At first glance, many everyday objects look simple. But the moment you actually sit down to draw one, you realize it’s a clever little contraption made up of hinges, overlapping plates, joints, and multiple parts.
This week, we’re zooming in on one small object and getting to know it inside & out.
The Setup:
Find a small, mundane object from around your house that’s made of multiple adjoining pieces. Think of things with moving parts or interlocking hardware, like the metal bulldog clip in my example. You might try drawing a clothespin, a small stapler, a pair of nail clippers, or a key on a ring.
The Goal:
Draw your chosen object five times on a single page. Each time you draw it, rotate the object to a completely new angle (try a profile view, an awkward three-quarters tilt, upside down, or looking straight down into its mechanical parts).
Embrace the contour: Use a simple, flowing line to track the outer silhouette and major internal joins. Don’t worry about shading, gradients, or surface textures.
Let go of perfection: By sketch number three, your hand will start to loosen up and understand the geometry of the object. Allow your lines to wobble and be imperfect. This is a study, not a blueprint!
Keep it fast and exploratory: Spend no more than 3 minutes on each individual sketch. Treat it like a visual exercise, where curiosity matters most.
Why this works: Drawing an object once can feel rigid, but drawing it five times forces your brain to stop relying on what it thinks you see. You start to truly look at and understand how the pieces of your object fit together in 3D space.
Once your 5-angle page is complete, head over to our free Skool community and drop your sketch in the Prompts & Shares tab. Let’s see what crazy angles and weird perspectives you captured!
Happy sketching,
Beth
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