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Ed Foychuk

Have you ever watched an animation with a cool bot in it? A robot or mech that just looks like it's a combination of our world, and someone's imagination? Do you remember as a kid watching The Transformers or Go-Bots and thinking of how cool it'd be to draw that?

Do you want to learn to draw something like that? Do you want to learn ow to illustrate your next mech idea?

Well, this is the course for you. We will go through all the steps needed for you to be able to draw the coolest bots around. Referencing real world items, and using those to help us base our drawings and designs in reality.

Read more

Have you ever watched an animation with a cool bot in it? A robot or mech that just looks like it's a combination of our world, and someone's imagination? Do you remember as a kid watching The Transformers or Go-Bots and thinking of how cool it'd be to draw that?

Do you want to learn to draw something like that? Do you want to learn ow to illustrate your next mech idea?

Well, this is the course for you. We will go through all the steps needed for you to be able to draw the coolest bots around. Referencing real world items, and using those to help us base our drawings and designs in reality.

  • Perspective Basics

  • Simplifying Perspective

  • Perspective Hacks

  • Articulated Frame

  • Types of Joints

  • Referencing Human Figures

  • Drawing Hands

  • Referencing Animals

  • Referencing Real World Vehicles

  • Adding Weapons

  • Choosing Function

  • Adding Mechanics (bolts, hoses, vents, wires, gutters)

  • Blobs to Bots

  • Putting it all together

  • Adding Paint and Effects

Are you ready to make some of your transformers dreams come true? Ready to take your drawing to the next level by combining the technical AND your imagination?

Follow me here on Udemy as I take you through over 3 hours of instruction. I promise you, you won't be disappointed. I have tens of thousands of students, and a proven track record in instruction and illustration. With easy to follow videos and templates, How To Draw MECHS is the go-to course for ... Transforming your bot dreams (my one dad joke of the day. lol)

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn how to draw using basic perspective rules
  • Learn how to draw mechs and bots
  • Learn how to render mechs
  • Learn how to color mechs

Syllabus

Where you need to start on your Drawing Bots journey
Introduction
Warm Up
Perspective Basics
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches perspective, articulation, and referencing, which are fundamental skills for creating believable and dynamic mech designs
Explores real-world references like vehicles and animals, which helps ground mech designs in reality and enhances their visual appeal
Covers adding mechanics like bolts and hoses, which are essential details for creating convincing and visually interesting mech designs
Includes instruction on painting and effects, which are important for adding the finishing touches and bringing mech designs to life
Requires learners to reference real-world items, which may require access to specific resources or environments for observation and study

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Reviews summary

Mastering mech drawing fundamentals

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in drawing mechs and robots, focusing on essential concepts like perspective and using real-world references. Students particularly appreciate the breakdown of complex structures into manageable steps and the methods for adding mechanical details. While it serves as a great starting point, some reviewers suggest it may be less suited for those seeking advanced techniques or in-depth rendering instruction.
Approachable design workflow.
"The 'Blobs to Bots' method is a fantastic, less intimidating way to start designing from simple forms."
"Starting with simple shapes and building up the complexity makes the process feel much more accessible."
"This method helped me overcome the initial fear of drawing complex robots."
Teaches crucial finishing touches.
"The lessons on adding mechanics like bolts, hoses, vents, and wires really help bring the drawings to life."
"It's important to learn these details, and the course covers them well."
"Learning how to add these small elements makes a huge difference in the final polish of the mech."
Incorporates vehicles and anatomy.
"Learning how to use real-world references like vehicles, animals, and human anatomy was a game changer for my designs."
"The sections on referencing machines and figures made the mechs feel more believable."
"I particularly liked the focus on drawing hands and joints based on observation."
Strong base in perspective & structure.
"The perspective basics and articulated structure lessons are crucial and well-explained."
"I found the breakdown of how to build complex forms from simple shapes really helpful."
"It gives a solid foundation in the underlying principles needed to draw convincing mechs."
Great for beginners, less for advanced.
"This is a great starting point for anyone new to drawing mechs or complex mechanical objects."
"While excellent for fundamentals, it might not go deep enough for experienced artists looking for advanced rendering or design theory."
"I felt the pace was just right for a beginner, but others looking for advanced topics might find it too basic."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How To Draw MECHS - The Ultimate Guide with these activities:
Review Perspective Drawing Fundamentals
Reinforce your understanding of perspective drawing to better grasp the course's perspective-based mech drawing techniques.
Browse courses on Perspective Drawing
Show steps
  • Watch introductory videos on perspective drawing.
  • Practice drawing simple shapes in one, two, and three-point perspective.
  • Draw a simple room or building using perspective techniques.
Review 'How to Draw: drawing and sketching objects and environments from your imagination'
Study a comprehensive guide on drawing and sketching to build a strong foundation for creating believable mech designs.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on perspective and form.
  • Complete the exercises on drawing basic shapes and objects.
  • Practice sketching environments using perspective techniques.
Practice Drawing Basic Geometric Shapes
Improve your ability to quickly and accurately draw basic shapes, which are essential building blocks for mech designs.
Show steps
  • Draw cubes, spheres, and cylinders from various angles.
  • Focus on maintaining consistent proportions and clean lines.
  • Practice drawing these shapes in perspective.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Mech Design Mood Board
Gather visual inspiration from various sources to develop a clear vision for your mech designs.
Show steps
  • Collect images of robots, vehicles, and other mechanical objects that you find inspiring.
  • Organize the images into a mood board, either digitally or physically.
  • Identify common themes and elements in your chosen images.
Design a Simple Mech
Apply the course's techniques to design a basic mech, focusing on form, function, and believability.
Show steps
  • Sketch out several different mech concepts.
  • Choose one concept and refine the design.
  • Create a detailed drawing of your mech, paying attention to perspective and proportions.
Share Your Mech Designs Online
Get feedback on your mech designs from other artists and enthusiasts to improve your skills.
Show steps
  • Post your mech drawings on online art communities or social media.
  • Ask for constructive criticism and feedback.
  • Engage with other artists and learn from their work.
Review 'Vehicle Design'
Study vehicle design principles to enhance the realism and functionality of your mech designs.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on form and function.
  • Analyze the design of real-world vehicles.
  • Apply these principles to your mech designs.

