If you struggle to add details to your sketches, try drawing them bigger! Learn this practical tip, see a real student example, and discover how drawing details large can instantly boost your confidence and clarity in design sketching.

Hey Sketchers,

Amy Riches - Student Sketch like the pros
Amy Riches | VIP Student of Sketch like the Pros

If your perspective on your sketches looks awkward, or they seem lacking in details, these today 2 sketching TIPS might help you.

I’ve just received an inspiring sketch from one of my VIP students of [Sketch Like the Pros], Amy Riches from the UK.

At first, she sketched a camera that was pretty ok – however, the perspective was a bit weak.

I shared with her 2 simple tips, and the day after only, I received a good quality sketch! :)

Amy is highly motivated to progress.
Let me share with you the 2 recommendations I gave to her.

Amy’s story and testimonial about Sketch like the Pros course.
(You can join the Waiting list for the Design Sketching course here.)

Camera product design life drawing  Low construction.png
BEFORE: Amy draws a camera with a slanted perspective

TIP 1- Start Drawing with a Box.

It’s essential to start drawing in a certain order.

  • Never start drawing a camera with detail like the button for example or any other function. Start with the general shape.
  • A camera being “rectangular”, drawing a slim box will be the best start.
  • The box set up the proportion of the camera and the perspective scene in no time.
  • As soon as you have your box, you can make subdivisions to add in the elements (screen, buttons, plug, screws…).

Try to spot in the picture above, Amy’s construction lines (box, contour lines, subdivisions made with light pen pressure).

See also  How to Create Artistic Sketches with Your iPad Using Loose Lines

Just after receiving my feedbacks, Amy applied the sketching tips immediately. So I could see her improved sketches within 24 hours only:

Camera product design life drawing  Good perspective construction.png
AFTER: Amy used a box with a proper 2-point perspective to build the camera

TIP 2- Draw Details BIG!

As a beginner, we often have this “bad habit”: drawing small – and we draw small details even smaller!

When you draw small, 1 mm wrong can easily make your sketch look awkward. Drawing tiny stuff makes us feel so frustrated! We can’t achieve any good detail, and we have no clue on how to improve them. It’s like the pen nib is too thick…

The solution is simple.
Draw the details big!
Like if you have a magnifying glass. 

Amy told me the benefits of it:
“Had a go at pulling out some details and making bigger – found it easier to think about the geometry with more perspective and construction lines :)”

Learn how to observe things closely,
practice drawing BIG and your sketch will rise in definition and quality. 

Sketch like the pros - the design sketchbook - product design student - Amy Riches.png
‘Life drawing’ of cool products and details. – from Amy Riches

Add beside a “zoom in” details of the buttons, clip, nib, screw, mechanical pieces, grooves…

Hope it helps!
If you know anybody to whom these sketching tips can be helpful, feel free to share!

Take care.
Cheers,
Chou-Tac

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Hello! I'm Chou-Tac, a Product Designer from France.

If the sketching methods I’ve acquired aid me in my life and in my industrial design career, I believe that they can also help you reach your dream goal as a student or professional designer.

Leave a comment in the blog or send me an email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com : )

Chou-Tac

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