Learn how to Draw Complex Objects!

You will use your digital art program and apply what you know about drawing light and shadows to these objects. The main thing that I want you to understand that light is what to look for.

In other words, you are not drawing what the object looks like. Instead, you are looking for where the light will hit the object correctly. Once you practice looking for the light, it becomes easier to draw the object. Eventually, it will create the object that you want.

Let’s begin with a few examples so you understand this works.

1. Convex objects that are sticking out

As you start drawing your first complicated object, always decide where the light source is coming from. For illustration purposes, I will put on the top left hand corner. Anyway, begin your drawing with a solid black circular shape drawn on a separate layer.

When you draw complex objects, you need to start to look at how the surface is meeting the light. Obviously, the point that sticks out the most will receive the most light.

Start off with where the light will hit the object. Make sure to include where the shadows can be seen on the object. The purpose of this exercise is replicate how the light behaves on a curved outward surface.

After this, you can draw complex objects that are sticking out simply by painting areas of light in the general shape. It can be as random as you want. Like I said, the goal is to imagine the light only and to see the object by the light it is reflecting off.

2. Concave objects

As the opposite of convex objects, this exercise allows you to learn how to draw complex objects that are sunken in. Again, I will place my light source on the top left for illustration purposes.

Start up a new layer with a new circular shape. Make sure to preserve the transparency of the layer. Your goal is to draw how the light hits an object that is sunken in. You need to think where the light will hit the concave shape and draw in the light correctly based on your imagination.

Once more, paint in areas of light to highlight your sunken object. Also, you may need to redraw the shadow that the new light casts on one instance of the complex object.

You can draw whatever you want. It could be an impression of a footprint or a random print. Always remember: the goal is to visualize where the object hits the light and the shadows it creates.

3. Draw complex objects’ surfaces

Basically, any light hitting on a round surface will have a nice gradient of color tone where as if the light hits a flat surface, the tone is constant.

For example, draw any shape you want in your digital art program. You will fill it accordingly as to where the light source is. I will use a flag and a large rough gem as a guide.

You will need to use the smudge brush of your digital art program for the smooth gradient tones as well as a general brush with varying levels of opacity for the gem. If necessary, use the dodge and burn functions of your digital art program.

As usual, start with where you want the main light source should be. In order to draw complex objects with the smooth surface, take your smudge tool to blend the tones together when you’re doing round surfaces.

When you start on the object with flat surfaces, just set your opacity on your brush according, and start filling in the areas of light. Make sure refill areas of shadows with the right tone. The main point is to have the different opacity strokes stack on one another.

As these strokes stack, you will get different types of flat surfaces depending on how you want your rock to look like. If necessary, you can also create custom brushes that resemble squares or triangle. Then, you can give ‘patches’ of shapes that will have one color tone.

4. Moving forward

From the examples you have done, you will notice that it all starts with one general shape. As you draw complex shapes on a regular basis, remind yourself how the light hits the object.

Moreover, remember that light defines what the object really is and not the shadows! This is why you never draw shadows first.

Learning how light works, as you draw complex objects, is what will get you ready for creating 2d digital art masterpieces. Regardless, you will need motivation and practice to get the learning done!

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