Creating Creatures from Basic Spheres: Drawing Tutorial

Using basic shapes to create creatures is a lot of fun and we often forget the importance of using those shapes. In this tutorial, I explain how using spheres is not only incredibly easy, but useful as well.
Drawing is a skill that most people wish they could do but they immediately put themselves in the category of "Oh, I could never do that." I want to take this time and welcome you to my channel: Draw Sessions.
I've been drawing all my life and have had the privilege of working both for AAA game studios and also movies. I have taught foundation drawing at the University of Cincinnati and it's time now to give back. I understand the frustrations of learning art in general but specifically, drawing. My channel is dedicated in helping absolute beginners, intermediate artists, and industry veterans - all wanting to improve their drawing skills. Please like, subscribe, hit the notification bell and comment below if you're finding this channel helpful in your journey of becoming an artist.
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My Socials:
Instagram: / bobbyrebholz
LinkedIn: / bobby-rebholz-838108b
Portfolio: www.artstation.com/bobbyrebholz
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Community:
Merch: bobby-4-shop.fourthwall.com/
Art Supplies: amzn.to/49WtM0Z
Creature Design Workshop Discord: / discord
Creature Design Workshop: www.creaturedesignworkshop.com/
#drawing #art #education #fine art #sketching

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

If you have found this lesson helpful, please check out my other playlists where I go in depth on drawing. I cover basics as well as advanced techniques for ALL skill levels. Also, check the links in the description and join our Creature Design Workshop Discord!

[@tedkolterman]

never could draw circles until i saw the shoulder technique

[@GrowlieDave]

Something i used to do is a page hands, feet, faces, anything i needed to practice. When i had enough i would turn it into a flesh wall paper by connecting everything. Its a little macabre, but along with the initial practice pieces, you also try shading, while adding details of stretching skin, cloth, tubes, veins, teeth. What ever your inner Geiger commands. No matter how bad the hands and feet were, they did make wonderful monster appendages.

[@0rionx]

So you're adept at drawing walls of flesh? I have a game you might be interested in

[@ifly65]

My art teacher late 70s used circles to draw any animal and they looked real. He taught us this method. He did MN winter scenes on miniature canvas w oils that he sold. They were a little bigger than a stamp and were amazing. Mr. Hultgren WInona Senior HIgh MN.

[@RaelNikolaidis]

This exercise turned out way better than I thought it would. Learned some things and invented a creature that I have named Noodle Snoot. Very excited to continue with this and other lessons in the series. Thank you. ❤

[@rickdartist1]

I really enjoyed this. I've been creating what I call Strange Critters, I have around 250 of them. You have given me some great ideas for creating new ones, I paint mine in watercolors.

[@HiArisus]

absolutely love it. love how you point certan things out like dont try t be perfect and all!!!

[@clc3897]

As soon as I saw the thumbnail I subscribed! I have a ton of students who will benefit from seeing your take on character design. Awesome work!

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@leif1075]

​@bobbyrebholz2183 Can you please share other tips for coming up with new and somewhat original or innovative creature designs?? THANK YOU and hope to hear from you!

[@silverspiralz508]

I feel like I'm the weird one here. I might never draw a creature as scary looking as this, but what you shared about drawing a sphere from the shoulder is invaluable. I've been learning Neurographica and when I go to make a circle, I hadn't even thought about wrist or shoulder, where I'm drawing from and they come out wonky sometimes. I also feel it has sparked my imagination in finding and creating whatever wants to show up on the paper, just out of sheres. I absolutely love your creepy creature and will watch more and have subscribed. Thanks so much for sharing your art and process! ❤

[@thelthrythquezada8397]

I draw too tight, ugh, my Prof would ALWAYS tell me "loosen your flow Audrey" What even does that mean or feel like???

[@UnderOceanGuy]

Start making your lines slightly above the paper and slowly down it until you actually reach it surface and get thin lines. This also depends on the force and manner you are applying on your pencil or pen, just try to hold it just enough far of their points and try to "make the lines in a faster way" don't guide them so much, just do it (note, this is based on my own drawning experience )

[@RustyShackleford_]

It means relax. This doesn't mean the art is bad, but some things seem forced.

