LOL! No way I could have done these without drawing tools. Of course I used straight edges and a compass, hoped it was obvious. Still a good challenge due to the ink.
This...when I searched for improving draftsmanship, was the first video I clicked on because the words of another artist keep ringing in my ears. He said the best artists are a "jack of many trades, master of none." And that..pretty much every successful artist had done many things other than drawing portraits for example. This reminded me of what he said. Im no artist, and I really didn't learn much in all the years I took art in college because, well...when you ask your teacher about color theory and composition and they can't really give you an answer...yeah.. thats the kind of art teachers I had. Oh..and I had one who would get mad at you for not shading when she hadn't taught that and you don't know what that is because its a junior high drawing 1 class. Thank God for youtube and books. I mean really...who knew that you could learn about composition or drawing in a book? Certainly not you because not one art teacher ever had us get books, showed us books, etc etc.
People nowadays seem to want to instantly be great at something, even beyond art or design. If practice is needed those people will turn away from those things even if they enjoy them. Your prediction about this being your least viewed video may or may not be right, but know that there are people (like me) who want to get better and don't fear the time and practice it takes! Thank you for the video!
No you didn't put me to sleep. One of my favorite artwork in my lifetime is actually a typography studies. This is what I like with you Scott, you are so inspirational in every way and you always bring something new. That is why your tutorials are never boring
Typography, portrait drawings and Inking have helped me learn the skills of proportions. It had also help me learn the sensitivity of negative space. I don't think this is a boring lecture but it's one of the best one.
My first year in art school involved a heated exchange between myself and my typography teacher begging...demanding to be taught/shown something like this...I wasn't and I dropped out soon aftward. Smh. Now, I draw jet engines....but this makes me think of what could have been...if shed just had said "ok...have a seat young man."
I'm really glad you took the time to make us a video on one of the best lessons you took from school. You've planted this gold advice in the minds of people who haven't been in the same classes as you, and that's priceless.
Scott telling me that me failing over and over at XYZ section drawings is a process of learning is a good pick me up to continue to try thank you Scott appreciate everything you do.
This looks like a humbling assignment. I went to school for graphic design, so this video most definitely didn't put me to sleep Scott. Thanks for making it.
I can say that doing letters helps in learning line quality.In my fine art training we had calligraphy class.It was short but I learned a lot in working with thickness and line quality that is pleasing for the viewer.Great work.I would love it if you continue to upload similar tips on how to develop skill and esthetic taste in drawing and design.
Hey Scott, I am currently a 3rd year Graphic Design student, and I just found your youtube channel, I found your lectures incredibly helpfull, some more so than what we actually get taught at university! Keep up the good work and online lectures!
Scott, even though it may be the least watched, it's a great lesson. As a graphic designer, I appreciate the acknowledgement of the benefits of exercises like these, and knowing that the hand cramps will all go to good use!
Thanks for taking me down memory lane, Scott :) I have a book almost the same from 1981 in the attic. Back when I did "ticketwriting" as they called it in the early 80's, there was no such thing as being able to buy an ellipse guide where I lived (and there was no eBay or Amazon to buy one from overseas), so like they mentioned, I did everything freehand yet no-one could tell. It was the best training I could have ever given myself. :)
Again, I like these sort of little insights in other artists' earlier work/experimentation/study. You can see these sorts of things in books of typography anywhere, but to actually try and find out how certain typefaces/fonts are being constructed shows you new ways to experiment with your own work... Keep up the videos!
You're in luck, the new How to Draw book has about 25 educational videos that are hard linked out the book. We're in the final stages of finishing the app for both iOS and Android or you can link directly to them via the web and a password. All as part of the book, no extra cost
I really appreciate your connection to industrial design, it's all I have in mind for university next year. This is really an inspirational video. Thank you.
As a type lover myself, I drooled all over this video. Beautiful, beautiful lines. In graphic design school I had to do something similar, but just with a pencil. Still wasn't easy as we had to draw the letters on full A4 pages. But, sure, it was a forgiving medium.
I have a great appreciation for handwriting, typography, and calligraphy, so I appreciate this video so much. :) People don't often realize the importance and immense thought to proportion in calligraphy as well as fonts. :)
uff that's a relief lol!, I am an Industrial design student, unfortunately this class is not taught in my university, but seeing this help me a lot, big fan of you, and I hope to get at your level someday, I'll keep practicing.
