TIP 12 | Draw Inspiration From Your Surroundings

Does it happened to you often to lack of inspiration?
When you feel like sketching, but you don’t know what to draw?

Instead of looking at the blank ceiling,
try to look around you.

I noticed out of the window, the overhead electricity wires and high voltage power lines from the street.
They looked organized yet chaotic.

I felt it like a great drawing challenge to take I am glad to simplify in 4 steps:

• STEP 1 Draw the perspective with the main elements
• STEP 2 Draw details
• STEP 3 Add additional details
• STEP 4 Add shadows using hatching

Chou-Tac Chung – High-voltage power lines, Saigon
I guess that what attracted my attention is the contrast between the static power distributor and the fluidity of the electricity transmission cables.

It reminds me some concept art and animation about cyborgs such as Gunnm.
It is full of mechanic forms and wires from car engines, robots, maybe spaceships.

STEP1 | SET UP THE MAIN ELEMENTS USING BASIC PERSPECTIVE

• We set here a 2-point perspective view.
• Make sure the perspective looks correct by tracing a few perspective lines.
• Start drawing basic forms like cubes and cylinders.
• Always draw from General forms to details.
• Remember to start drawing with a light pen pressure before adding any details.

STEP2 | Add details

• Isolate the elements and decompose each of them in 3D in your mind.
  Most of the shapes can be simplified by sketching axes, ellipses and cubes.

STEP3 | Add more details and use the rubber

• Some areas are quite intricate. I use the rubber, especially for sketching the cables.

STEP4 | Shading with hatching

• Identify the source of light, then add shadows.
  Different type of hatching for different level of grey.
  I’ve purposely left the cable in white to get a nice contrast.

I hope that the sketch of the day and its quick tutorial has been helpful.
Let me know what’s in your mind in the discussion box below.