[@Abiisaalien]

Maybe your pressing hard on your pencil, don't take it too heart to much, everyone has a unique style and thats beautiful it'd be a shame if we all did things the same right

[@StatesMusic]

just stop gripping your pencil and place it between your fingers

[@hannahfaithperillo8185]

for me it's like stretching and practicing physical flexibility. if you practice long enough, you'll get used to it and be more loose

[@ian-online]

I love the use of shapes in mt drawings they speed up my process very well, but some angles I still need to master. Thanks for this inspiration ^_^ and, yes the pinky really does help! i didn't realize that it was automatic for me!

[@robertcarey45]

This is a good tutorial on drawing a monster with simple forms.

[@TeKn1qe]

Thank you for all the content you provide, so many niggets of information. To see the sketch come together from the start is great. Always awesome to see how an artist goes about the drawing. Please keep your channel alive. Definetly one of the best on youtube. Clear consice material and demonstrated in a very approachable way. Thank you

[@izzyjones7108]

How.am i just now stumbling across your channel..? Sitting here waiting for laundry to finish doodling. I just made a horribly awesome weird critter and I subbed and am excited to check out your other videos. Right up my alley.

[@sprungjitsu8465]

First video of yours that i watched. Im caught. I used to draw aggressive monsters and stuff too. Youre great, helps alot, music is cool too. Keep it up 🤘💯🤠

[@savagenew]

love the tutorials and style, love to see this one completed!

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Thanks. It's completed in the video.

Lemme tell yah a story: When I enrolled at a european academy, I was already drawing differently, and I knew it was of my american basic knowledge in The Philippines! Then, I was craving for it, and accidentally have you here!!!TFS

[@jerrybailey5797]

Looking like something from the film The Thing. Good technique, l have used similar techniques in the past , l need to get back to drawing and sketching more like this

[@bryanterborg3665]

It’s funny, another person and I were talking about “ghosting” in private messaging on your discord server just the other day. Thanks for sharing Bobby. You rock! Bigfoot Rules 🦶

[@DrawMeditation]

Wow, i draw totally different stuff but cant wait to use your techniques! Subbed!

[@azorbarros3308]

Mind blowing. Truly amazing.

[@gerasimosmoshonas1239]

Amazing and very helpful!! Thank you very much!!

[@nailbomb420]

That one guy that specialised in spore creature creator :) Honestly though, never been so relaxed watching someone creating nightmare fuel.

[@user-ky1di8cb3j]

Wow I am Very impress !!! Thank you

[@tapinewoods3937]

As always, amazing.

[@asmodeoloyalvillacorta508]

Nahhh, why is this thing so scary? I love ittt ❤ thank for the knowledge

[@KillberZomL4D42494]

This is just amazing.

[@32BytesOf]

Omg 😮 why I didn't see your channel before, absolutely amazing drawn , first video and I'm already subscribed

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Thanks for subbing!

[@rona7566]

I was so captivated that I lost track of time ^^. Really nice. I loved it. Thank you 🙏

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

You're welcome 😊

[@SteamyTVDU]

Thank you very much Bobby, I have not watched yet, but I love your beginner tutorials as they greatly benefit us who are just getting into creature drawing🙏

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

You are very welcome

[@zigzag-xx2yd]

Due you have taken my drawing tonthe next level! I appreciate ya!! Shout out to Rossie O'Donnell, too!!! Thanks, bro!!!

[@frankseymour4162]

Very clever, well done.

[@Titanscreaming]

Wauw. That looked really amazing.

[@murrayboyton8779]

I love this, I'm taking a drawing skills degree, and i'm in my second year. I was trying to think how I could reimagine collage (tomorrows topic of study) and make it more interesting to me. I think I'm going to mix and match parts of animals and then tie them together. Also, watching you draw that, I wasn't thinking bacteria, I was thinking Cosmic horror, a planet devouring behemoth.

[@LilithMorph]

WOW! I wanted to create creatures since I was a Teenager .. no Im over 40 and I start to make it real. Its a little bit sad for me to see, that in my older age I need to learn things I made automaticly with a younger mind. Today I start with thinking about, plan and imagin the result, years ago I started with drawing some forms, try to connect it and figure out what could be interesting. And I need to say ... my drawing skills years ago were bad, but my creativity was so much better, fresher and much more interessting as now. Big thanks to bring me back the creativity and the possibility to find my little monsters :-) ❤🐙

[@Simbios5991]

Very good music. Thanks for video

[@theartisthands]

Very nice techniques, thank you.

