Here’s the preliminary line drawing for a Dinotopia painting
called “Flight Past the Falls.” I did it on a separate piece of
paper, photocopied it, and transferred it to the canvas with an
Artograph projector. The rider on the pterosaur was drawn on a
separate layer of paper and moved around until I got the
position I wanted. What I want you to notice is the “draw
through,” which means the lines carried across to invisible
parts of the form. For example: 1. Circular curve of the bottom
half of the globe. 2. Chest of pterosaur hidden by wing. 3. Eye
level or horizon hidden behind falls. 4. Curvature of Moorish
arch hidden by the flanking buttresses. Note also the centerline
markings on the globe, and the winged sculpture. Also note the
perspective grid on the side of the drawing. Draw-through helps
you keep track of what the form is doing when it slips behind
something else. If you work out the draw-through on a separate
piece of paper from the finished work you don’t have to worry
about erasing the lines or c