Tips and Tricks: Observe and Experiment

Sketches of Former Colts Coach Tony Dungy

I recently listened to an interview with Andreas Deja (30 year Disney veteran) He talked about his early days at Disney and spoke of how some animators could go straight into tight, clean drawings…almost like they were tracing. He explained how inadequate he felt because he really had to work at his drawings, sketch loosely, and work the pose.

I’m more like that (but no where near as talented as Dejas). I need to work loose, roughing in basic shapes and structure before even thinking about styling and detail. I also do quite a bit of observation and experimentation before I’m really satisfied with a design. One thing I do (especially if I’m stuck) is to first draw a more realistic drawing of the subject (as seen here) to help me notice the unique details. Then i’ll do a second, third, or fourth pass where i push the design into a more stylized direction. Faces have so many interesting structural features that I’ll easily miss if I don’t slow down and take the time to observe. Using this technique really forces me to observe and experiment.

So, the next time you are working on a caricature or any other type of illustration, think about doing a few studies and passes to let your hand and brain really learn the subject. Get in the habit of observing and experimenting. You’ll become a better draftsman and further develop your own unique illustration style.