My professor used to say “draw what you see not what you (think) you know” to address this. We often simplify and draw things symbolically with shapes that are identifiable, but are an inaccurate oversimplification for drawing strong realism. I love your examples and how you showcase this across each!

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks much! Glad it helps it some way

@artwhat..

Жыл бұрын

Alexia, I like your professors quote..

@woeandgrow

Жыл бұрын

@@artwhat.. yeah! It definitely helped me a lot when I was first learning figure drawing.

@crinoidthyroid

Жыл бұрын

Oh, I had a figure drawing teacher who told me this same quote ! 😄

@LeMagnifiquePetiteEspirit

Жыл бұрын

My teacher said the same quote too

It's strange, you can look at a kid's square drawing of a house, or pumpkin-headed, stick-figured people, and see the problem right away, then look at your own drawings, and be completely stumped--you know something is wrong, but you can't say what.

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

Haha so true

I find this method to be highly effective in terms of simplification, thank you

Your arm and leg example is how I used to draw TMNT back in grade school :) Great vid!

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

We all did lol

Not oversimplifying is also important in styles that aren't realistic, and even for many pieces of abstract art. For instance, a little self exercise I did lately was to draw a bunch of caricatures that were perfectly symmetrical, following a simple very strict and tight construction template. Then I drew the same faces without the template. And the second set of faces were far more alive than the first. It helps that I did do realistic drawing and life drawing for a couple years, as it helped give me an innate sense of living lines-a term you use and that I cherish because it's a reminder for myself. It also echoes Chinese ink painting schools, whose art even in more abstract schools is far from symmetrical, who say to capture the spirit, or essence, of a line. Perfect symmetry is rarely alive on the paper.

I watch tons of drawing tutorial but yours are the one i like the most, simple and to the point. And you seem to be a really nice person too Thank you

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks much 🙂🙏🙏

Even a simple cartoony drawing looks more interesting with asymmetrical shapes than symmetrical ones

I thought it was just me 😅 Thank you, I feel better about needing to be aware of this just knowing that I’m not alone!

Thank you! I hadn’t thought about this until this moment. I have always had a fixation about symmetry. (I also waste time going around straightening towels and evenly spacing things on my shelves.) My drawings are often stiff, artificial and disappointing or overworked. In your demonstrations even your most basic sketches look fresh and organic. You are heaven sent.

I really appreciate what you said at 4:10, about simplification vs. realism in the different phases

This is something that many artists know but never talked about. Thank you so much Alphonso.

Your videos are always so relatable! Great advice!

I've been watching your videos for years. I always loved them (even got your books). And I wanted to mention that your most recent videos are even better because you get to the point much faster (shorter video, with clear take aways). your 2022 videos are the best :)

I just now realized I have this exact problem, even though I've pretty much only drawn more stylized things so far. I guess that just shows even more how important the things you were talking about here can be.

EXCELLENT! Very helpful & concise. Can you imagine being mindful about EVERYTHING 24/7?

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

Lol we would go crazy

@hissyfitz7890

2 жыл бұрын

@@alphonsodunn - I’m already gone whoo hoo hoo… 🤪

I have learned so much from your videos. Thanks!

This is wonderfully insightful. Thank you!

Thanks for this. Will buy your books soon.💖💖💖

Thank you, great tips for myself as a beginner artist

Thanks , you are truly a teacher 💜

Thanks! This was very helpful!

Great advice. Thank you.

I bought one of your books a long time ago and right when I am falling in love with drawing again you pop back up into my recommended. You're a bit of a hero to me, you made a (small) difference in the life of a stranger on the other side of the world, thanks for that. I remember feeling very great after reading your book while "practicing" along with it and being complimented on improving a bit in a period of my life when I needed the kind words.

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

Wow thats truly awesome! Thanks so much for sharing those words. They mean alot! 🙏🙏🙏🙂

Wonderful and helpful video as always!

Very useful and timely ❤️

Very helpful. Thanks!

Once again thank you Alphonso.

A brilliant insight, thank you.

Really helpful tip, thank you!

Excellent video. A simple concept that is so easy to overlook.

Tops... well said. I got it, thank you very much. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Olá Alphonso seus vídeos são muito bons se você fizer um curso ou novo livro tomara que seja possível usar tradução automática do Google ou Amazon Estou aprendendo bastante com você aqui no sul do Brasil Abraço 👏👏👏

Thanks

@Alphonso Dunn thank you. :)

Happy teacher's day good sir ! Thank you for everything that you do. You are very much appreciated

This reminds me of the old writing rule: Show don’t tell. Another insightful video. Thank you!!

thanks for the tips

great video! thanks

excellent explanation!

very useful thx

This is the best advice I've heard on drawing....Thank you

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

🙏🙏🙏

Excellent

This was a really informative art video. You made your point very clear in only 5 minutes and half. My hat is off after you sir.

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks much 🙂🙏

So true, randomness is harder to draw than orderly things

Cool Video

Drawing is a mental activity. 👍

Thanks for an interesting video which causes us to think. As a personal reflection I find the most challenging aspect with drawing/painting is doing it from imagination. Copying the examples in your books is really helpful but you have shown us how to draw a subject. I don’t think I had developed my independence to be creative and draw free style. When you look at the cave painting done by the earliest inhabitants on the earth, these were done form memories of maybe fleeting glances of the animals they hunted, that shows me personally their talent. I tend to copy what you draw on your videos with a varying degree of success but should be trying to do this without your guiding hand. It won’t stop me watching the videos but I have to take the big leap and go solo and be prepared to experience frustration and the real test of my limited ability. Sorry went on a bit longer then I should have done. /

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for this comment. That was enlightening. I agree, drawing from your imagination is challenging but it also depends on the level of finish you are trying to achieve. We have to remember also though, that even if a drawing is not done fully from the imagination and may use references, it still may require just as much creative prowess to develop the design and composition and express the ideas.

