One of the most common problems in drawing is lack of structure. You can see it when the eyes don't quite line up right, or when the handle on a cup looks odd, or when a figure's arms are too long. More often than not, the artist has dived into drawing details, and all the detailed areas haven't quite matched when joined together. To avoid this, you need to sketch the structure first, then build up the detail.
How do I draw the structure?
This approach is similar to the 'step by step' method of circles and ovals that you will often see in drawing lessons, where the picture is broken into simple shapes. But instead of two-dimensional, flat shapes, now you need to look for three-dimensional ones that you will sketch in perspective.
Where do I start?
Start with fairly simple objects and then try more complicated ones. One useful approach is to imagine the object that you want to sketch is made of glass, visualizing the hidden edges of the object so that you can draw them. Lightly pencil in the whole form, including lines you can't see, will help you accurately show perspective and proportion. The exercise on the next page takes you through the steps.
Next Page:How to Sketch Structure