If you said yes, he may have become like the free-hand ellipse example. This is actually a question I was going to ask, so thanks for answering and thanks for the video. Can't wait for the book(s)!
Spectacular video! That kind of discipline not only with being clean and accurate, but also the care taken to design beautiful shapes is a great exercise. I'll definitely have to do some of this kind of practice!
As I learned to fully listen to Vilppu lectures, I was wide awake as you spoke. Thank you for sharing overall. Prior listen was on having the critical eye. I applied it to a copy of another persons artwork. In red I found I was off when I went in another layer and used green color pencil or some type of (actually the sharp pen uses all the while in Medibang on IPad Pro). Then I finally went in with black in. Got exhausted from physical training (although I alternate hands periodically in the drawing), so the artwork is incomplete in the line work.
this was great, reminds when I was in Architecture classes (before switching to ID) and following David Lance Goines "A Constructed Roman Alphabet" as a design exercise. And what my carpenter buddy always says; "it's so nice, because we did it twice"
Excellent, Scott. I really enjoyed this one. Just ordered a set of rapidographs and a bristol board sketch book. Going to do the Albrecht Dürer alphabet. I'm a graphic designer, spending way too much time in front of the screen-I need to brush up on my manual craftmanship. Thanks for motivating me! You are always an inspiration.
My teacher gave us a drafting assignment that was like this. He had us directly draw in crow quill a full skeleton based on our classes skeleton model. We got 2 full 12 hour days for it and weren't allowed to under draw. I was pretty lucky in that I'd used nib pens a lot before then so the blotches didn't murder my work like a lot of my classmates.
oh man my jaw dropped when i saw that completely straight z. wow. that just gives you a tingling sensation seeing those pleasing proportions on those letters.
Enjoyed this thoroughly! Did not go to sleep, lol. I'm thinking I'd rather do this digitally, with layers so I wouldn't have to start again, but then I'm kinda lazy so will never be a great artist. Glad I found your vids.
Great! Got all three in waiting. I can't wait for How to Draw to be sent out! By the way. I did an architecture degree for a little while(wasn't for me in the end) and we did some exercises like this though it went into constructing them as 3D shapes as well as hand modelling is still done in Architecture. Similar quest for accuracy in both modelling and drafting.
Hi! Great lecture! I think this is the most solid clear lecture that show how too improve draftmanship! Thanks for taking the time! // I wish you the best!
I'd fail miserably if I had to do that... I mean starting over ever single time!? I just don't think I could handle it. However I do see that the exercise would have a great effect on your skills not only as an artist but also on busting your level of confidence. Not to mention adding keen sense of proportion and organization to your work. Great lecture! :)
This is amazing! I do, however, have a question. I have no idea how to even construct a typeset like this. Is there any book/site that points the way and give us exercises?
Ha! I'm sure I made plenty of mistakes and had to do letters over again. It was over 27 years ago though so I've had a lot of time to block out the mistakes. (meaning I can't remember)
Thanks for sharing this piece Scott! This seems like a really great way to practice drafting and letterforms. I wish we did handrawn type studies in our typography class.
Thank you mr robertson. your videos have really helped me. I never thought that my favorite thing to do would be rendering vehicles. I just found out haha.
This is super cool, Scott. :) I wouldnt mind seeing more "boring" tutorials on basics or other different types of practices that you dont normally associate with illustration and concept art.
Hey Scott, awesome as always. One question: How exactly do you go about doing them in order to take advantage of the lesson in full? Is there a pencil sketch first? Are those taken from Albretch Durer typography? Thanks!
Albrecht Durer who created this exercise originally, learned Latin, so he didn't use letters that weren't used in Latin. So there are no Js, Us, or Ws.
thanks for sharing the book, ive been looking for something like this for a long time. do you recommend any other books that cover letterform construction?
the hardest part of doing this for me has truly been trying to figure out exactly what durer is saying to do, re reading things over and over is painful.
What pen did you use for the linework on these? I've been using felt tips for a while and when it comes to quick ink sketches they're awesome, but they lack a certain cleanliness when I'm trying to do really refined, uniform lines.
I think he said he used Rotring / Plotting pens or some variant. They have very small metal nibs and you can fill them with inks/cartridges depending on the type. Very tricky to use, well for me anyway. Hope this was helpful.
