Form, Volume and Construction

In order to learn how to draw objects correctly on a flat surface, you need to understand their form, volume, and construction.

This knowledge greatly simplifies the drawing process and helps you better understand the structure of objects. Without understanding these principles, drawings may appear flat and unconvincing.

One of the main tasks when learning to draw is to see the form and volume of an object correctly and transfer them to a piece of paper or a tablet.

All visible objects have form. This is one of the basic principles on which drawing is based. Form describes the three-dimensional structure and appearance of an object. No matter how simple or complex an object is, we can analyze it as a three-dimensional form.

Volume refers to the three-dimensional space occupied by a form. More simply, a three-dimensional object has height, width, and depth.

Basic geometric forms demonstrating three-dimensional volume and construction.

These two concepts are closely connected. Both a thick book and a thin sheet of paper have three-dimensional form. Despite its small thickness, even a piece of paper has height, width, and depth.

Complex objects can often be simplified into basic geometric forms. In simple objects such as a table or a bottle, these forms may be easy to recognize, while in the human body they are less obvious. But if you look more carefully, the underlying forms become much easier to see.

For example, the arms and legs can be simplified into cylinders and rounded forms, while the torso can be represented by larger masses such as a flattened cylinder or box-like forms. The actual human body, of course, has much more complex contours, with depressions, protrusions, and irregularities.

Human figure simplified into basic three-dimensional geometric forms.

When studying the external contours and forms of an object, you should also try to understand its underlying structure. In other words, we need to see how its main volumes and simple geometric forms relate to one another.

As already mentioned, the human body can be simplified into basic geometric forms. First, you need to recognize these forms behind the complex structure of the body. Then you can transfer them to the flat surface of the paper while preserving their three-dimensional appearance.

With careful observation, you can find simple geometric forms or combinations of them in almost any object, no matter how complex it may seem.

For example, a mug can be simplified into a large vertical cylinder and a curved form for the handle. A vase, in turn, can be constructed from several simple rounded forms. As you can see, relatively simple geometric forms can be combined to create much more complex objects.

Mug and vase simplified into basic geometric forms for drawing.

As mentioned above, the geometric basis of simple objects is often obvious. It is more difficult to recognize basic geometric forms in living subjects. Notice how the heads and limbs of the animals in the illustration can be simplified into these basic forms.

Animal heads simplified into basic geometric forms.

When analyzing the form of an object, you should first try to understand its overall structure without being distracted by small details.

This will help you understand the object as a whole and transfer its main forms to paper more accurately. Once the basic construction is established, you can gradually move on to smaller and more complex forms.

As always, we encourage you to practice these principles as often as possible. Try simplifying different objects into basic geometric forms and then gradually adding their individual features. With regular practice, recognizing form, volume, and construction will become a natural part of your drawing process.