Drawing with Confidence, Part 5: Breaking Down Complex Subjects into Basic Forms

Simplify what you see into geometric forms

Image by 雨 空

Drawing with Confidence is a free online art course. Develop your drawing skills through playful exercises and thoughtful experimentation. Overcome barriers to self-expression and embrace the joy of mark making.

Part 5 — Key concepts we’ll explore:

• Even the most intricate objects can be simplified into fundamental geometric shapes

• Developing the ability to ‘see through’ surface details

• Establishing basic shapes before adding details to build complex forms progressively

Break down complex subjects into basic forms

One of the most powerful skills an artist can develop is the ability to see the underlying structure of complex subjects. Almost everything we encounter in the world—from the human figure to buildings, from trees to household objects—can be broken down into combinations of simple geometric forms.

Understanding Form vs. Shape

Before we begin, let's clarify the difference between shape and form:

• Shape is two-dimensional and has height and width (circle, square, triangle)

• Form is three-dimensional and has height, width, and depth (sphere, cube, cone, cylinder)

The Analytical Approach

When facing a complex subject, try this process:

1. Observe the overall proportions

2. Identify the major geometric forms

3. Note how these forms connect and relate to each other

4. Add secondary forms

5. Refine with details only after establishing the basic structure

Practical Application

Let’s analyse a teapot:

• The body is primarily a sphere or ellipsoid

• The spout is a curved cylinder

• The handle might be a modified torus (doughnut shape)

• The lid could be a short cylinder with a smaller sphere on top

Seeing the teapot this way simplifies what might otherwise seem complex.

Activity: Form Spotting

Take 10 minutes to look around your environment. Choose three objects and quickly sketch them as combinations of basic geometric forms. Don’t worry about details—focus on capturing the fundamental structures.

Confidence Boost

Complexity and simplicity aren’t opposing forces. They’re dance partners. Sometimes, we strip forms down to their essence, and other times, we add details to bring a work to life. Learning when to simplify and when to embrace complexity is an art form in itself. The same balance applies to your mindset. Sometimes, we can embrace the simplicity of ‘just making a mark’ to overcome paralysis. Other times, we might get immersed in complexity to analyse what is and isn’t working. The experienced artist knows when to zoom in and when to step back. Trust yourself to find your rhythm and viewpoint. It’s not about choosing one approach, but knowing both are available to you.

Max Brückner, Collection of Polyhedral Models, 1900. Source

Exercise: Form Transformation

Understand the relationship between different geometric shapes by creating a visual progression from cube to sphere. Exploring how one form can evolve into another develops your ability to see and render the underlying structure of complex subjects, whether still life, landscape, or figure drawing. Time estimate: 45-60 minutes.

Materials

• Drawing paper

• Pencil (HB or 2B)

• Eraser

• Optional: blending tool

Instructions

1. Divide a sheet of paper into 6 equal rectangles

2. In the first rectangle, draw a cube with clear edges and corners

3. In the last rectangle, draw a sphere of approximately the same size

4. In the four middle rectangles, draw progressive stages of transformation:

   • Stage 2: A cube with slightly rounded corners

   • Stage 3: A more rounded cube (corners becoming much softer)

   • Stage 4: A very rounded cube (almost a sphere but with subtle flat areas)

   • Stage 5: An imperfect sphere (almost there but with slight variations)

5. Apply consistent lighting from the upper left across all six drawings

6. Render each form with appropriate shading to show the three-dimensional quality

Process

• Understanding the relationship between different geometric forms

• Practicing consistent light source application

• Developing control of gradual value transitions

Reflection

• Which stage of the transformation was most challenging to render accurately?

• How did your shading technique change as the form became more spherical?

• What unexpected observations did you make about light behaviour on different surfaces?

• How might you apply this understanding of form transition to other subjects?

What’s next

After completing your cube-to-sphere transformation, select another geometric form (like a pyramid or cylinder) and transform it into a different form through 6 stages. Pay particular attention to how lighting and shadow patterns shift as the form changes.

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Art in Focus

Paul Cézanne (1839-1906)

Paul Cézanne, Still Life with Apples and a Pot of Primroses, ca. 1890. Source

Paul Cézanne revolutionised how artists approached form by reducing complex subjects to their geometric essentials. In his still lifes, landscapes, and portraits, he famously advised to ‘treat nature by means of the cylinder, the sphere, the cone’. His paintings of Mont Sainte-Victoire and apple arrangements demonstrate his technique of breaking down organic forms into underlying geometric structures while maintaining their essential character.

Cézanne’s work bridges the gap between traditional representation and modern abstraction, showing how simplified forms can capture the essence of a subject more powerfully than precise detailing. He developed a unique approach to building form through modulated colour patches, creating a sense of solidity and dimensionality through overlapping planes. The impact of Cézanne’s formal innovations extended far beyond his lifetime, laying crucial groundwork for movements like Cubism and abstract art.

‘Everything in nature is formed upon the sphere, the cone and the cylinder. One must learn to paint these simple figures and then one can do all that he may wish.’

— Paul Cézanne

Marie Laurencin (1883-1956)

Marie Laurencin, Jeune Femmes (Young Girls), oil on canvas, 115 x 146 cm, 1911. Source

The French painter Marie Laurencin developed a distinctive approach to form through her stylised figurative compositions. Laurencin’s paintings, particularly those like Jeune Femmes (Young Girls) and The Rehearsal, demonstrate her ability to distil complex human subjects into graceful, simplified forms with curved lines and harmonious arrangements.

Laurencin created a distinctive visual language centred on female and lesbian identity, often depicting women in autonomous, harmonious settings using pastel hues and simplified forms. By distilling her subjects to their essential elements and embracing traditionally feminine visual motifs, Laurencin offered a powerful alternative to male-dominated modernist approaches.

‘Why should I paint dead fish, onions and beer glasses? Girls are so much prettier.’

— Marie Laurencin

Connection to Your Practice

Paul Cézanne and Marie Laurencin teach us that seeing the underlying structure of complex subjects is essential for creating compelling art. Their approach demonstrates that you can build a solid foundation for more nuanced representation by first understanding the basic geometric forms that compose your subject. This fundamental skill allows you to approach any subject—from still lifes to landscapes to figures—with greater confidence and clarity.

Exploration Activity

Select a complex natural object like a flower, shell, or piece of driftwood. First, make a detailed observational drawing. Then, create a second drawing of the same object, breaking it down into only basic geometric forms (spheres, cylinders, cones, etc.). Finally, make a third drawing that blends both approaches—maintaining the simplified geometry while adding enough detail to capture the object's essential character. Compare all three drawings and note how your perception changed through this process.

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Drawing with Confidence

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References

Huyghe, R. (2019). Paul Cézanne - Development of his mature style. In: Encyclopædia Britannica. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paul-Cezanne/Development-of-his-mature-style.

The Art Story. (n.d.). Marie Laurencin Paintings, Bio, Ideas. [online] Available at: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/laurencin-marie/.

Voorhies, J. (2004). Paul Cézanne (1839–1906) - The Metropolitan Museum of Art. [online] Metmuseum.org. Available at: https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/paul-cezanne-1839-1906.