The Foundation Before You Draw Your First Character:
Too Long; Drew & Rendered 😄 (TL;DR)?
This is a pun, not a command. Last week, we learnt about simple and 3D shapes – today, we will learn how to draw things with them! Construction in art means using basic shapes (like squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles) to build objects – from a tire swing to a guitar. It is like creating with Lego bricks, but with your pencil.
Welcome Back, FrameBursters! 
Last time in FrameBurst Academy, we practiced basic shapes – squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles – and even their 3D friends: cubes, cuboids, cones, cylinders, pyramids, and spheres.
Now, let’s talk about why we practiced them. These shapes are the building blocks of everything you’ll ever draw. Whether you are making a background for your YouTube banner or drawing a new story-time scene, you’ll find that everything around you – yes, everything! – is made from those basic shapes.
Why Construction Matters
Think of construction in art as the ‘skeleton’ of your drawing. Before an artist draws details, they first map out the structure – using basic shapes to make sure everything looks solid and believable.
Let’s try to imagine a few examples:
-
Half–eaten biscuit = Start with a cylinder and cut a bite shape (a smaller semi-cylinder) out of it. -
Bookshelf = Make a cuboid for the shelf, but it is hollow from the front, and stack a few smaller cuboids for books. 
Ice lolly = A cube for the ice, and it is rounded from the top, so that’s a semi–cylinder. A small cuboid for the stick, and the corners are rounded, so that’s another semi–cylinder.
Guitar = Two cylinders connected by a cuboid for the neck. But sometimes, you do have to add curved lines to connect the various shapes to make it look right.
Slide = A long cuboid for the slide, and cylinders for the supports.
Tire swing = A cylinder for the tire, and a cone for the ropes. Even when we do not see the whole cone, the shape it follows is of that.
Table = A cuboid for the table-top, and four thinner cuboids for the legs.
Try mixing these shapes up to create new things. The world is just shapes cleverly arranged!
Changing the Angle:
When we draw, we don’t always see things from the front or semi-edge. Sometimes we look from above, below, or from a corner. That is when construction helps you imagine how the shape exists in 3D space, not just on a piece of paper.
For example:
- A slide from the front or semi-corner looks confusing, but if you move your head to the side, you’ll see the shapes more clearly.
- A guitar lying flat looks like a circle, but when tilted, it becomes more of an oval.
This is construction; thinking about the form, not just the shape.
PRO TIP: This part might feel tricky at first – and that’s completely normal! You’re learning to see the world in a new way. If it feels tough, remember: it is not because you are bad at drawing; it is because your eyes and brain are learning to work together.
How can I practice?
Trace & Learn = Look up a picture online, like a lamp or chair. Then either print it out or put a paper on top of your phone or tablet screen (make sure the brightness is up). It acts like a mini lightbox! Try tracing and identifying the shapes inside the object.
Stick to Man-Made Objects: When you are starting, it is easier to draw objects like boxes, cups, toys, or tables – because they’re made of clear geometric shapes.
Organic Shapes Can Wait: Nature, animals, and people follow many of the same principles – but they have curves and soft edges, which we will explore later in future courses.
Keep practicing lines, connecting your dots, and thinking of every material as a ‘shape construction project.’
What’s Coming Next?
You’ve now learnt how to see and build with shapes – the secret skill that every animator utilises behind the scenes.
Next up, we will take this skill and move into something exciting – Character Design! 
We’ll learn how to use construction to build characters who will star in your story–time animations and appear in your YouTube banner and profile photo. So, read the next blog: ‘Character Design – Bringing Your Dreams (pictures) to Reality!’
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Thank you so much! I really appreciate your support and kind words. It means a lot and motivates me to keep creating more helpful content.
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Wow, thank you so much for your incredibly kind words! I’m thrilled to hear that you find the content helpful and easy to follow. Your encouragement truly means a lot and motivates me to keep sharing useful tips and insights.
You’ve provided an in-depth exploration of various traditional animation techniques, highlighting their evolution and significance in the industry. From the early days of hand-drawn animation to the modern era of computer-generated imagery (CGI), you’ve covered a wide range of methods used to bring characters and stories to life.
Traditional Animation (Cel Animation): This method involves hand-drawing each frame on transparent paper, allowing for independent movement of characters and objects against a stationary background.
Stop Motion Animation: Utilizing real objects and puppets, stop motion involves capturing still images of subtle movements, creating the illusion of motion when played sequentially.
Tim Burton’s Style Animation: Recognizable for its dark themes, distinct character designs, and play with light and shadow, Tim Burton’s style has become iconic in the animation industry.
Flipbook Animation: A simple yet effective method where drawings are made on separate pages and flipped rapidly to create the illusion of motion.
Stereography/Kinegram/Picket-Fence/Barrier-Grid Animation: Involves moving a striped transparent overlay across an abstract drawing to create the illusion of movement, also known as barrier-grid animation.
Praxinoscope/Zoetrope Animation: An early animation technique dating back to 180 BC, where sequential drawings are placed inside a rotating drum, creating the illusion of motion when viewed through slots.
Draw-on-Film Animation: Frames are drawn directly onto movie film, offering a unique and inexpensive method of animation production.
Pinscreen Animation: Utilizes a vertical screen covered in pins that extend to create shapes when pressed, resulting in intricate shadow play.
Live Action Mixed with Animation: Combines live-action footage with animated elements to create immersive and visually striking scenes.
Realistic Animation: Blurs the lines between traditional cartoons and human actor-driven movies, often integrating real-life scenarios with animated characters.
Paint-on-Glass Animation: Invented by animator Caroline Leaf, this technique involves painting directly onto glass with oil paints to create each frame of animation.
Sand Animation: Involves pouring and manipulating sand on a bright surface to create 2D images, offering a unique and visually captivating form of animation.
Your summary provides a comprehensive overview of these animation techniques, their historical context, and their relevance in modern animation production. It’s clear that while technology has advanced, these traditional methods continue to inspire and influence contemporary animation practices.
Too good! Mr. Barry 🙂
Thank you so much for your wonderful words! I truly appreciate the time you took to read through and share such detailed feedback. It’s amazing how traditional animation techniques continue to shape modern storytelling — a perfect blend of history and innovation. I’m glad you enjoyed the post and found the exploration meaningful! Your encouragement really keeps me motivated to create more content like this.
Your recent blog post on basic shapes is truly outstanding. Your concise summary effectively captures the essence of drawing anything and its significance across various industries. Your breakdown of the 8 shapes 2D and 3D, with a special focus on drawing something, provides valuable insights into the essential production technique.
I particularly appreciate your emphasis on the importance of practicing the basic shapes: circle, square and cylinder in enhancing the overall video experience and its applications in crafting and animating. Your clear and engaging writing style makes the content accessible to readers of all levels of expertise.
Keep up the fantastic work, and I look forward to reading more of your insightful content in the future!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and encouraging feedback! I’m really glad you found the post insightful and appreciated the focus on fundamental shapes and their role in drawing, design, and animation. Mastering these basics truly forms the foundation for creating anything — from simple sketches to complex visual stories. Your kind words mean a lot and inspire me to keep sharing more content that helps artists see and build the world through construction and creativity. Stay tuned — there’s much more to come!
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