[@JosueMartinez-ww1vj]

A monster beetle 😟 Amazing art!

[@skullingtonfly]

Really enjoyed this video 👍🏼

[@mamamiabenjamia]

that's so cool. awesome creature, great execution.

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Thank you 🤗

[@DippedInInk]

Amazing how working off of simple shapes u can build things. All u need is an open mind.

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Absolutely

[@NameIsDoc]

I was taught a process called automatic drawing. You slap some shapes down then let your wandering hand find connection and form between the shapes. Not great for realistic vibes but fantastic to just let something pour out of your pin. It also works well if you want to do old western cowboy scribbley sketches where they just threw down a few shapes and carved out shadows

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Yes! It's a great exercise. Writers have a similar practice called free association writing.

[@izzyjones7108]

Very Old ones..I ❤ it

[@CocoJanboh]

Thanks Bobby, great stuff.

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Very welcome

[@ApolloStarfallen]

really nice!

[@93Froster]

love Your style :)

[@kenvng]

I love your arts and creativities and most of all the way you shade them but your drawing and tutorial is very difficult to follow. You do not showing much detail or explaining how shading done. I have such a hard time figuring out how you did those shading that look so cool. The thorns that sticking out look for realistic and so real. Would be cool if you can show step by step and not skipping. Also complete the drawing as well. Thank you for your effort.

[@pm-positive-maker4484]

Really good work 👏 😊

[@DedgyVanced]

you're an awesome person for doing these, respect! Although I am an oil landscape painter, I find these super interesting to watch. Do you have any opinion on Kevin Hill (if you know his channel) or any landscape painters? curios to hear your point of view as a creature designer

[@Radical_Cat]

this was so so cool to watch! thank u

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gabrielmagister6072]

Your videos are awesome. Thank you!

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Thanks for watching!

[@thiagomaiadefranca3205]

Hey man, i just found your channel... and i'm really enjoying. I stopped drawing ages ago and finally, i'm trying to come back... one thing i'm truly missing in your lessons is what type of pencil you using, sometimes you change and i dont follow it... so i need to pause the video, do some quick test and choose which graduation is better. Would be nice if you could say something like: "hey guys, i'm using a B or 2B or something" or edit the video and point out what type is. I'm kinda slow to identify only watching... btw the shading stuff is awesome.

[@user-yu3er9ve1g]

I really enjoyed this tutorial. I would love to see more videos like this for beginners.

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Thank you! Will do!

[@leif1075]

​@bobbyrebholz2183 Yes and do you have any videos on learning how to paint and what materials to use. And please share more videos on techniques for how to come up with original or creative creature designs? Thanks for sharing

[@PabloPazosGutierrez]

Nice values around the mouth, you can see the depth really well.

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Thanks!

[@applejackzo]

This is so cool!!!!

[@Comodibujargraffiti]

awesome

[@SevScout]

18:08 "...face..." Me: O.O FACE?!?!? THAT'S A FACE?!?!? HOLY MOTHER OF MARY... It's beautiful!

[@kjtheguy]

final creature was pretty cool

[@jordanmatthew6315]

Bro went full on lovecraft, i love it.

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@goldenbzilla7237]

Man this video's awesome I'm learning new methods to drawing that I never knew about. Keep up the great work. If it's possible could you do a video of combining these animals into a creature? Scorpion. Megalosaurus. Frilled Lizard.

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

That's a good combo!

[@andrewb2452]

Well, thanks to this ive created a demon spider thing with tentacles coming out of its face and it lives in my nightmares.

[@umiyako639]

とても勉強になります

[@andrewwilkins6883]

What is this music called that you played during the Timelapse? I’ve always wanted to create a playlist full of it to help relax, work in, or to fall asleep and I don’t know what to look up to find it. Amazing drawing! - Thank you!

[@sproutgan]

Какая красота!

Hey! I woz goin' teh make sum soupe!!! But, I found you!!!Ghord!!! Av been wanting to know how to make these creatures!!! Ga je gang!