Hello Scott, did you draw the whole letters freehand including the circles? I've been practicing my freehand circles for about three days now and can't seem to draw them correctly, I only get weird ellipses. will I be cheating if I use circle templates?
LOL! No way I could have done these without drawing tools. Of course I used straight edges and a compass, hoped it was obvious. Still a good challenge due to the ink.
This...when I searched for improving draftsmanship, was the first video I clicked on because the words of another artist keep ringing in my ears. He said the best artists are a "jack of many trades, master of none." And that..pretty much every successful artist had done many things other than drawing portraits for example. This reminded me of what he said. Im no artist, and I really didn't learn much in all the years I took art in college because, well...when you ask your teacher about color theory and composition and they can't really give you an answer...yeah.. thats the kind of art teachers I had. Oh..and I had one who would get mad at you for not shading when she hadn't taught that and you don't know what that is because its a junior high drawing 1 class. Thank God for youtube and books. I mean really...who knew that you could learn about composition or drawing in a book? Certainly not you because not one art teacher ever had us get books, showed us books, etc etc.
People nowadays seem to want to instantly be great at something, even beyond art or design. If practice is needed those people will turn away from those things even if they enjoy them. Your prediction about this being your least viewed video may or may not be right, but know that there are people (like me) who want to get better and don't fear the time and practice it takes! Thank you for the video!
No you didn't put me to sleep. One of my favorite artwork in my lifetime is actually a typography studies. This is what I like with you Scott, you are so inspirational in every way and you always bring something new. That is why your tutorials are never boring
Typography, portrait drawings and Inking have helped me learn the skills of proportions. It had also help me learn the sensitivity of negative space. I don't think this is a boring lecture but it's one of the best one.
My first year in art school involved a heated exchange between myself and my typography teacher begging...demanding to be taught/shown something like this...I wasn't and I dropped out soon aftward. Smh.
Now, I draw jet engines....but this makes me think of what could have been...if shed just had said "ok...have a seat young man."
I'm really glad you took the time to make us a video on one of the best lessons you took from school. You've planted this gold advice in the minds of people who haven't been in the same classes as you, and that's priceless.
Scott telling me that me failing over and over at XYZ section drawings is a process of learning is a good pick me up to continue to try thank you Scott appreciate everything you do.
This looks like a humbling assignment.
I went to school for graphic design, so this video most definitely didn't put me to sleep Scott. Thanks for making it.
I can say that doing letters helps in learning line quality.In my fine art training we had calligraphy class.It was short but I learned a lot in working with thickness and line quality that is pleasing for the viewer.Great work.I would love it if you continue to upload similar tips on how to develop skill and esthetic taste in drawing and design.
Hey Scott, I am currently a 3rd year Graphic Design student, and I just found your youtube channel, I found your lectures incredibly helpfull, some more so than what we actually get taught at university! Keep up the good work and online lectures!
Scott, even though it may be the least watched, it's a great lesson. As a graphic designer, I appreciate the acknowledgement of the benefits of exercises like these, and knowing that the hand cramps will all go to good use!
Thanks for taking me down memory lane, Scott :)
I have a book almost the same from 1981 in the attic. Back when I did "ticketwriting" as they called it in the early 80's, there was no such thing as being able to buy an ellipse guide where I lived (and there was no eBay or Amazon to buy one from overseas), so like they mentioned, I did everything freehand yet no-one could tell. It was the best training I could have ever given myself. :)
Again, I like these sort of little insights in other artists' earlier work/experimentation/study. You can see these sorts of things in books of typography anywhere, but to actually try and find out how certain typefaces/fonts are being constructed shows you new ways to experiment with your own work... Keep up the videos!
You're in luck, the new How to Draw book has about 25 educational videos that are hard linked out the book. We're in the final stages of finishing the app for both iOS and Android or you can link directly to them via the web and a password. All as part of the book, no extra cost
I was not sleeping at all! You actually kept me awake and motivate me to practice some more today.
I really appreciate your connection to industrial design, it's all I have in mind for university next year. This is really an inspirational video.
Thank you.
Those perfect lines and geometric shapes look so clean and beautiful!
As a type lover myself, I drooled all over this video. Beautiful, beautiful lines.
In graphic design school I had to do something similar, but just with a pencil. Still wasn't easy as we had to draw the letters on full A4 pages. But, sure, it was a forgiving medium.
