Jim Leggitt / Drawing Shortcuts

Drawing Combinations with Pens, Pencils and Markers

I recently offered a drawing workshop in which we explored different variations of drawing with pencils, ink pens, colored pencils and color markers. We began with a simple line drawing that I previously made of a victorian house converted into a restaurant. I’m sure you have a similar old house restaurant in your town. The original artwork was drawn over a photograph on trace with a Staedtler Lumocolor pen. I scanned the drawing and printed it onto standard bond paper using a color LaserJet printer.  My class then began experimenting with the base image, tracing over it with different media and coloring each with various graphic products. The images below are from the workshop.

Original Artwork.  Drawn 8"x10" over a photograph with a Staedtler Lumocolor pen on trace.  Simple linework with minimal hatching. Quick Tip - always try to add people, landscaping, graphics and background to your drawing!

Simple Composite Drawing. The original artwork was scanned at 300dpi and printed onto standard bond paper with a LaserJet printer. The print was then directly colored with very light colored Chartpak AD markers (Azure, Willow, Buff, Naples Yellow, Cool Gray #1) and an informal hatching with Prismacolor pencils. Quick tip - gradation of the sky tone is achieved with 2-3 different shades of blue pencils.

Overlay and Trace Pencil Drawing. This variation was traced directly over the original artwork using a black Prismacolor pencil on 1000H vellum. To avoid color markers smearing the pencil linework, I applied all of the Chartpak AD marker colors to the REAR SIDE of the vellum. The thickness of the paper gives the marker a soft modeled appearance.  The drawing was completed with different Prismacolor pencils on the front side.  Quick Tip - add white colored pencil highlights to roof areas and delineate stone using a light gray colored pencil. 

Overlay and Trace Ink Drawing. This variation was traced directly over the original artwork using a black Pentel Sign pen on standard tracing paper.  Because the pen is water based, I could easily apply Chartpak AD markers to the front side of the paper and not affect the linework. Prismacolor pencils added brick detail and the modeled sky.  Quick Tip - when combining ink linework and colored markers, make sure you draw with a water based pen and NOT a permanent ink pen or your linework may be smeared by the alcohol in the marker.

If you would like to learn more about drawing with different pens, pencils, colored pencils and markers, visit my website www.drawingshortcuts.com and pick up my new book Drawing Shortcuts Second Edition.

Google SketchUp Tradigital Drawing

I’m a real proponent of quick visualization by merging both traditional hand drawing technique with 3D computer generated digital imaging. I’ve named this blend of pixels and paper “Tradigital Drawing” and it really has great potential in our design profession. The project I’ve illustrated below is a perfect example of how you can develop a 3D model using Google SketchUp, print a view and then draw/color directly onto the print with pencils and markers. Here are the specific steps involved:

Step One: SketchUp Base Model.  I created this house model on a simple base and established the scene (view) with a 65mm camera lens, adjusting the lighting to optimize the shadows and shapes. Quick Tip: establish your SketchUp scene early in the visualization process and then build your entourage around that exact view!  Don't forget to adjust your sky and ground colors. 

Step Two: SketchUp Entourage Components.  I added 3D trees, grasses, people and furniture to the model, adjusting their locations for the best composition. Beware that the numerous faces and edges of 3D components will increase the model size and potentially bog down the speed. This model topped out at 714,000 edges and 188,000 faces!

Step Three: Export a High Resolution View.  You can export tiff’s, jpeg’s, png’s and more out of  SketchUp. I exported this view 4,000 pixels wide as a jpeg. Try to export your views at a very high resolution!  Don’t export tiff’s any less than 300 dpi.

Step Four: Modify the View in Photoshop.  I brought the exported jpeg into Photoshop, created a duplicate layer and gave it a 75% transparency. Why make the image lighter?  By reducing the intensity of the image, it allows you to add back color with pencils and markers.  This image lightening step is critical to the successful hand drawing next step!

 

Step Five: Print and Finish by Hand.  This was where the magic happened!  I cropped the original view and printed it onto 8.5”x11” Epson heavy weight matte finish paper using my Inkjet printer. I first added Chartpak AD markers to the image, bringing up some of the ground and building colors. Then drew over the entire image with Prismacolor pencils adding soft pencil hatching, tones and accent linework.  Quick Tip: Over-tracing the obvious hard edge computer lines with pencil will increase the look of a hand drawing and reduce the appearance of a computer generated rendering. The results are remarkable!

If you would like to learn more about this and other methods of creating Tradigital Drawings, visit my website www.drawingshortcuts.com and pick up my new book Drawing Shortcuts Second Edition.

 

Best Tradigital Visualist: Kirk Fromm

I was very honored to include the work from Philadelphia visualist Kirk Fromm in my new book Drawing Shortcuts Second Edition. Kansas State University Interior Architecture grad turned professional illustrator, Kirk has integrated Google SketchUp modeling, hand drawing, photography and digital painting in all of his recent work and never fails to stop me in my tracks with his immense talent for drawing composition, entourage and digital effects.  Combining traditional hand drawing and digital imaging is what I've named "Tradigital" in my recent publication. Here are two of Fromm’s projects included in my book showing detailed “step-by-step” progress how he created them.