Career center

Learners who complete How To Draw MECHS - The Ultimate Guide will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Concept Artist
A concept artist develops visual designs for characters, environments, and objects, often for video games, films, and animation. This course can help aspiring concept artists who want to create unique mechanical designs. The course emphasizes referencing real-world objects, such as vehicles, for more believable designs. It goes through the design process from perspective to articulated structure, types of joints, and how to add mechanics. A concept artist may be tasked with designing a robot or mech, and this course provides the framework to take designs from blob to final form.
Character Designer
Character designers create the look and feel of characters for various media such as animation, video games, and comics. A character designer specializing in mechs and robots will find this course to be useful, as it focuses heavily on the design and creation of such beings. This course's emphasis on real world references and functional design means that character designs will be grounded, yet imaginative. The articulated structure, joints, and mechanical details taught in this course will help a character designer create complex, realistic mechanical figures. For anyone who wishes to specialize in robotic character design, this is a great start.
Game Artist
Game artists create the visual assets for video games, including characters, environments, and objects. A game artist needs a thorough understanding of visual design, and that is what this course offers within a specific subfield. This course covers the basics of perspective, articulated structure, and types of joints, which are all vital to creating compelling mechanical designs. The course emphasizes the design of mechs and bots, which are increasingly popular in the gaming world. Game artists can develop both their technical drawing skills and improve their understanding of how to create robots that are imaginative and functional.
Toy Designer
Toy designers create the concepts and designs for toys and games. A toy designer often brainstorms ideas for new toys and creates sketches of the toy from multiple angles. This course may be particularly useful for toy designers who are interested in creating toys, particularly action figures, that incorporate robots, mechs, or other mechanical elements. The course's detailed instruction on articulated structures, joints, and mechanical details are useful when planning the movement and functionality of a toy. This course may be useful for a designer who wants to develop ideas for mechanical toys.
Storyboard Artist
Storyboard artists create visual representations of scenes for film and television. A storyboard artist may find this course useful if the project involves robots or mechs. The course's emphasis on perspective, articulated structures, and joints can help a storyboard artist draw these elements accurately and effectively. The course also covers rendering and coloring, which can help communicate the intended final look of a scene. This course may be helpful for a storyboard artist who wants to improve their ability to draw mechanical subjects.
Comic Book Artist
A comic book artist creates the artwork for comic books and graphic novels. Comic book artists who want to include mechs and robots may find this course particularly useful. The course provides instruction in creating mechanical designs from basic perspective to articulated structures, joints, and the addition of functional mechanics. The course also covers rendering and coloring which can help a comic book artist create more visually dynamic pages. If you wish to explore technical subjects in the world of sequential art, then this course may help.
Illustrator
An illustrator creates images for a variety of media, including books, magazines, and websites. This course may be helpful for illustrators who want to add mechanical designs to their portfolio. With the focus the course places on perspective, structures, joints, and referencing, it can be a useful tool for building strong technical drawing skills. The course covers rendering and adding color which can make the artist's illustrations stand out. If you wish to improve your technical drawing, with an eye towards mechanical subjects, then this would be a valuable course.
Technical Illustrator
Technical illustrators create detailed drawings and diagrams for technical manuals, training materials, and reports. This course can help technical illustrators who want to improve their ability to draw mechanical components. The course's focus on perspective, articulated structures, joints, and mechanical details may be beneficial. The inclusion of real-world references, such as machines and vehicles, may also be relevant. Although this course specifically focuses on bots and mechs, the technical principles covered may be applicable to a wide range of technical illustration needs.
Motion Graphics Designer
