Finding Abstract Shapes: 1956 Buick 88

"1956 Buick 88", 8x7 inches, Black Prismacolor pencil on Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper, 2007

"1956 Buick 88", detail

I try to find interesting shapes in every subject. The chrome on this 1956 Buick was hard to resist. Drawing the constantly changing forms in the chrome was fun and allowed me to be more interpretive with my drawing. I picked up on this idea by treating the figures and trees in the background as abstract shapes.

Its all about finding the points of interest and interpreting these elements as aspects of an abstract composition. Contrasts between areas of intense detail are balanced against broad open spaces. The subject is merely a vehicle (I know this is a very bad pun) for creating an interesting image.

Developing Spontaneity in Your Drawing

"Oldsmobile 88", digital photo

"Oldsmobile 88", 9x7 inches, Black Prismacolor pencil on Strathmore Bristol Vellum, 2007

Looking at this drawing, you might notice it contains many continuous lines that flow through shapes without a break. This was intentional. I wanted to create a drawing using something close to a single continuous line. I also avoided using an eraser. The idea is to force myself to not to over think or over work the drawing. Once a line is drawn, it must remain in place. Applying this discipline to the drawing gives the work more freshness and spontaneity, allowing me to discover shapes as I create the illustration.

Classic cars like this Oldsmobile 88 can sometimes offer great opportunities to develop abstract forms in your drawing. You can see that I chose to shoot the car from an angle that emphasized the huge flat plane of the trunk and hood. Except for the windows and roof, the car is one large horizontal slab of sheet metal decorated with chrome. This fact suggested a very abstract approach to the drawing.

"Oldsmobile 88", detail

By simplifying the horizontal lines of the buildings in the background, I managed to create a very rectangular division of the picture plane. I was thinking of the landscape paintings of Richard Deibenkorn as I created this drawing. Referencing this artist helped me see how I might use the repetition of horizontal lines in the car to make an interesting visual statement. A good illustration should be a good work of art. Using basic compositional techniques to make a more interesting image only enhances the impact of the illustration. This drawing could make a very successful painting using flat tones and a highly restricted color palette.

Developing an Interpretive Drawing Style: Loose is Better

"Ferrari Saleen", 9x9 inches, Black Prismacolor pencil on Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper, 2007

"Loosen up" This is a mantra that I keep in the back of my mind as I practice my drawing skills. After 15 years working at refining my skills as a product illustrator, I have embarked on a program to loosen up my drawing. My earlier professional work focused on clean airbrushed painting and technically accurate rendering. With the explosion of CGI imaging these skills are now out of favor in traditional illustration. I had to adapt by embracing my past as a fine artist--a goal that actually is leading to more rewarding illustration projects.

This drawing of a Ferrari Saleen was developed from a series of reference photos at the 2007 Woodward Dream Cruise. Going from tight rendering to a more interpretive approach was harder than it seemed at first. It took a major re-thinking of the drawing process to move away from a mechanical approach to drawing, toward a more expressive style.

"Ferrari Saleen", detail

I reviewed the work of major illustrators whose drawing I admired. Two favorites are Bernie Fuches and Robert Heindel. Both these artists spent their early years working in Detroit on auto accounts and gradually emerged as nationally respected artists working in highly distinctive styles. What attracted me to their work was the fluid drawing styles they developed as their skills evolved. The use of continuous pencil lines and loose shading in their portrait work informs my own work.