[@kunzdima1297]

Wow

[@-homecook6861]

I like your drawing , thanks from Bulgaria.

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Thank you so much 😀

[@-homecook6861]

@@bobbyrebholz2183

[@user-te2ij5jr7q]

How did you decide the shading and darkness in the details? What's the thought process that allowed you to make light shading across large areas before fully detailing them?

[@whitehuayra]

Ooh😮

[@michaw7408]

Very neat! How long did it took you in real time? It looks very fast and efficient, you didn't even stop to erase anything

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

It took a little under 40 minutes of realtime sketching.

[@Procione07]

Damn master, your lines are sketchy but so clean. My soul for ur talent will be a great deal. Ty for shering.

[@arihantmohanthind1547]

Wow! you're pencil looks light and perfect for sketching, what type is it? btw loved this video man

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Thanks. It's a 4B but the pencil has nothing to do with how light I'm drawing. The pressure I'm applying does!

[@user-Thanakorn2514]

😍😍😍

[@giklab7279]

Bobby: Step one, scribble scribble scribble. Me: scribble scribble scribble Bobby: Step two, pick your favorite. Me: Hmmm... Bobby: Step three, enlarge it. Me: Hmmm?... Bobby: And now refine it. Me: Hmm... HMMM??? Bobby: Finally, add shading. Me: squints at screen Okay, this line goes here, that line goes there... But seriously, Bobby, what's your secret to SEE THIS in scribbles? My brain needs an upgrade!

[@EISHANELI]

💖💖💖

[@scottcronin101]

Looks pretty sick you silly sailor

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Bahahahahaha Thanks sailor 😆

[@Millionairemind2.00]

❤

[@darumolinatattoo]

Amazing video. I'm still learning how to build the drawing and all of that, but what I don't seem to understand is how to come up with the teeth, the horns and how you know how to add the shadings, where are the joints etc. I'm only "copying" from photographs and it kills me that I dont have creativity. Any tip?

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

I have made videos on horns and teeth.

[@mac6435]

Sigourney Weaver would be proud!

[@Thezaccazzac]

The Back of my closet door Foretelling the End Times has never looked so Fire 🔥😎🔥

[@timothyperrigoue3997]

...well... that helped me bust through... I just created the nastiest thing I've ever drawn... meaning that in a good way.

[@TeKn1qe]

Bobby have you printed any of your sketchbooks? Would love to own a copy. Thanks for the video!

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

I did a Kickstarter back in '16 but after all of those books were sold off, I never made anymore. I do plan a smaller creature thumbnail book in the near future.

[@SnottyYoutube]

Awesome video, what kind of pencil is that?

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Thanks. It's a 4B.

[@jarnohealth]

Absolutely love these videos, do u have any paid courses that u sell?

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

I currently run a creature design workshop. If you join our Discord, there's info there as well as a ton of artists posting their personal work.

[@titanmesozoicgd6943]

Sooooo underrated

[@titanmesozoicgd6943]

The shape method I mean

[@knuddelmops1094]

i think about the Rancor from Star wars

[@ericbabcock846]

Bet you love Brian Frouds design work on the film The Dark Crystal get the Disney book of original illustrations its treasure like G Gygax , B Valejo , FFrazetta , R Dean, EB

[@zaghi_edts]

Is that 2b or 4b

[@rujon288]

could've drawn a face after the first three circles and left it at kirby (;

[@JenuineYT]

What's that pencil, hardness?

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

4B

[@mikederasmo7621]

beautiful very orgnic,

[@roach9880]

Comment for the algorithm

[@tedkolterman]

graphite 4b right?

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Yep!

[@izzyjones7108]

Also..the circular shapes on mine? I created sores with them. Like the disease has a disease

[@PurpleMonkeySox]

Looks like it would live in the mystery flesh pit national park

[@animated.froggo]

i drew a huge centipede

[@xmorei]

Merci !

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

Wow thank you! 💯💥

[@thedarkside3899]

Why you guys always stop commenting on the detail phase? I struggle with that the most 😂

[@bobbyrebholz2183]

It's because the simple, gestural phase is what most people fail at. They convince themselves that that isn't the problem. Then what happens is they immediately start putting in details on a bad design which just makes a bad design more noticeable.

[@wombat1347]

😧

[@Limbo_Design]