Motion graphics designers create animated graphics for videos, websites, and other media. This course may be helpful for motion graphics designers who want to incorporate mechanical designs into their animations. Understanding perspective, articulated structures, and joints may be useful when creating dynamic and realistic animations of robots, mechs, or other mechanical objects. While this course focuses on drawing, understanding the construction principles will translate to motion graphic design tools. A motion graphics designer who takes this course may find new inspiration in mechanical subjects.
Animator
Animators create moving images for a variety of media, including films, television, and video games. This course may be helpful to animators who want to animate robots, mechs, and other mechanical objects. Animators need to understand how objects move and how their parts interact. Learning articulated structures, joints, and how to draw them well may be useful for animators who want to make their bots, robots, or mechs look believable. The course also covers the basics of rendering and coloring, which may also be helpful. Any animator who wishes to animate mechanical objects should consider exploring this option.
Model Builder
Model builders construct scale models of objects, structures, or landscapes for a variety of purposes, such as architectural models, prototypes, and movie props. This course can be a helpful start to any serious model builder, especially if they are interested in building mechanical models. The course's instruction in articulated structures, joints, and all the mechanical details may be highly relevant. Understanding how to conceive a design, and how to break down a design to build it, will be fundamental to anyone who wishes to build models. This course may help a model builder design models of greater complexity.
Industrial Designer
Industrial designers develop the designs for manufactured products, focusing on form, function, and user experience. While this course focuses on the illustration of mechs, the design principles of articulation, structure, and mechanics can be valuable for an industrial designer. The course's emphasis on how real-world objects influence design can help an industrial designer understand the practical considerations of creating a functional product. By understanding how to render and color mechanical components, it can also make designs more presentable. This course may be a useful tool for an industrial designer who wants to explore technical design.
Product Designer
Product designers create the look, feel, and function of products, from physical goods to software interfaces. While a product designer might not directly create mechs, the core principles of this course, such as perspective, structure, referencing, and design, can translate to designing products with mechanical elements, or products influenced by mechanical design. Product designers can benefit from understanding how to create realistic mechanical forms, and the course on rendering and adding color can make their designs more persuasive. This course may help a product designer who is interested in technical design.
Set Designer
Set designers create the visual environment for theater, film, and television productions. This course may be particularly useful for set designers who need to design sets that include robots or mechs. The course's thorough instruction in perspective, articulated structures, and joints can be valuable when designing complex mechanical elements of a set. An understanding of real world references and mechanical features can also add an element of realism to designs. A set designer who takes this course may be better prepared to tackle projects that call for detailed mechanical set designs.
Art Director
Art directors oversee the visual style and images for various media, including magazines, advertising campaigns, and films. An art director does not typically perform the kind of illustration that this course touches on, however, an understanding of design from this perspective can be valuable. This course's focus on the core principles of perspective, structure, and form, which are all fundamental to visual design, may be useful to an art director. An art director should always seek more knowledge about design, and this course may be a unique insight into the world of technical drawing. This course may be useful for an art director.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in How To Draw MECHS - The Ultimate Guide.
Comprehensive guide to drawing and sketching, with a strong emphasis on perspective and form. It provides a solid foundation for understanding how to create believable and dynamic mech designs. The book is commonly used by industrial designers and concept artists. It offers in-depth explanations and exercises to improve your drawing skills.
Focuses on the principles of vehicle design, which can be directly applied to creating realistic and functional mechs. It covers topics such as form, aerodynamics, and ergonomics. While not specifically about mechs, it provides valuable insights into designing believable mechanical structures. This book is best used as additional reading to deepen your understanding of design principles.

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