How to draw stacking organic forms

I recently started doodling these funky organic forms stacking upon one another. The forms were relaxing and calming to draw. I really got lost in this. As an art teacher, I loved all the different art concepts drawing helps to develop. Some of these concepts include:

• organic free form, curvy 3d forms
• scale/size/proportion
• value

This lesson can be drawn with pencil and then finalized effectively with so many different art materials ranging from colored pencils, shading pencils, watercolor, pastels, and so much more! Here is an example I created using watercolor:

Below is a step by step tutorial to create this composition. Enjoy!

Step 1:

Orient your drawing surface to be a vertical portrait. This will ensure the composition is tall and long. Towards the top of the page, use pencil to very lightly sketch a small organic shape. Organic shapes are free-form and curvy, as opposed to angular, structured geometric shapes such as a square, rectangle, etc.

Step 2:

Drop down the edges of the shape. Ensure the length of these dropped down, vertical lines are the same size.

Step 3:

Following the same curving contours of the shape above, draw lines to connect the vertical lines. Think of it as a “copy and paste” of the line above.

Step 4:

Draw the first “stacking” organic form below. This form will be a bit bigger than the first. Draw this shape so that it tucks “behind” the one above.

Step 5:

Repeat the steps above to drop down the vertical lines.

Step 6:

By this point, you are probably starting to get the hang of it! Invent your own organic forms. You. can even create some “holes” in the organic form like Swiss cheese!

Step 7:

Continue this technique until you nearly reach the bottom of your picture plane. Strive for at least 4 stacked forms, but you can do more if you are feeling ambitious!

Step 8:

Choose a material of your choice and a color scheme of your choice. Some recommendations for color schemes include black and white, analogous, monochromatic, and more!

Consider a light source from either the LEFT or the RIGHT. Create gradients of light to dark relevant to the light source. In this tutorial images, the light source is on the RIGHT, so the darkest values are on the LEFT.

Step 9:

Repeat step 8. Continue to finalize with value.

Step 10:

Repeat step 8. Continue to finalize with value.

Step 11:

Repeat step 8. Continue to finalize with value.

Step 12:

With the direction of your light source in mind, add a cast shadow from one organic form onto the form below.

Step 13:

Repeat step 12 to add cast shadows from all organic forms. Push the shadows with a dark value to add eye catching contrast! Explore a background, and get creative!

Thanks for checking out this blog post. I would love to see any work created using this tutorial. Feel free to tag me on Instagram and possibly get featured in this site! Also, please follow Make a Mark Studios on Facebook to keep up with the latest posts! Thanks in advance!

-Stephanie Villiotis, creator of Make a Mark Studios