives artists a powerful method for drawing what they see. Instead of guessing where lines should go, you can build your drawing step by step using simple shapes as a guide.
The more you practice finding and combining shapes, the more confident you'll become when drawing new objects.
Enjoy this short 5-minute lesson and create a drawing! Look carefully, find the shapes, build them together, and watch your drawing come to life.
Happy Drawing!
— Brenda Ellis Abbey
If you want more great drawing, painting, and sculpture lessons, check out our art books for Preschool through High School ages.
