e pieces out and look at all the unique shapes. Now turn the pieces over so all you see are white shapes. Can you tell what the objects are just by the shape? You might be surprised that you can’t!
The chair doesn’t look like a chair anymore. The table doesn’t look like a table. This exercise is showing us that we can’t draw items based on what we think they look like, we have to draw them based on the big abstract shapes they make.
This is a very important distinction to make. You have to start seeing things as shapes and not objects, (like trees, or boats, or cats). When you think tree your brain has a preconceived idea of what a tree is. (A big green leafy thing with a brown trunk).
You have to start looking at a tree and think (big abstract shapes made up of smaller abstract shapes). Can you begin to see the difference between looking at shapes and looking at objects? This is seeing with the Artist’s Eye.
Here are the main elements outlined with a black sharpie and cut out.
Here are the three main elements turned over. Notice how abstract the shapes are.
When we look around us we are overwhelmed with details. Think of the thousands of leaves on a tree, millions of blades of grass in a field, or the tangled mass of curly hairs on your head. It would be nearly impossible to capture all those details in a drawing or painting.
But if you squint your eyes down, the less important details fade away and you are left with the simplified large abstract shapes of your subject.
Give it a try, look around your room and notice all the details. Now squint your eyes a bit and look how the details fade away and leave only large shapes of color and value. And the more you squint the more details you eliminate, but don’t shut your eyes all the way, that will eliminate everything.
Squinting is one of the most powerful tools you have as an artist, (and it’s free!). It will really help your drawing and is absolutely vital for painting. We will be squinting a lot going forward, so start getting used to squinting at your subjects and seeing them with your Artist’s Eye.
This photo of a field of tulips has a lot of detail, but if you squint...
A lot of the detail fades away and you have simple shapes of color and value.
Now that you have a good idea of what The Artist’s Eye is, I hope you can see why it's one of my most important free drawing lessons.
Next up is another drawing lesson that will help you develop your Artist Eye even further.
Lesson 5: How to sketch the 3d world