{"id":26905,"date":"2018-03-22T17:59:20","date_gmt":"2018-03-22T17:59:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/?page_id=26905"},"modified":"2026-04-02T21:19:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T21:19:42","slug":"25-days-to-better-drawings-day-ten-drawing-basic-forms","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-ten-drawing-basic-forms","title":{"rendered":"25 Days to Better Drawings &#8211; Day Ten &#8211; Drawing Basic Forms"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"coursetitlecontainer\">\n<div class=\"coursetitle\">\n<h1><span>25 Days to Better Drawings:<\/span> Drawing Basic Forms<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"insertbackground\">\n<div class=\"removep\">\n<div class=\"videoflexwrapper\">\n<div class=\"videotop\">\n  <iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/268505599\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sidebartop\">\n<div class=\"vertalign\">\n<div class=\"logoimage\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/logosmall75.png\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"sidebarcarddescriptiondark\"><span>JOIN THE VIRTUAL INSTRUCTOR<\/span><br \/>\n    Get ALL of our courses, ebooks, live lessons, critiques, lesson plans and more today.<\/div>\n<div class=\"sidebarbuttonholder\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sidebuttonsmem\">START FREE TRIAL<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<hr style=\"background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:1.5em;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/register-25-days-to-better-drawings\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sidebuttons\">BUY SINGLE COURSE $97<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"courseperkscontainer\">\n<div class=\"courseperks\"><span>This course features:<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"courseperks\"><i class=\"far fa-clock\" style=\"margin-right:10px;\"><\/I>10 Hours of Instruction<\/div>\n<div class=\"courseperks\"><i class=\"fas fa-film\" style=\"margin-right:10px;\"><\/i>25 Videos<\/div>\n<div class=\"courseperks\"><i class=\"fas fa-book\" style=\"margin-right:10px;\"><\/i>24 eBooks<\/div>\n<div class=\"courseperks\"><i class=\"fas fa-shield-alt\" style=\"margin-right:10px;\"><\/i>30 Day Money Back Guarantee<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<p>\n\n<div class=\"contentfix\">\n<div class=\"favorites\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tabs\">\n  <input name=\"tabs\" type=\"radio\" id=\"tab-1\" checked=\"checked\" class=\"input\"\/><br \/>\n  <label for=\"tab-1\" class=\"label\">Description<\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"panel\">\n<h2>Lesson Description<\/h2>\n<p>Lesson Ten of the <em>25 Days to Better Drawings Course<\/em> focuses on drawing basic three-dimensional forms\u2014cubes, pyramids, cylinders, and cones. Understanding these forms is essential for every artist, as nearly all complex objects can be broken down into combinations of these fundamental shapes. In this lesson, students explore the structure, volume, and spatial relationships of these forms, and learn to render them realistically using graphite and white charcoal on gray drawing paper.<\/p>\n<h2>Understanding the Importance of Basic Forms<\/h2>\n<p>The lesson begins with a discussion of why basic forms are crucial to drawing. Matt explains that these shapes provide the underlying structure for every object in the visual world. A chair, a bottle, a tree trunk, or even a human figure can be analyzed as a combination of cubes, cylinders, cones, and pyramids. By mastering the rendering of these simple forms, students gain the ability to approach more complex subjects with confidence and accuracy.<\/p>\n<p>Students learn that drawing forms is not just about replicating shapes, but about understanding how light interacts with surfaces. Each form has its own planes and curves that respond differently to light and shadow, providing opportunities to explore shading, value, and form simultaneously.<\/p>\n<p>Gray drawing paper is used as the foundation for this lesson because it provides a midtone, allowing students to explore both dark and light values effectively. Graphite pencils are used to render the darker areas and midtones, while white charcoal is applied to create highlights. This combination allows students to fully visualize the interaction of light and shadow on each form and practice creating realistic depth and volume.<\/p>\n<p>Matt emphasizes the importance of careful observation and gradual building of value. Students are encouraged to start lightly, gradually developing both the darker shadows and the brightest highlights to achieve smooth gradation and three-dimensionality.<\/p>\n<h2>Drawing the Cube<\/h2>\n<p>The first form introduced is the cube. Matt demonstrates how to sketch a cube in perspective, defining its edges and planes. Students are taught to identify the different faces of the cube and how each face responds to light. The cube\u2019s flat planes make it an ideal starting point for understanding value transitions and how light affects angular surfaces. Graphite is applied to create the midtones and shadows, while white charcoal highlights the areas where light strikes directly.