Series: Basic Shapes and Forms

None of the lesson in this series have been reviewed.

Below are the descriptions for each of the lessons included in the series:

• Family of basic shapes

  Learn about the five basic sets of shapes that will make it easy for you to draw anything. Start with a circle that can be made into ovals, egg shapes, pancake shapes, gourd shapes, bent hot dog shapes, as well as the dot family which just means that it’s a repeat of the circle shapes but they are filled in and represent dimensional shapes. So copy the shapes from the circle family and shade them all in. Look around you and see if notice what are some 3D shapes found in your home such as a door handle, a clock face, a ball, the shape of you head, or a potato. Next is the curve family, copy these many different curves, U shapes, C shapes, S shapes, spirals, wavy lines, and squiggly lines. Again notice where you might see these curves around you. Next is the line family and there are horizontal lines (they lie flat like a table) vertical lines (they go up and down) and diagonal lines (they tilted on an angle) very thick and thin lines. Broken up lines, two lines that are side by side ( called parallel lines) many overlapping lines ( called cross hatching) and lines that look scribbly that have lots of energy. Angles are another set of shapes that are helpful to know about. You could say an angle is a line that starts off in one direction and then at some point changes direction. There are L shaped angles, lines with hooks, Z shaped angels, V shaped angles, even box like spirals in which you can make any type of shapes to make a drawing from. Using the basic shapes try out these animals, plants and objects. Draw a snail, a cat, a flower, a ball, an eye, a cup, a watch, a leaf, a car, a house and a log.

• Basic Shapes

  The idea of this lesson is to recognize copy and draw what you see. Draw a large rectangle on a piece of paper that has 6 boxes across the top and 4 boxes down the left side. Draw out a variety of shapes beginning with simple forms then becoming more complex as you move to the last box. Starting with a dot in the first box continue to follow along in the demonstration as the lines and shapes develop into more detailed designs. Make up your own designs seeing how many different things you can add in. The second part of this video asks you to follow along to see what is the same and what is different. You have to look carefully and spot which is which!

• More Shapes

  Make a grid that is 6 boxes down and 7 boxes across. We are going to practice a series of shapes using the family of shapes as our building blocks. Follow along with the video to the understand how to make these shapes and then repeat them as many time as you can. Practising these shapes helps you to understand and become confident in your drawing.

• Abstract designs in 6 squares

  Draw out a large rectangle and divide it into 6 squares. Using a thin dark marker explore different shapes, like circles, curves, angles, lines, and dots. Use a second coloured marker to add another colour into your design. The idea is to explore the white space of the square using different shapes, how you can copy the type and number of lines shown in this example. Seeing how they are attached to each other, and where things can float in space. It's not important that you copy these exactly, but get the general lines and shapes seeing how they connect.

• Abstract Drawing

  In this exercise we are going to explore the white space of the paper using a maker. Start by making a line, a scribble shape, X shapes, doodles, zig zaggy lines, spirals, double lines, circles, parallel lines and overlapping lines that you can play around with repeating things over and over to build up your drawing. Change your marker for another colour and again experiment with dots, cross hatched lines, more curvy lines. Find parts of your doodle that could be coloured in, squares, diamond shapes, triangles, half circles and watch as a pattern starts to appear. Then take a few more colours and continue to build up your design. Have fun!

• Symmetry

  Draw a shape on one side and draw the mirror image on the other side. The best way to start this exercise is to draw two lines with a space between and then a doted line down the centre. Start on the top of the line on one side then make different shapes down to the bottom of the second line. Now you can draw on the other side using the same shapes going in opposite directions to create a mirror image of the first line you made. Use the dotted line in the middle to help guide your lines. Now try one with a face on one side and then repeat this face in the opposite direction. Something interesting happens, look and see if you spot a vase like shape or do you see two faces. Your mind and eye will see first one then the other. Try another drawing with box and curve shapes. Experiment with different shapes and play around with this, seeing how many you can make up. Follow along with the video for even more combinations.

• Overlapping Shapes

  This exercise helps you to understand how to draw one shape behind another. Start with a circle and a rectangle shape, and then you will combine them in different positions. Begin with a rectangle that is tilted then draw half a circle in the middle of the box, then jump across and make the other half of the circle. Then do another set with the rectangle first, then start a circle at the end and stop when you come to the other side of the box. Try several other positions with these two shapes, then switch starting with the circle first with rectangle second. The next set of shapes you can try is a bean shape with a circle. Start with the circle then draw the bean shape attached to the circle starting on the right side and continue drawing until you come to the edge of the circle then stop. Next try three shapes, a square, a rectangle and a circle. Start by drawing the square then a rectangle then a circle, one connecting to another. Follow the video and experiment trying different ways to play around with one shape overlapping the other to give the idea of something partly hidden behind another object.

