Drawspace - Turtle

7/29/2019 Drawspace - Turtle

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T U R T L EBrenda Hoddinott

I-08 BEGINNER: CARTOONS & CRITTERS

With a focus on improving your observation skills, you first sketch Tuttles proportions within asimple grid, then outline him with nice neat lines and finally add shading. The following three

sections guide you step-by-step through this project:

SKETCHING BASIC PROPORTIONS: The drawing of Tuttle is based on a common

species of box turtle. In this section, your goal is to sketch the various parts of Tuttle on yourdrawing paper proportionately correct. You divide a rectangular drawing format into six

squares to create a simple grid to help you draw everything in its proper place.

OUTLINING SHAPES AND SPACES: This section of the lesson is designed to enhance

your observation skills, and subsequently refine your abilities to translate what you see into adrawing. I offer very few written instructions; rather, you rely primarily on your observation

skills. You begin by erasing the grid lines, and then use a freshly sharpened 2B pencil toreplace the initial rough sketch with dark, thin outlines. Your goal is to focus on drawing neataccurate lines that provide more detailed information about the various components of Tuttle.

HATCHING VARIOUS VALUES: In this section, you add shading to Tuttle with hatching

graduations. A full range of values from light to dark gives contrast between the light and the

shadow areas. Light affects the placement and value of every section of shading in a drawing.The light source in this drawing is from the right. Therefore, the overall values need to be

lighter on the right than on the left.

You need basic drawing supplies including good quality white paper, different grades of graphite

pencils (such as 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B), kneaded and vinyl erasers, and a pencil sharpener.

1 8 PAGES 3 0 I LLUSTRATI ONS

This project is recommended for artists from age 12 to adult, as well as home schooling,

academic and recreational fine art educators.

Published by Hoddinott Fine Art Publishers, Halifax, NS, Canada 2004 (Revised 2006)


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Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and maynot be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.

E-mail [email protected] Web sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com

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SKETCHI NG BASI C PROPORTI ONS

In this section, your goal is to sketch the various parts of Tuttle on your drawing paper

proportionately correct. A sketch is a quickly rendered drawing that illustrates the important

elements of your drawing subject with very few details. Sketching refers to the method used forcreating a quick, rough representation or outline of a planned drawing subject. A sketch can also

be a completed work of art. Proportion is the relationship in size of one component of a drawing

to another or others.

You divide a rectangular drawing space into six squares to create a simple grid to help you draweverything in its proper place.Drawing space (sometimes called a drawing format) refers to the

area of a drawing surface within a specific perimeter, outlined by a shape of any size, such as a

square, rectangle or circle. A grid is a precise arrangement of a specific number of squares, ofexact sizes, proportionately drawn on both a photo and drawing surface. Grids help artists with

numerous challenges, such as rendering precise proportions and correct perspective. If the

proportions of your subject are off, no amount of beautiful shading or fancy pencil marks cansave your drawing.

ILLUSTRATION 08-01

1) Draw a rectangle asyour drawing format.

Your rectangle needs tobe proportionate to mine,

such as 4 by 6, 6 by 9, or

8 by 12 inches. Use a 2Hor HB pencil.

2) Divide the rectangle intosix same-size squares.Measure and divide theheight in half and the

width into thirds.

Several species of animals, including some types ofturtles, are in danger of becoming extinct. Too many box turtles are currently being takenfrom their natural habitats, and sold into the pet trade. Subsequently, consumers who buythese turtles are inadvertently contributing to the demise of the wild population. No matter

how much humans love their pet turtles, the fact remains that these animals are oftendeprived of freedom, the company of other turtles, a healthy natural environment, familiarfoods, and most importantly of all, an opportunity to breed.

BE CAREFUL! Dont press too hard with your pencils! Lightly drawn lines are easier to

erase! No matter how careful you are, when drawing with a grid, accidents do happen! If youdraw in the wrong squares, simply erase that section, redraw the grid lines, and keep on going!
mailto:[email protected]://www.finearteducation.com/http://www.drawspace.com/http://www.drawspace.com/http://www.finearteducation.com/mailto:[email protected]


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3) Draw a curved line to mark the position, size, and shape of the upper section ofTuttles shell.

A curved line is created when a straight line curves (or bends).

ILLUSTRATION 08-02

Begin in the lowerleft grid square

and curve the line

upward andtoward the upper

center square.

Continue this line

across the uppercenter square,

extend its end

slightlydownward, and

then into the

upper right

square.

