Observational Sketching: Hone Your Artistic Skills by Learning How to Observe and Sketch Everyday Objects

Learn to draw by sketching what surrounds you everyday. In Observational Sketching, author Mariko Higaki—an ISDA Gold Award–winning industrial designer based in Japan—teaches you how to practice and learn to sketch by using well-established observational techniques.

Perspective, proportion, lines, shapes, shading, and many other techniques can be learned through everyday practice and observation of the items you come in contact with everyday, from a backpack to your sunglasses. This book addresses how to approach sketching a range of shapes and materials and how to disassemble each object to accurately capture its unique design elements. Inspiration and examples from the author and other well-known artists accompany a variety of projects that you can try right away and skill-building projects that will strengthen your talent. Find within:

• An introduction to observational sketching
• The basic concepts and tools used in observational sketching
• Observation techniques
• Illustrated step-by-step instructions for creating observational sketches of 20 common objects, from a alarm clock to a wooden stool 

Hone your artistic skills with this daily sketching practice. Whether you are an urban sketcher or an industrial designer, this books should be part of your reference collection.

ISBN-13: 9781631598883

Media Type: Paperback

Publisher: Rockport Publishers

Publication Date: 01-07-2020

Pages: 128

Product Dimensions: 7.80(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.50(d)

After graduating from the Faculty of Environmental Information of Keio University in 2007, Mariko Higaki joined Leading Edge Design, founded by design engineer Shunji Yamanaka, where she was involved in projects related to industrial design, exhibitions, and education. She later studied at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, completing their Product Design course in 2015, and has worked as an independent product designer since 2016. Higakil has received many awards and recognitions, including the IDSA Gold Award and the Pentawards Bronze Award, and was a Top 20 International Finalist for the James Dyson Award. She is based in Los Angeles. To see more of her work, visit: http://marikoproduct.com/

Table of Contents

Introduction
How to use this book
 
Chapter 1
The Appeal of Observational Sketching
Sample 1: Observational Sketching by Shoichi Sato
Sample 2: Observational Sketching by Hiyo
Sample 3: Observational Sketching by chi-bit
Sample 4: Observational Sketching by Kanwa Nagafuji
Sample 5: Observational Sketching by Seiji Miyazawa
The Artists’ Tools
 
Chapter 2
Fundamentals of Sketching You Can Use Right Away
1. Basic Posture and Equipment You'll Need
2. Drawing a Straight Line Exactly as You Intend
3. Drawing Circles and Ellipses
4. Understanding Proportion Through Orthographic Drawings
5. Understanding Perspective Drawing
6. Expressing the Structure of an Object with Simple Shapes
7. How to Draw Organic Shapes
8. Rendering in a Way that Communicates the Shape and Material
Draw Freely and Easily
 
Chapter 3
How to Observe
Why This Material? Why This Shape?
Understanding Plastic by Observing an Alarm Clock
Understanding Plastic by Observing a Vaseline Container
Understanding Glass by Observing a Cup
Understanding Metal by Observing a Titanium Mug
Understanding Wood by Observing a Pen Stand
Understanding Fabric by Observing a Backpack
Considering the Entire Life of a Product
 
Chapter 4
Let’s Do Some Observational Sketching!
Flow of steps
Step 1: Finding Your Subject Matter
Step 2: Writing Basic Notes
Step 3: Rough Sketching
Step 4: Finishing
Observing Observational Sketchings
1. Soy Sauce Bottle with Lid S (iwaki)
2. NEW Krewrap (Kureha)
3. BC02 Alarm Clock (Braun)
4. Digital Caliper
5. Pen Stand
6. Vaseline Pure Skin Jelly Original (Unilever)
7. Titanium-Single Cup 300 (Snow Peak)
8. Wi-Fi Body Scale (Withings)
9. Series 7TM (Fritz Hansen)
10. The Modern Zip Backpack (Everlane)
11. LEGO Minifigures (LEGO)
12. DYMO 1540-00 (Sanford)
13. Ray-Ban Wayfarer Folding (Luxottica Group S.p.A)
14. Barcelona Chair (Knoll)
15. Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate N (Shiseido)
16. Bodega (Bormioli Rocco)
17. Withings Steel (Withings)
18. Apple Remote (Apple)
19. Mac Mini (Apple)
20. Stool 60 (Artek)
 
Conclusion
About the Author
Appendix 1: Basic Types of Plastic
Appendix 2: Other Titles from Rockport
Index

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