HOLLOW OBJECTS

The Natural Way to Draw was used in my introductory drawing course.  I will refer to this iconic book from time to time.  It continues to maintain a position of reverence on my bookshelf and I always enjoy looking thru it.

I want to revisit Mr. Nicolaides’ discussion of mass at the beginning of Section Three starting on page 32.  He basically states that the weight of an object is the most important thing to communicate in a drawing.  That is, if weight is communicated, then you are accurately representing the appearance of the object.  You are drawing what the object feels like.  A drawing of a rock should be drawn so that it looks like it will be difficult to pick up.

Typically the objects that we design are hollow.  If you are an architect, you are designing hollow volumes which we can walk around in.  If you are an industrial designer, then you are designing a hollow object that you drink coffee from.  Automotive designers are concerned with hollow shapes that you drive around in.

This hollowness implies that what we design has a function.  That is to say, if it has to function, then you are very concerned with what is happening inside of it.  So our drawings should first and foremost be concerned with functionality.  A prime concern should be the resolution of the entire form in our drawings.  Yet we are not taught to think in this manner.

Instead of being concerned with, for example mass, we need to instead be concerned with how the form works.  How does the object close on itself?  How thick are the sides?  What shadows are created by the form?  How do the interior volumes support the function?  As a designer, these are the elements which require our attention.  And I believe that this drawing and graphic sensibility should be taught very early in our education.  And yes, quite possibly, Mr. Nicolaide’s approach may indeed be setting us off course from the get go.