4) Add short lines that curve outward to each end of the shell.ILLUSTRATION 08-03

Did you knowthat a box turtle

can pull itshead, legs, and

tail inside itsshell, thereby

enclosing itselfin a box?


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ILLUSTRATION 08-04

5) Addanother

curved line

on the right

to mark the

location of

the opening

of the shell.

Take note

that this lineextends into

four

differentgrid squares.

ILLUSTRATION 08-05

6) Completethe outline

of the shell.

Begin on thelower left side

of the shell,and gentlycurve the line

downward and

toward the

right. Then,curve the line

upward to join

the other sideof the shell

outline.

Box turtles are not recommended as house pets. Sadly,many die within a year of their captivity. Without a proper diet and natural habitat, they arehighly susceptible to il lnesses that are often fatal.


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ILLUSTRATION 08-06

7) Sketch theoutline of the

edge of the

lower section

of Tuttlesshell.

Watch closely

the location

and size ofthis line in

relation to the

grid lines andthe outline of

the upper

shell.

ILLUSTRATION 08-07

8) Sketch acircular

shape to

mark Tuttles

head.

9) Add anupside downU-shape as a

front leg.

10) Sketch ahorizontal

oval below

his leg to

mark the

location of his

foot.

Did you know that a box turtles cuisine, when living ina natural habitat, includes such delicacies as spiders, fl ies, worms, crickets, grasshoppers,slugs, and snails? Yummy!


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ILLUSTRATION 08-08

11) Sketch anoval to mark

the position

of Tuttles

other leg.

12) Connect thisleg to the edge

of the upper

shell with a

curved line.

Refer to the

next drawing,

markedIllustration 08-

09.

ILLUSTRATION 08-09

13) Draw theinside edge of

his lower

shell.

This edge

actuallyconsists of twolines, a short

one to the left

of his leg, and

a longer one inbetween his

legs.

Did you know that the lower shell (called the plastron)of a box turtle is hinged, so he/she can close it against the inside of the upper shell(referred to as the carapace) and hide away inside?


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ILLUSTRATION 08-10

14) Sketch ovalsas his other

two visible

feet.

His fourth footappears to be

hidden behind

his body.

15) Complete therough sketch

by adding his

eye and

mouth.

Refer to

Illustration 08-11.

ILLUSTRATION 08-11


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OUTLI NI NG SHAPES AND SPACES

This section of the lesson is designed to enhance your observation skills, and subsequently refine

your abilities to translate what you see into a drawing. I offer very few written instructions;

rather, you rely primarily on your observation skills.

You begin by erasing the grid lines, and then use a freshly sharpened 2B pencil to replace theinitial rough sketch with dark, thin outlines. Your goal is to focus on drawing neat accurate lines

that provide more detailed information about the various components of Tuttle.

16) Check over the proportions of your sketch and adjust any areas you arent completelyhappy with.

17) Use your vinyl eraser to erase the grid lines.ILLUSTRATION 08-12

18) Pat the entiresketch with yourkneaded eraser.

The initialsketch lines

need to

become solight that

you can

barely seethem.

Keep your pencil sharpener andsandpaper block handy and constantly

sharpen the point of your pencil as you

work, so your outline stays neat.

19) Carefully observe each of the following nine drawings in sequence and redraw eachsection of Tuttle with thin neat lines.

Watch closely the curves and sizes of each line in relation to the other lines and the spaces.Remember; dont press too hard with your pencils. These areas become impossible to touch

up, and also leave dents in your paper, spoiling the overall appearance of your drawing.


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ILLUSTRATION 08-13

ILLUSTRATION 08-14


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ILLUSTRATION 08-15

ILLUSTRATION 08-16


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ILLUSTRATION 08-17

ILLUSTRATION 08-18


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ILLUSTRATION 08-19

ILLUSTRATION 08-20


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ILLUSTRATION 08-21

HATCHI NG VARI OUS VALUES

In this section, you add shading to Tuttle with hatching.Hatching is a series of lines (called a set)

drawn closely together to give the illusion of values. Values are the different shades of graycreated when you draw by varying both the density of the shading lines, and the pressure used in

holding various pencils. A full range of values from light to dark gives contrast between the lightand the shadow areas. Contrastrefers to the comparison of different values when put beside one

another, and an invaluable tool for heightening the effects of composition.