I’d recognise these hands from anywhere

Hi Alphonso. It is very difficult to me to find the balance between abstraction, simplification and realism. Any exercise I can practice? Thanks for your videos.

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

That is tricky, because it really is an extensive spectrum. It helps to do some study. Find examples of standards of realism and abstraction and the varying degrees of abstraction. And from there decide on which aspects of each resonates best with you and how that would reflect on your work currently. Then just start experimenting

Ah the tendency I hate that I make in portrait when head is slightly tilted, by the time the head is done it has found a way to straighten itself up

Nah fr love the short tutorials

Hi sir ❤️

👌👌

cool video, I have your book already

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much

I was just wondering if you still make videos after watching one of your videos from 8 years ago.(ive just found your content recently) you truly are a legend and I know I'll learn alot from you.

Helpful thank you!

Wonderful, thank you

Thank you!!!!!!

👍💯👌

Well Al,... another great insightful video.

Beyond the realistic drawing as an objective, drawing is a tool which allows us to have a better understanding of form, space and their interactions with light, atmosphere and other elements. Oversimplification just denies this. It shuts a door to knowledge instead of opening it.

Very good.

Alphonso, you should start your own art course. 1. Because you’re an amazing artist 2. Out of every art youtuber/educator I watch,(Sycra, KNKL, SamDoesArts, ErgoJosh, RossDraws, ZHC, David Finch, etc), you are by far the greatest at teaching. I feel like an absolute genius every time I watch one of your videos/tutorials 😌

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

🙏🙏🙏you are too kind. Thanks so much

I like the way you think through your process. Maybe it comes from being self-taught? Ordinary people can understand concepts that other artists make so heady, it's painful.

💥💥💥💥💥💥👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽

Hi..so my bad art is really good..ha.. thanks..

Yo

Hello sensei, I'm reading your book and I have a question, when changing the direction of the stroke, do I need to follow the perspective exactly? You were explaining that the stroke has to go in the direction of the shape I wanted to know if it's exaggerating to use this constantly with perspective. Thank you so much for everything sensei!

a good way to combat this is by exaggerating the "imperfections" of the subject

A bit unrelated but can I ask a few questions? 1: i noticed you make the skin stretch out over muscles in a more complex way to make it more appealing and curvy. How do you figure out to do it the right way? Do you use references? Do you do it from mind? How do you make it look natural? 2: even without any fine crosshatching your drawings look incredibly realistic. How do you do that? 3: and lastly, I noticed you using fabric texture on skin with some drawings. Why do you do that? Thxalot

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

Hello, Thanks for the comment and questions. 1. No sure what you meant by “skin stretch. “ I think its based primarily on my knowledge of anatomy. 2. You can render forms with hatching only. Cross-hatching isn’t necessary. 3. Fabric texture?

@3F34N1M4T3S

2 жыл бұрын

@@alphonsodunn Thanks alot for answering my questions! I really appreciate it! Let me add a little more detail to the skin stretch part. The human skin stretches over the muscles/bones and in your drawings I noticed that the skin folds in some parts. Is there a pattern of how the skin folds or is it random? As for the fabric part, if I remember correctly you can use different line directions while adding up lines to show different types of textures and if I am correct you are using the texture of fabric (cloth) on skin. I might be wrong though because my memory is a bit bad. But if I am correct, is there a reason why you use the texture of fabric on skin? Is it because those drawings are focused more on light and shadow than it is on texture, or because the human skin has similar texture to fabric? My explanation might be difficult to understand because english isn't my primary language but I hope I got my point across. By the way your work inspires me alot. Thanks alot for providing such wonderful content!

I think you just helped me figure out why my faces when I draw digitally look so unnatural. Thank you!

Hi, sweetie! I love your voice and explanations!!! 🗣🎶🎨 Lots of affection from São Paulo - Brazil! ❤❤❤

Wow didn't know that we tended to draw symbols then more realistic...even u? Crazy. Thanks again my dear. Kisses from Germany 🇩🇪

Hi Alphonso. My surname's Dunne. Just abit of trivia there 😅 I really enjoy your videos, i've subbed, got my bell notification bell on. Forgive me if you've covered this, but I was wondering if you can shade using an eraser? Or, more to the point, is there such a thing as different strength eraser that lighter rubs away compared to say putty that rubs clear?? The idea is that, using a pencil, colour a picture in fully first, then use an eraser to create the blends. Is that a something??

Alphonso is no longer in a thrupple!! What happened to the two wedding rings?

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

👀

@snipelite94

2 жыл бұрын

@@alphonsodunn 😜

@snipelite94

2 жыл бұрын

@@alphonsodunn kzread.info/dash/bejne/hpetl5uDlbGvj6g.html

I would like to purchae your books but i don't want to support amazon. Is there any other way to get it?

Frustratingly I have a harder time being symmetrical than natural. I’m better with natural shapes and I want to be simple and cartoony.

It's true--if realism is your thing, as you say. But I always say: that's what cameras are for. But I know many love the challenge of details

Thank you, thank you. I've been saying symmetry is overrated for awhile. Why do we insist on it when it just doesn't always appear naturally, OR we mistake consistency in form/shape with symmetry?

welcome back. you sound different...new mic?

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

Not sure. Age? Lol

Thanks Alphonso, very helpful.😎🇦🇺🦘

@alphonsodunn

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you