Campus Open Space Concept. The project shown below began with a Google SketchUp model view with a hand drawn pencil overlay illustrating entourage, architectural detail and landscape elements. The two images were composited together and enhanced in a series of steps using Photoshop, adding photographic elements and digital painting effects.

Pedestrian Walkway.  Similar to the previous visualization project, this image (shown below) followed a similar process of beginning with a Google SketchUp model view, adding photographic elements, hand drawing overlay and digital painting effects.  

 

Visit Kirk Fromm's website for more information about his technique and incredible portfolio of work!

If you would like to learn more about other talented visualists creating great hybrid drawings, visit my website www.drawingshortcuts.com and pick up my new book Drawing Shortcuts Second Edition.

Quick Visualization Study with SketchUp

 

I recently was asked to help visualize some big ideas for improving the grounds surrounding a collegiate football stadium. Time was short and I chose to take a straightforward approach by assembling a SketchUp “Stage Set Model”, identifying only three views and creating a series of “Overlay and Trace” drawings.  These terms (stage set model, overlay and trace) are explained in my book and are real time savers!  Here is a step-by-step overview of my process;

Step 1 - Base Model. I imported a previously drawn site plan and quickly built a SketchUp massing model of the stadium and two additional building shapes. I identified several sketch view locations in the model and added detail only to those specific areas. Total model time: 2 hours.

Step 2 -  Selected Views.  I identified four potential scenes and added trees, people, cars and tower elements to the image area.  Any portion of the SketchUp model outside of the view was not touched. Remember: only model what is in view for any specific scene!

Step 3 - Overlay and Trace. I printed each scene approximately 9"x17" in color and traced over the image with a  Pentel Sign pen and Chartpak AD markers on standard tracing paper. Each drawing took about 30 minutes to sketch and another 30 minutes to color.

Additional Views.  Compare the SketchUp model views with the final overlay and trace drawings. People and elements not  in the base model were added during the sketch phase. Total Project Time: 4 hours.

If you would like to learn more about different SketchUp model strategies and the overlay and trace method, visit my website www.drawingshortcuts.com and pick up my new book Drawing Shortcuts Second Edition.

Drawing Pens and Their Characteristics

I’ve been asked many times about which pens are the best to draw with and I always have the same answer - draw with whatever pen feels good to you and fits with the type of drawing you are producing.  Drawing in a sketchbook might require a finer point pen that glides quickly on paper, or sketching a quick concept on trace paper would dictate a broad tipped pen with a more gestural quality. Your choice of pen depends on the material you are drawing on, whether or not you are adding color marker to the original pen drawing, timing, level of detail and much more.  Here are a few simple tips that may help you understand more about the pens I use and ones I recommend not using.

The pens shown above are both permanent and non-permanent pens. Permanent ink pens (1, 2) have an alcohol based ink formula and the non-permanent ink pens (3, 4, 5, 6) have a water based ink formula.  

1. Sharpie Ultra Fine Point (permanent ink pen) - is found in office supply stores but NOT a good pen to use because of a slight bluish tint of the ink, unusual chemical smell and tendency to not be archival over time (I don’t use this pen for any drawing). 

2. Staedtler Lumocolor 318 (permanent ink pen) - is a great  pen for drawing on mylar, quick drying, ultra black ink and lightfast. I love working with the ‘F’ or ‘S’ pen types. 

3. Pentel Sign Pen (water based ink pen) - is my favorite all around broad tipped sketching and concept development pen. Broad felt tip, ultra black ink, fat body easy to hold. 

4. Pilot Fineliner Pen (water based ink pen) - is my favorite all around fine point drawing pen. Fine felt tip, ultra black ink, refills quickly while drawing at fast speeds.

5. Pilot Razor Point Pen (water based ink pen) - isn’t my choice for all around sketching due to a slightly blue tint to the ink and slow refilling characteristics when quickly sketching.

6. Pilot Precise V7 Rolling Ball Pen (water based ink pen) - available everywhere and a great sketching pen on bond paper. Does not perform well on trace as it dries slowly and can smudge.

Pen comparison on trace. These four quick sketches were drawn with pens outlined above. Note that the Pentel Sign Pen has a much fatter line width. The three others have an equal line width and character. There was minor smudging from the Pilot Rolling Ball pen due to its slow drying time.

Water based ink lines and spilled coffee don’t mix well!

 Don’t mix Chartpak AD markers with permanent ink pens!  This test clearly illustrates that when you color directly onto original linework with alcohol based markers, your lines must be drawn with a water based pen (drawing on the left).  The drawing on the right, created with a permanent ink pen (alcohol based ink), shows how the chemicals in the marker melts and smudges the original linework.  

I encourage experimenting with various pen products and on different materials. If you would like to learn more about drawing with pens, visit my website www.drawingshortcuts.com and pick up my new book Drawing Shortcuts Second Edition.