Drawing skills: drawing with 3D
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can create a 3D drawing using wire or other materials to represent line, contour and form in space.
Key learning points
- Drawing can move beyond paper by using materials like wire and string to construct “lines in space”.
- 3D drawing develops understanding of form, balance and structure.
- Materials can be manipulated to suggest contours, proportion and movement.
Keywords
Contour - the outline of a shape or object
Form - the 3D structure or volume created through arrangement of materials
Construction - the process of assembling parts to create a structure or artwork
Armature - a supporting framework that gives stability to a sculpture
Common misconception
3D drawings must look exactly like 2D sketches.
3D drawing explores form and space - it’s about expressing line, contour and movement in three dimensions, not replicating flat sketches.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to think of their material as a pencil line moving through air. Remind them that simplicity and expressiveness often communicate form more effectively than complexity. If working with wire, pupils should wear goggles to protect their eyes where possible.
Equipment
Wire (thick and thin), string, pipe cleaners, or paperclips. Goggles to protect eyes. Cardboard strips, masking tape, scissors, pliers (if needed for wire). Sketchbooks, pencils, erasers, sharpeners.
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does "contour" mean in art?
Q2.What is meant by "drawing in 3D"?
Q3.Which of these could you use to make a 3D drawing?
Q4.Why might an artist use wire instead of pencil for drawing?
Q5.What is the main difference between a 2D contour drawing and a 3D contour drawing?
Q6.True or false? 3D drawing is only about copying a flat sketch in another form.
To help you plan your 11 art and design lesson on: Drawing skills: drawing with 3D, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 art and design lesson on: Drawing skills: drawing with 3D, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 art and design lessons from the Essential drawing skills for all unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.