Drawing Cars using Underlays

There are a lot of arguments and “rules” out there about proper drawing techniques.  Today we are going to go over the topic of using underlays.  Now what is an underlay? Well an underlay is sketch you keep “underneath” a translucent or transparent piece of paper, in order to create more variants of a particular sketch.

In this example, I am simply underlaying my older sketch, and creating a new variation on top of it.  This saves me quite a bit of time since I do not have to think about where my wheels are going to go, the proportions, etc…because it has already been established.  All I need to understand now is where I intend to make my changes.

I would also argue that overlaying an entire vehicle package or perhaps just the interior is also a good practice.  Generating ideas and themes initially without a package, is not an issue.  However, once you get closer to a theme, then that theme needs to be applied to the physical space allotted for that particular vehicle package.  You’ll soon realize that the concept sketch may drastically need to change in order to adapt the interior of the vehicle.

The above tools were used to “simulate” traditional drawing methods.  Please note that if you ARE a beginner, it is key to start creating your sketches with paper, markers, and pencils.  It is THE best way to charting your path to be a sketching pro!