03 | Volume

Want to see your ribbon do something cool? Follow along and try to keep up!

1. Draw a circular ribbon.

2. Inside, draw a second ribbon just like it.

3. Let's solve the overlaps.
   
   If you stroke only the visible parts, you get a form shaped like a car tire or a doughnut.
   Although we've used ribbons, we've created something more than a ribbon - a 3D object with different sides - the inside (1), the top (2) and the outside (3).

Cross sections

Drawing along an object's form is fun, sure, but have you tried drawing across?

Imagine taking a knife and cutting into your doughnut. What will the cut look like?

1. A doughnut's cross section is round, so the more "head on" we look at it, the more circular it will appear.
2. When looking at it from the side, the circle will be squished into a straight line.
3. Anything in between will be a squished ellipse.

Shape into volume

Check out these two circles.
One of them is not a circle, but a ball. Can you tell which one?

Maybe not by the silhouette, but what if we wrap both with lines?

To make any shape appear 3D, simply

• fill the inside
• follow the form

So what happens when we go back to our doughnut and erase the inside?
Can you tell what's in the front and what's in the back?

And now?

Summary

• 2D shapes can be turned into 3D objects by filling their inside, following the form.
• Drawing over form (cross sections) helps describe form's thickness.

Assignment

• Fill a page with donuts from different angles, then cut into them and observe how the cross contour changes.
• (Optional) Draw a doughnut that's been sliced into
  • 2 halves
  • 4 quarters
  • 3 thirds
• Share it in the Discord study group! We do love doughnuts 😋