
“I have only made this letter longer because I have not had the time to make it shorter.” – Blaise Pascal
“Simplify, simplify, simplify, throughout!” – Alex Toth
Generally speaking, if I can’t communicate the general idea with a few lines, I probably don’t really understand the object I’m trying to draw. Break things down. Then break them down more. Once I’m able to make an object recognizable to a reader with just a few lines, then I’m beginning to grasp what makes that thing look the way it does.
Excess is easy. Simplification is hard.
I’m still not there. But I think I’m getting better.
Practice simplicity in drawing. When it’s time for detail you’ll know when to stop. You’ll know the life of the object isn’t in the excess.