Grasping Asymmetry in Visual Art
From “Drawing Asymmetrical Objects¨ in Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner
[…] wrapping usually doesn’t reveal any texture or detail. […] Imagine how the wrapping paper would drape over any given shape. Would the contour lines look curved, or all sharply angled? A little of both, depending on what it was draped over, right?
While symmetrical objects, shapes, or figures can be drawn with the aid of plumblines and levels and underdrawing, the drawing of more asymmetrical objects, shapes or figures is aided by the visualization of wrapping paper applied around an object, revealing the trajectory or trajectories of the outer edge of the object, shape or figure.
Revealing primary or essential points of change
This approach can also reveal the primary or most essential points at the edge of the object, shape or figure at which the most drastic change in rotational degree or direction of the line occurs. These points most define the shape, whether this approach reveals the object to be more curved or sharply angled.
Further, the more winding the path of the line, the more one should (Garcia 2003, 46):
From “Drawing Asymmetrical Objects¨ in Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner
[…] try to keep the “bigger picture¨ in mind when drawing its smaller part.
Complex shapes can be broken down into “smaller, straighter lines,¨ i.e. they can be broken down into less dense concentrations of linear changes along the edge of the complex object, shape or figure (Ibid). Long lines can also be used to “characterize the major flow and direction of a bumpier contour¨ (Ibid).
observational_drawing contour_drawing contour contours plumbline level art visual_art drawings observational_drawing edges symmetry asymmetry
bibliography
- Capp, Robbie, ed. “Drawing Asymmetrical Objects.” In Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner, 45–47. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications, 2003.