Jacquelin Vanderwood
December 2004
In this lesson we'll learn how to look at the structure of the box in terms of where it is placed in our sight. For visual purposes, the light source will be coming from the right and casting a shadow. The shadow changes with the box placement. In this first picture we see the box at a 3/4 angle casting shadow directly in front of itself. Notice how although we think the box is square, in fact there is no way we can draw it as a square. From this perspective it is shaped more like a diamond. Try drawing it now.
In this sketch we see that the box has been turned slightly and that the shadow is cast at an angle from the front and off to the side. We can see more of the front although it looks the same as the previous drawing. We need to learn how to look. Try drawing a circle with lines crisscrossing evenly. Set a box on it with the corner touching the center. Draw it. Move the box to the next line with the corner touching the center. Continue doing this until you've turned the box all the way around. Notice how incrementally we can't see the changes, but if you skip every two drawings the changes are significant.
Here we see the box from the top almost facing us. Notice how what we thought was diamond shape is now changing dramatically. Compare the shadow from the previous drawing.
This box sketch is facing us directly as we look down on it. All we see is the top and the front. If we were to erase the line the delineates the top from the front, it would almost appear to be a foreshortened rectangle. Note the shadow angle.
The box is laying on it's side here. We can see more of it's rectangle shape now. We can see the diamond shape at the end of the box. Try drawing the box now.
Here we have the box turned slightly to the right where the light of the lamp can hit it. Notice that the shadow on the front of the box just barely affects it.
In this spot we see that the box is facing the light directly. If we look close, the front is in the diamond shape. Notice how there is no shadow below the box in the front of it since we turned it.
In this view we see the side of the box from above. All we see are the two sides. The box is lifted from the surface at an angle and that is why the shadow appears as it does.
The box is lifted off the table on it's side at an angle. Notice that the shadow hits the bottom of the box and we see very little of the shadow that is on the table.
Finally we see the side of the box lifted off the table at an angle. There are no shadows that we can see on the box but the shadow on the table gives the box depth because it gives us direction. Try drawing the box in all sorts of positions and become familiar with shadows.
Copyright (c) 2004, Jacquelin Vanderwood, All Rights Reserved
