Seeing through a snap drawing to understand the meaning behind the simple lines and shapes can be a fun exercise for the mind. A snap drawing is a very quick sketch, often done in seconds, that captures the essence of an object, scene or idea with minimal detail. While a snap drawing may look unintelligible at first glance, looking closer and engaging your imagination can reveal the subject and intention behind the sketch. With some practice, you can train your mind to rapidly interpret these pared down drawings.
Look for the big shapes
When faced with a snap drawing, first look for the large, overall shapes. Don’t get caught up in the details yet – try to grasp the big picture. Is there a large circle that might represent a head? Two long vertical lines that could suggest legs? Horizontal lines for the ground or sky? Identify the big shapes and consider what object or scene they might represent. Your mind will start piecing together the subject once you spot the large building blocks of the drawing.
Fill in the details
Once you have a sense of the major shapes and subject, start looking more closely at the finer details. Are there small circles for eyes or dots for fingers? Short curves for ears or a nose? Angled lines for a mouth or limbs? Pay attention to how the smaller shapes sit relative to the larger ones. How do they combine to create an expression or further define the subject? Let your eyes scan over the entire drawing, picking up all the small clues about what is being depicted.
Imagine what’s missing
Snap drawings are minimal, so they will be missing many finer details. This is where your imagination comes in. Based on the shapes and hints you detected, try picturing what a more finished version of the drawing would look like. Fill in colors, textures, shadows and any other absent details in your mind’s eye. This exercise strengthens your visual thinking and draws you deeper into the sparse drawing.
Put it in context
Once you have a good idea of the main subject, consider the context around the drawing. Where might this subject exist? Is it part of a larger scene or on its own? Try placing the drawing in different imagined settings. For example, a quick sketch of a face could be a portrait on the wall, a crowd scene member or someone peeking around a corner. The context provides further clues about the drawing’s meaning.
Think about the intention
Snap drawings capture a subject in its simplest form. This minimalist approach is usually done deliberately, to convey the heart of the matter. Once you believe you know what is depicted, ask yourself – why did the artist depict this? What were they trying to communicate or express with these particular shapes and lines? Determining intention adds greater meaning and significance to your interpretation of the sketch.
Loosen up
Overthinking a snap drawing can limit your interpretation. These sketches have a built-in ambiguity – embrace it. Stay open-minded to see different possibilities in the loose, rough lines. There are usually multiple ways to read a quick drawing. Relax your active analysis and let your intuitive self make imaginative leaps about the subject. Play around with different impressions of the sketch to fully appreciate the artistry.
Start doodling
One of the best ways to become fluent in interpreting snap drawings is to create your own quick sketches. Doodling simple drawings trains your hand, eye and mind to reduce subjects down to their basic essence. Grab a pen and paper to start making swift drawings of objects around you, people you observe or anything else that inspires you. Not only will this improve your snap drawing skills, but it unlocks creativity.
Look for the light source
Many snap drawings use shading or lines to indicate light source direction. Look for these lighting clues when making sense of the sketch. Are shadows falling a certain way? Are there hatching lines darker on one side? This reveals where the imagined light is coming from and can provide further spatial context for the subject.
Follow the flow
A snap drawing has an energy and flow to its swift, loose strokes. Let your eyes follow the path of the pen to pick up on the motion it conveys. Do the lines sweep up then fall down? Do they zigzag rhythmically or curve gently? The way the drawing was created adds a dynamic, kinetic quality. Observing the flow immerses you in the artist’s moment of creation.
Trust your first impression
When initially looking at a snap drawing, what do you see? Your very first impression can offer telling insights before your analytical mind jumps in. Don’t dismiss that gut reaction too quickly. Those split-second perceptions of shapes and subjects are based on your visual intuition. First impressions may end up being accurate, so trust them to some degree as you continue looking deeper.
Feel the emotion
The expressive nature of snap drawings can convey emotions, from the precise, frustrated sketch of a hand to the energetic, bouncy sketch of a dog. As you study a drawing, think about not just what is on the page but how those shapes and strokes feel. Do you sense excitement, melancholy, joy or tension? The viewer’s emotional response is part of the snap drawing experience.
Conclusion
At first glance snap drawings can appear inscrutable, but they become more comprehensible with an open mind and visual imagination. By looking for major shapes then gradually adding small details, context and intention, you can uncover the subject and meaning. And by making quick sketches of your own, you become better at deciphering these cryptic yet expressive drawings. With some practice, you may find you can see whole worlds in the simplest of sketches.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Look for the big shapes |
| 2 | Fill in the details |
| 3 | Imagine what’s missing |
| 4 | Put it in context |
| 5 | Think about the intention |
| 6 | Loosen up |
| 7 | Start doodling |
| 8 | Look for the light source |
| 9 | Follow the flow |
| 10 | Trust your first impression |
| 11 | Feel the emotion |