• Thumbnail Sketches

  How to plan out a series of small rough drawings, for a larger sketch or painting. One way to do this is to create a series of small rectangles or squares about the size of your hand on paper in order to draw out very quick simple sketches of different ideas for you larger work. This is all about planning for the best idea that you would like to do a final drawing. In this example start with a house that might be placed in the picture with a tree, road and a sun. In the next box try a different position with two smaller houses, a road with a car, and trees in the background. The next one another view of the road and three houses together, people on the side walk with trees on both sides. The next might have a truck, part of the house; the view of this picture is as if you are looking down on it. Another is a house in the middle of the box with a road on the bottom and a person on the side, plants trees around with a sun. Next one, a road cuts across the whole picture and the houses are on the left side with a big person down in the lower right side. Once you have looked over your small drawings and chosen your favourite thumb nail sketch, make a final larger finished drawing from this. Follow the video to see how this is done.

• How to draw a jellyfish

  Using your finger move it around the paper imaging how big the body and tentacles will need to be for your picture. Start the image with one large circle on the middle top of the page and two smaller ones a little further out on the sides. Connect all three circles with a curved line on the top and a curved wiggly line for the bottom. Make 5 or 6 wiggly lines underneath close to the bottom of the page. Now double the lines up making a point at the bottom of each. Add in some skinny wiggly lines that are also doubled up. Take out lines you don't want with the eraser. Now you can make some flattened ovals and pancake shapes as a pattern for the top part of the creature as well spots for some of the tentacles. Add in a fish shape that is caught in the tentacles, other fish swimming by in the background. Colour in the picture with makers, crayons or paint.

• How to draw a bird

  Using two different sized markers, make lines and patterns on the bird drawing experimenting with thick and thin lines. This exercise demonstrates how you can create a variety of interesting shapes using the thin and fat side of markers. Make up your own bird trying out as many different designs as you can imagine.

• How to draw a butterfly fish

  Using your finger move it across the paper to imagine where to draw the animal and how big it will be. Start with a large oval in the middle of the paper then make two gently curved lines on the left of the oval almost like a long triangle for the nose and mouth of the fish. Two lines on an angle extending out from the right side of the oval for the tail then joining that together to complete it. Make two rounded triangle shapes for the top and bottom fins. Finish the mouth by adding an M shape to the end. Make a small circle for the eye on the middle left side and a fin shape near it. Make a second line edging the top and bottom fins and a double small circle in the top fin. At the front of the top fin make a zig zaggy line along the edge. Make a dot inside the eye, and darken the outline of the fish to make it stand out a little more. Make two sets of skinny lines on the top and bottom of the eye. Now to make the effect that the stripe is partly covering the eye. Draw two small curved lines on the inside of the eye connecting it to the edge of the circle. Watch the video carefully to create the rest of the stripes that are through out the fish body. All of these have a curve shape to them. For the tail make a series of lines that fan out with small V shapes in between them. Draw the lines in the side fin by the head. Think of a background like some coral and sea weed that you can draw behind the fish, experimenting with bright colours to finish the picture.

• How to draw a crab

  Using your finger imagine and trace an oval shape where you want the animal to be on your page and how big it will be. Using your pencil start with a large oval, two smaller ones on both sides and two longer ovals for its claws. Then draw 3 lines angled on each side of the large oval for the legs that each has another angled line to make joints for the legs. Make two smaller circles lower, underneath the large oval with two angled lines to connect to the body. Then to define the body more, draw long ovals around each of the single lines of the legs to fatten them up. Draw a triangle in the claws, and then outline each one, putting some small zig zags along the triangle. Make oval shapes along the lines for the tail at the bottom. Two small curved lines for the antenna and two small ovals for the eyes. Add some spots on the large part of the body for a pattern. Out line the crab and use your eraser to take the lines out you don't want or shade with pencil, colour with pencil crayon or makers. Think of a background that will add interest to the picture and don't forget to sign your name and date it in the lower right hand corner.

Supplementary Files:

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