How to draw a sphere?

[Readme2]

The sphere is a 3d object whose outline is a circle from anywhere you look.

So first just draw a cricle. you can use a glass or a cork if you find it easier. Then you should start shading the circle so it will get the depth feel.

Use referance images to see how the shadow looks like on the sphere and try to immitate it.
It's just as simple as that.

[BeBraw]

Yeah. As the Readme2 said learn to draw a circle first. After that it is matter of shading. I have found http://itchstudios.com/psg/art_tut.htm to be excellent reference when it comes to this.

You have to learn to see the shades and to understand shadow. You can try to do this by dividing your subject (sphere in this case) into rough sections in which the shade falls into. After that you have to blend the sections. One tutorial explaining this approach can be found at http://www.3dluvr.com/content/article/45 .

I am sure there are many other approaches to the problem. The main thing for you is to split the issue in solvable chunks and not to try to do it all at once. That just won't work.

[alenah]

patbb, hi,
if I understood your point well - you ask, how you can learn painting/creating more complex art, when not able to master the very essential skills, and - how to "project" your 3d objects into "2d" canvas, when drawing .. (am I right?)
if this is what you asked (??), I do not think this is a dumb question at all ..

in my opinion - if you cannot master the basic/essential skills, it does not mean that you cannot make great art anyway ..
I am trying to say - I have met quite a lot of great artists, who were able to paint stunning complex digital art - but when it came to esseentials (basic lines/drawings), they were simple not able to make it ..
this is "no disaster" in fact, I´d say .. yes, it is always a good idea to practice the esential drawing skils, but even without those skills (if you can feel it is not your cup of tea) you might be able to do great art, your own specific style ..

and - as far as the "3d" look of the "2d" objects on the flat canvas - this is not easy at all in fact - as you have to (as I have already mentioned) "project" the 3d model into the flat surface while drawing .. so - from this point of view - drawing 3d objects on 2d canvas might be very tricky, sometimes ..
well - I am not much help, I know,
I am just trying to say that I think you neednt be frustrated by that ..
just keep practicing, whatever may work for you ..

anyway - my language limits make me not being quite sure if this is what you were asking about, so - if I misunderstood your post, sorry :)
take care,
a.

[Leionaaad]

learn how to draw the construction of things, and make the construction of the sphere. find the logic behind the shading. then you will know.

[jcriz]

I do not know how to draw a sphere properly.
^this is good.



I realise i must be the dumbest man alive.
anyhow, feel free to take a shot at my incompetence;
^things like this we can do without


how many spheres have you tried to draw? a page full? 2 pages? 4 or 5? I'm serious....

Do you try to draw one or two and then stop out of frustration because they dont look right?

I'm not convinced that you even know that you can't draw a "proper sphere". If you manage to fill an entire 100-200 pages sketch book with honest attempts at it, and there is NO progress, then you can come here and say you "can't" draw a proper sphere. And even then I'll probably argue the point with you.

Do you want to learn to draw a sphere? take a small rubber ball, put it in the center of a desk, shine a desklamp on it, and sit down and draw the ball, over and over again, and after every drawing, take a step back hold the drawing up and compare. Don't shit all over yourself for the mistakes that are there, just look very objectively. then sit down and draw it again and keep your previous observatrions in mind. This is how it's done. Then when you've really honestly reached a point where you can't tell whats wrong with it anymore, upload a couple of scans to the forum and ask other people, then take what they say and sit down and do it again.

You can search the internet and read all the tutorials you want, this is not a bad thing, but you are never gonna find that perfect instruction that allows you to jsut sit down and magically create a nice drawing.(or painting, sculpture, etc). You gotta practice, and practice, and just when your ready to give up, practice some more. If you find it too embarrasing to put that much effort into something a simple as a sphere, then just give up on anything more than that. Baby steps. Take your time, think about what you are doing and work. And when you screw it up (because you will), do it again.

... and spare yourself the self-deprecating comments, it doesn't do anyone any good. Everyone has to start somewhere.

[patbb]

alenah: yes you did understood me properly; and thanks for the reply.

jcriz: I felt there must have been something missing in my mind, my knowledge. That something would have prevented me from doing something everybody else seems to be able to do instinctively with ease.
But you made me realise this was the wrong reasonning. Your reasonning is plain and simple; and it is right. Thanks you very much!


Thanks everyone else for trying to help.

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