<\/p>\n<h2>Drawing the Pyramid<\/h2>\n<p>Next, students focus on the pyramid, which introduces the concept of triangular planes. Matt shows how the pyramid\u2019s sloped sides interact with light, producing distinct highlights, midtones, and shadows. Students practice rendering the pyramid in a simple composition, applying graphite and white charcoal to emphasize its three-dimensional structure. This exercise strengthens their understanding of how angled surfaces behave under light.<\/p>\n<h2>Drawing the Cylinder<\/h2>\n<p>The cylinder is then introduced, providing an opportunity to explore curved surfaces. Unlike the cube or pyramid, the cylinder has a continuous curve that transitions smoothly from highlight to shadow. Matt demonstrates how to render these smooth gradations using graphite and white charcoal, emphasizing the importance of blending to create realistic volume. Students practice applying value along the curved surface, noting how the light source affects both the form and the cast shadow.<\/p>\n<h2>Drawing the Cone<\/h2>\n<p>Finally, students tackle the cone, a form that combines both a flat base and a curved side. Matt demonstrates how to map the light source and identify areas of highlight, midtone, core shadow, cast shadow, and reflected highlight. Using graphite and white charcoal, students learn to carefully render the cone\u2019s smooth surface, blending values to convey the tapering shape effectively. This exercise reinforces their ability to interpret both flat and curved planes within a single object.<\/p>\n<h2>Refining Shading and Blending<\/h2>\n<p>After drawing each form, Matt emphasizes the importance of blending and refinement. Students use blending tools, such as stumps or tortillons, to smooth transitions between values, enhancing the illusion of depth and solidity. They are encouraged to observe the forms critically, adjusting shadows and highlights to create accurate and visually compelling results. This practice strengthens observational skills, hand control, and understanding of how value communicates form.<\/p>\n<h2>Building a Foundation for Complex Drawings<\/h2>\n<p>By the end of Lesson Ten, students gain a solid understanding of how basic forms behave in space and under light. They learn to draw cubes, pyramids, cylinders, and cones with realistic shading using graphite and white charcoal on gray paper. Mastery of these forms lays the foundation for drawing more complex objects, as every advanced drawing can be broken down into combinations of these essential shapes. With consistent practice, students develop both confidence and skill, moving closer to creating drawings that are structurally sound, visually dynamic, and convincingly three-dimensional.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <input name=\"tabs\" type=\"radio\" id=\"tab-2\" class=\"input\"\/><br \/>\n  <label for=\"tab-2\" class=\"label\">Materials<\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"panel\">\n<h2>Lesson Materials<\/h2>\n<p>Graphite drawing pencils: H, HB, 2B, 4B, gray drawing paper, white charcoal pencil, and a blending stump.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <input name=\"tabs\" type=\"radio\" id=\"tab-3\" class=\"input\"\/><br \/>\n  <label for=\"tab-3\" class=\"label\">Resources<\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"panel\">\n<h2>Lesson Resources<\/h2>\n<p><i class=\"fas fa-exclamation-triangle\" style=\"margin-right:10px;\"><\/I>Distributing any content downloaded from this site is strictly prohibited and against the terms and conditions of use.<\/p>\n<p><i class=\"fas fa-lock\" style=\"margin-right:10px;\"><\/I>Download eBook<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><input name=\"tabs\" type=\"radio\" id=\"tab-4\" class=\"input\"\/><br \/>\n  <label for=\"tab-4\" class=\"label\">Curriculum<\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"panel\">\n<h2>Course Curriculum<\/h2>\n<div class=\"curriculumcontainer\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-one-mindset-and-materials\/\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 1: Materials and Mindset (10:07)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-two-drawing-with-lines\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 2: Drawing with Lines (25:29)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-three-drawing-ellipses\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 3: Drawing Ellipses (18:26)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-four-drawing-with-shapes\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 4: Drawing with Shapes (15:56)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-five-line-quality\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 5: Line Quality (13:10)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-six-cross-contour-lines\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 6: Cross Contour Lines (11:32)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-seven-shading-with-line\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 7: Shading with Line (38:49)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-eight-value\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 8: Value (10:52)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-nine-shadow-and-light\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 9: Light and Shadow (11:58)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-ten-drawing-basic-forms\" class=\"curriculumselected\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 10: Drawing Basic Forms (17:25)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-11-drawing-with-forms\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 11: Drawing with Forms (21:12)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-twelve-texture-study-1\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 12: Texture Study #1 (28:54)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-thirteen-texture-study-2\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 13: Texture Study #2 (49:20)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-fourteen-texture-study-3\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 14: Texture Study #3 (17:31)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-fifteen-the-illusion-of-space\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 15: The Illusion of Space (16:33)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-sixteen-one-point-perspective\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 16: One Point Perspective (46:39)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-seventeen-two-point-perspective\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 17: Two Point Perspective (48:35)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-eighteen-three-point-perspective\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 18: Three Point Perspective (54:30)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-nineteen-sighting-measuring-and-mapping\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 19: Sighting, Measuring, and Mapping (10:02)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-twenty-positive-and-negative-space\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 20: Positive and Negative Space (8:13)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-twenty-one-the-grid-technique\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 21: The Grid Technique (11:07)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-twenty-two-basic-facial-proportions\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 22: Basic Facial Proportions (41:52)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-twenty-three-figure-drawing\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 23: Figure Drawing (1:03:53)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-twenty-four-drawing-in-reverse\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 24: Drawing in Reverse (16:29)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/25-days-to-better-drawings-day-twenty-five-final-exercise\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 25: Conclusion \/ Final Exercise (3:56)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sidebarbottom\">\n<div class=\"relatedcourse\">Your Instructor<\/div>\n<div class=\"instructor\">\n<div class=\"instructorimage\">\n<div class=\"instructorpic\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/images\/mattauthor.jpg\" alt=\"Matt Fussell - Instructor\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"instructorname\">Matt Fussell<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"instructordes\">\n<p>Founder of The Virtual Instructor, artist and teacher. Matt makes learning art easy to understand and enjoyable.<\/p>\n<p><div style=\"padding-top:10px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/blog\/author\/admin\">Learn more about Matt<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relatedcoursescontainer\">\n<div class=\"relatedcourse\">Related Courses and Classes<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/realistic-pencil-drawing\" class=\"sidebarbottom-curriculum\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"leftlean\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Realistic Pencil Drawing<\/div>\n<div class=\"rightlean\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Realistic-Pencil-Drawing-Course.jpg');\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/the-secrets-to-drawing\" class=\"sidebarbottom-curriculum\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"leftlean\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>The Secrets to Drawing<\/div>\n<div class=\"rightlean\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Secrets-to-Drawing-Course.jpg');\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/the-pen-and-ink-experience\" class=\"sidebarbottom-curriculum\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"leftlean\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>The Pen and Ink Experience<\/div>\n<div class=\"rightlean\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Pen-and-Ink-Experience-Course.jpg');\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>25 Days to Better Drawings: Drawing Basic Forms Description Lesson Description Lesson Ten of the 25 Days to Better Drawings Course focuses on drawing basic three-dimensional forms\u2014cubes, pyramids, cylinders, and cones. Understanding these forms is essential for every artist, as nearly all complex objects can be broken down into combinations of these fundamental shapes. In [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"paget-iframe.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26905","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26905"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26905\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45904,"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26905\/revisions\/45904"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}