I have a great appreciation for handwriting, typography, and calligraphy, so I appreciate this video so much. :) People don't often realize the importance and immense thought to proportion in calligraphy as well as fonts. :)
uff that's a relief lol!, I am an Industrial design student, unfortunately this class is not taught in my university, but seeing this help me a lot, big fan of you, and I hope to get at your level someday, I'll keep practicing.
Yes! I just added a link to the step-by-step instructions at the end of the description info above.
If you said yes, he may have become like the free-hand ellipse example. This is actually a question I was going to ask, so thanks for answering and thanks for the video. Can't wait for the book(s)!
Spectacular video! That kind of discipline not only with being clean and accurate, but also the care taken to design beautiful shapes is a great exercise. I'll definitely have to do some of this kind of practice!
Thank You for these videos, Scott... You have illustrated the need for demanding and unforgiving mediums quite well.
I love hearing about exercises like this that I never would have thought about otherwise, but are incredibly helpful! Thanks so much Scott!
As I learned to fully listen to Vilppu lectures, I was wide awake as you spoke. Thank you for sharing overall. Prior listen was on having the critical eye. I applied it to a copy of another persons artwork. In red I found I was off when I went in another layer and used green color pencil or some type of (actually the sharp pen uses all the while in Medibang on IPad Pro). Then I finally went in with black in. Got exhausted from physical training (although I alternate hands periodically in the drawing), so the artwork is incomplete in the line work.
this is what we need! More foundation! I search through the INTERNET for this kind of knowledge. Thanks!
this was great, reminds when I was in Architecture classes (before switching to ID) and following David Lance Goines "A Constructed Roman Alphabet" as a design exercise. And what my carpenter buddy always says; "it's so nice, because we did it twice"
Excellent, Scott. I really enjoyed this one. Just ordered a set of rapidographs and a bristol board sketch book. Going to do the Albrecht Dürer alphabet. I'm a graphic designer, spending way too much time in front of the screen-I need to brush up on my manual craftmanship. Thanks for motivating me! You are always an inspiration.
As someone who wants to design fonts in the future, this was an interesting video.
My teacher gave us a drafting assignment that was like this. He had us directly draw in crow quill a full skeleton based on our classes skeleton model. We got 2 full 12 hour days for it and weren't allowed to under draw. I was pretty lucky in that I'd used nib pens a lot before then so the blotches didn't murder my work like a lot of my classmates.
Stunning letterforms! Straight out of a typophile's dream
Scott, you are number one concept-art teacher.
thanks a lot. i bought your all books
I love calligraphy, seeing such a project coming from you is just amazing :3
oh man my jaw dropped when i saw that completely straight z. wow.
that just gives you a tingling sensation seeing those pleasing proportions on those letters.
Enjoyed this thoroughly! Did not go to sleep, lol. I'm thinking I'd rather do this digitally, with layers so I wouldn't have to start again, but then I'm kinda lazy so will never be a great artist. Glad I found your vids.
I'll have an update later today and will post info on my FB page as well as in my upcoming FTF's.
graphic design major. pleased to see this.
Great! Got all three in waiting.
I can't wait for How to Draw to be sent out!
By the way. I did an architecture degree for a little while(wasn't for me in the end) and we did some exercises like this though it went into constructing them as 3D shapes as well as hand modelling is still done in Architecture.
Similar quest for accuracy in both modelling and drafting.
loved it, gives me encouragement to continue drawing circles and elipses!
This is not sleepy at all! Thank you so much for showing us the piece!
Hi! Great lecture! I think this is the most solid clear lecture that show how too improve draftmanship! Thanks for taking the time!
// I wish you the best!
I'd fail miserably if I had to do that... I mean starting over ever single time!? I just don't think I could handle it. However I do see that the exercise would have a great effect on your skills not only as an artist but also on busting your level of confidence. Not to mention adding keen sense of proportion and organization to your work. Great lecture! :)
This is amazing!
I do, however, have a question. I have no idea how to even construct a typeset like this. Is there any book/site that points the way and give us exercises?
Been wondering the same thing
Ha! I'm sure I made plenty of mistakes and had to do letters over again. It was over 27 years ago though so I've had a lot of time to block out the mistakes. (meaning I can't remember)
One of your most inspiring videos to me. Thank you for posting!
Wow, I'll definitely try this out, thank you for this helpful post!
