The ability to draw and accurately represent three-dimensional (3D) objects that we see and use every day is the job of a good visual artist. Visualizing the object is a necessary skill that artists can learn and is helpful to them if they have a desire to become animators. However, learning to draw and represent 3D objects as 2D drawings is also helpful to those who have an interest in using their drawing skills in technical fields such as architecture and engineering. But artists interested in these fields of study can also develop cartoons and animated films. Below are examples of well-known background images and props that were created as architectural and engineering marvels.
The vehicles, houses and structures featured in these, and other well-known cartoons are uniquely drawn according to the imaginations of each cartoon’s creators. However, aspiring animators and up-and-coming artists would do well to familiarize themselves with such content as a means of learning some common techniques of the trade.
The stone aged house in The Flintstones
One of the Smurfs’ mushroom-shaped houses in Smurf Village.
Huey and Riley Freeman’s house and neighborhood in The Boondocks.
Snoopy’s doghouse in the Peanuts Gang cartoons
The futuristic housing complex in The Jetsons
The water tower at Warner Bros. Studios
The Flintmobile – Fred Flintstone’s car
The Mystery Machine conversion van owned by characters in the Scooby Doo cartoons.
The Magic School bus
The futuristic flying vehicle in The Jetsons
Main characters in the film Cars (2006)
Learning to complete technical drawings and illustrations is good for aspiring animators. With this in mind, let’s look at some simple illustrations of figures and focus on how to visualize them in different views.
In recent lessons, we have been focusing on different views of 2D and 3D objects. Up to this point, we have become familiar with how common 2D and 3D shapes will look when we view them from the front, side, and the top of the shape. We have learned that the shapes look different depending on the perspective from which they are viewed. For example, when a rectangular prism is viewed from the side, it looks like a rectangle. Whereas when a pyramid is viewed from the side, the appearance is of a triangle. In each instance, it depends on how the shape is made. The common attributes and properties of some shapes can help you to know how each shape should appear from different views of those shapes. However, not all objects are made in common shapes. Therefore, it is good to learn to visualize uniquely made three-dimensional objects to be able to represent them as two-dimensional drawings.
Example 1
The simple illustration below of a two-step block is labeled to show the front, side and top of it.
The three images below show how this block looks from its front, side and top views.
Each edge of the block is represented by a solid line. This gives an indication of the fact that there is a portion of the block in each view that is missing. This is important because in the side and top views, the block appears to be square. However, an important aspect of the block is how it is cut. Since the 3/ 4 side view shows this unique aspect of the block, the 2D representation accurately displays this 3D figure with a solid line across and down the middle of the side and top views.
Example 2
Let’s look at a hexagonal prism in the photo below from a previous lesson. We can see and know that the front and side views of this shape are rectangles, and the top view is a hexagon. However, notice that there are also dotted lines on the image along with solid lines. The solid lines indicate the edges of the shape, while the dotted lines indicate the edges that are not in view. The dotted lines let us know that the shape is in fact three-dimensional but that there are edges on the shape that we are not able to see from this point of view. The presence of the dotted lines gives clarity to the 3D aspect of the shape.
Example 3
Below is a illustration of another uniquely shaped block labeled to show the front, side and top views. The 3/ 4 side view shows us that there is a part of it missing from the middle of the block. Therefore, to accurately represent this 3D object as a 2D drawing, we would expect to need to use solid lines to indicate edges and possibly dotted lines to indicate edges that we are not able to see depending on the point of view that we choose.
The illustrations below show the front, side and top views of this 3D block. These illustrations show how we would accurately represent this block in 2D drawings. The front and side views show all solid lines indicating edges of the block that are visible from those views. However, the top view includes a dotted line down the middle indicating that there is an edge on the block that is not visible when we look at the block from the top of it. Without this dotted line, the top view is of a small rectangle.
Example 4
The illustration below shows the front, side and top views of a block. This block appears to be made of three steps.
The three images below show the same block as it is viewed only from the front view, the side view and the top view. Notice that the side and top views are not just rectangles but that they are rectangles that include two solid lines inside of them. The solid lines indicate edges of the block because the block is cut in those places and they show a change in how the block is made. As was shown in Examples 1 and 3, the solid lines indicate edges of the block.
Example 5
This is a block that looks to be made of four equal sized cubes. You can think of it as a block made of four die with one placed on top of one of them.
The illustration below is an image of the front view of the block.
The illustration below is an image of the side view of the block.
Can you draw an illustration of how a top view of this block should look?
Example 6
Here is another example of a three-dimensional figure. It appears to be a figure that is made of a rectangular prism with a cylinder either attached to the top of it or protruding through the middle.
Draw three illustrations that show the front view, side view and top view of this figure.
Example 7
The following 3D figure appears to be made of four attached cubes. Draw three illustrations that show the front view, side view and top view of this figure.
Example 8
The following 3D figure appears to also be made of four attached cubes. Draw three illustrations that show the front view, side view and top view of this figure.
Review
When you become familiar with common 2D and 3D shapes, you can learn to visualize how they will appear when viewed in different ways – front, side (profile), 3/ 4 side, and top. Your familiarity with different views of these objects will help you to understand and then be able to also visualize different views of objects that you have never seen before. As you learn to visualize these objects you can also learn to draw them. In doing so, the skill you will develop will enable you to accurately represent 3D objects as 2D drawings and illustrations.
Practice
Complete the exercises below to practice the skills you have learned in this lesson.
9. Draw a top view of a soda can
10. Draw a side view of a juice box
11. Draw a side and top view of a donut or a bagel
12. Draw a front and top view of an AA battery (Hint – AA batteries are often used in remote controls. Don’t forget to put the battery back if you take one of them out of a remote control to look at it.)