Light affects the placement and value of every section of shading in a drawing. Light source

refers to the direction from which a dominant light originates. The placement of this light sourceaffects every aspect of a drawing. The light source tells you where to draw all the light values

and shadows. The light source in this drawing is from the right. Therefore, the overall values

need to be lighter on the right than on the left. Keep the following in mind:

Draw some hatching lines close together and others farther apart.

Press lightly with your pencil for light lines and apply more pressure to achieve darker lines.

Keep a pencil sharpener (and sandpaper block if you have one) handy so you can easily keep

your pencil points nice and sharp.

Always place a piece of clean paper under your hand as you draw to protect your drawing

from accidental smudges.

Watch closely the directions in which the hatching lines are angled.


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20) Outline the various parts of Tuttles eye, including the highlight, iris, and pupil.Refer to Illustration 08-22. Highlight refers to the brightest area of a form where lightbounces off its surface and is usually the section closest to the light source. Iris of an eye is

the colored circular section of the eyeball surrounding the pupil. Pupil of an eye is the

darkest circular shape within the iris.

21) Add shading to his eye (as explained in the following instructions and illustrated inthe next set of drawings).

Fill in the pupil with a 6B pencil (Illustration 08-23). Remember to leave the highlight

white! Use HB and 2B pencils to add shading to the iris (Illustration 08-24). Take note that

the values are darker around the edges, on the right, and under the eyelid. Add someeyelashes on the left (Illustration 08-25). Turtles dont really have eyelashes, so you can

leave them out if you want your turtle to look more realistic. Use an HB to shade in the

whites of the eyes on either side of the iris (Illustrations 08-26 and 08-27).

ILLUSTRATION 08-22 ILLUSTRATION 08-23 ILLUSTRATION 08-24

ILLUSTRATION 08-25 ILLUSTRATION 08-27

ILLUSTRATION 08-26


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BE CAREFUL!Try not to touch your drawing paper with your fingers or hands where you

plan to add shading. The powder component in graphite works like the fingerprinting powder

used by criminal investigative sections of police departments. Your skin may transfer oil to thepaper, which sometimes becomes visible after you add shading, spoiling the overall look of your

drawing; hence, another reason to keep a piece of scrap paper under your hand while you draw.

22) Use your HB pencil and hatching lines to add light values to the various parts ofTuttle.

The overall shading is darker on the left than on the right, and to keep things simpler, the

hatching lines are mostly straight rather than curved. Rely on your observation skills to

differentiate between the very light and slightly darker sections of light shading.

ILLUSTRATION 08-28

Did you know that some box turtles can grow to bemore than six inches long (but most are smaller)?


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Did you know that a box turtle can kill a human? Manybox turtles love to eat poisonous wild mushrooms. While these mushrooms do no harm tothe turtle, people who inadvertently eat the turtle meat can subsequently become very ill,and very of ten succumb to the poison and die.

23) Use a 2B and 4B pencils to add medium and dark values to the shadow areas in thesections of the drawing that are farther away from or blocked from the light source.

24) Add horizontal hatching lines under and to the left of Tuttle as the cast shadow.A cast shadow is a dark section on a surface that receives little or no light. The values of a

cast shadow are darkest right next to the object and become gradually lighter farther away.

ILLUSTRATION 08-29

Did you know that a few Box Turt les are alleged to havelived for more than a hundred years? However, this theory is challenged in that box turtlesolder than fifty are rarely found in the wild. It is more likely that a box turtles life span isbetween thirty-five and fifty years.


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25) Use a 4B pencil to add dark shading to the sections of the cast shadow that are close tothe turtle.

26) Examine your drawing both close up and from a distance, and touch up any sectionsof shading you arent happy with.

To make a section of shading darker, simply add more hatching lines in between theexisting lines.

Use your kneaded eraser to gently pat any sections of shading that you feel are too dark.

ILLUSTRATION 08-30

If you l ike turtles and care about their future existence,you should respect their need to continue living within their natural habitats in the wild.However, as long as you protect their environments, theres nothing wrong with hunting forturtles armed with a sketchbook or a camera.


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Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and maynot be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott

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BRENDA HODDI NOTT - BI OGRAPHY

As a self-educated teacher, visual artist, portraitist, forensic artist, and illustrator, Brenda

Hoddinott utilizes diverse art media including graphite, technical pen, colored pencil, chalkpastel, charcoal, cont crayon, and oil paints.

My philosophy on teaching art is to focus primarily on the

enjoyment aspects while gently introducing the technical and

academic. Hence, in creating a passion for the subject matter,

the quest for knowledge also becomes enjoyable.

>Brenda Hoddinott

Drawspace - Turtle

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