It would be really great tto see you do one of these. The process
Thanks for sharing this piece Scott! This seems like a really great way to practice drafting and letterforms. I wish we did handrawn type studies in our typography class.
Great Lecture!! Should be the most watched!!
Thank you mr robertson. your videos have really helped me. I never thought that my favorite thing to do would be rendering vehicles. I just found out haha.
This is super cool, Scott. :) I wouldnt mind seeing more "boring" tutorials on basics or other different types of practices that you dont normally associate with illustration and concept art.
Scott - Great stuff per usual, nice job.
Well done Scott!
I will definitely give this a go. Fantastic idea.
amazing! i did some typography drawing back in graphic designer school, i hated it, but i think i can appriciate it better now after this vid :)
Thanks Scott for the video...can you do another video where you show step-by-step how you did each letter?
This is brilliant! I've never thought of typography in this perspective. :D
This is amazing. Thank you so much.
This was a fantastic video. Thank you for making this!
LOL - An artist that chose OSU over UofO, I didn't think it was possible. ;] Great lesson! I'm getting my inks/pens back out.
Thanks Scott
that's really cool. i wonder if there are resources on this old-timey way of letter construction. google yields nothing but photoshop tutorials.
if there is such a thing as visual ASMR, this is definitely exhibit A
Thank you!
Thank you for the lecture (and all the others)!
I just went back to the cover page and looked and found that there were only 23 letters in that alphabet! ?
Hey Scott, awesome as always. One question: How exactly do you go about doing them in order to take advantage of the lesson in full? Is there a pencil sketch first? Are those taken from Albretch Durer typography? Thanks!
That letter (and J and W) are not in the Albrecht Dürer alphabet IIRC, so he didn't really miss them.
Did not put to sleep another helpful video.
Amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Albrecht Durer who created this exercise originally, learned Latin, so he didn't use letters that weren't used in Latin. So there are no Js, Us, or Ws.
How many kids know what a Rapideograph pen is, or an erasing template or even Zipatone? Drafting is a lost art. Great video!
There's no U. Check the Project Gutemberg link.
thanks for sharing the book, ive been looking for something like this for a long time. do you recommend any other books that cover letterform construction?
Very inspirational.
the hardest part of doing this for me has truly been trying to figure out exactly what durer is saying to do, re reading things over and over is painful.
My best help has been simply looking at the letters you did close up on this video, hopes this helps others :)
i need this book
Not boring at all!!
with the E and the L the bottom seriff drifts off a little from the circle and I don't see it much anywhere else. why is that happening?
I don't have money like that, but I will definitely incorporate this is to my routine.
How was Art Center? was it a good school?
What pen did you use for the linework on these? I've been using felt tips for a while and when it comes to quick ink sketches they're awesome, but they lack a certain cleanliness when I'm trying to do really refined, uniform lines.
I think he said he used Rotring / Plotting pens or some variant. They have very small metal nibs and you can fill them with inks/cartridges depending on the type. Very tricky to use, well for me anyway. Hope this was helpful.
The oldschool drafting pens were Rapidographs. These have since been replaced for the most part with Pigma Microns
I understand why this would help with craft and draftsmanship, but why would copying exact instructions help with proportional sensitivity?
Awesome 👏 cheers
Where is J and U? Nice video all the same. Keep up the good work!
Are there any good books on typography that you can recommend?
Did this exact same thing when i studied a typography paper at uni. Very very time consuming, haha.
Why didn't you do the J or U? I'm curious
This might sound stupid but. . . is that cave conference "FREE to watch"?
Beautiful work! I'd bet not something you'd like to repeat often though haha
Hello Scott, did you draw the whole letters freehand including the circles? I've been practicing my freehand circles for about three days now and can't seem to draw them correctly, I only get weird ellipses.
will I be cheating if I use circle templates?
Ha! No way, I used a compass and straight edges as well.
This is great, but i wonder: Where is the U?
I think the V was used like the U, as in Roman Empire times.
Oh yeah, it is the Latin alphabet !
Very, very intense.
Awesome!
You're missing J and W
Didn't you watch Indiana Jones 3?
Benjamin Weiler Yes, but I haven't seen it in a while.
Don't forget the "U"
you missed a few letters on the first page.
+stalin johsev nope, this is the latin alphabet :)
just ordered how to draw
link*