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ABOUT ME
ARTIST. EDUCATOR. STORYTELLER.
I combine traditional training with imagination to create characters, worlds and stories that connect.

STUDIO NOTES
DRAWING, PAINTING & VISUAL STORYTELLING
A growing library documenting everything I learn about visual storytelling.
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How to Draw a Boat
Learn a simple construction method for drawing a boat by breaking the hull into basic forms and building it in perspective.

James Otto Allen
1 min read


How To Draw A Sphere
Learn how to draw a sphere by first constructing a cube. This simple technique makes drawing forms in perspective much easier and is a useful foundation for constructive drawing and character design.

James Otto Allen
1 min read


How to Make Your Drawings Look More 3D (7 Techniques That Actually Work)
Why do some drawings feel flat while others feel solid and three-dimensional? In this article I share seven practical techniques that helped me think in forms rather than outlines, from perspective and construction to line weight and overlap.

James Otto Allen
4 min read


How To Space Anything In Perspective
Learn a simple construction method for spacing objects evenly in perspective. A quick drawing lesson for building fences, windows, floor tiles and repeating forms.

James Otto Allen
1 min read


How To Draw A Circle In Perspective
Learn a simple construction method for drawing accurate circles in perspective using guide lines. A quick lesson for improving your perspective drawing skills.

James Otto Allen
1 min read


How to Draw a Top Hat in Perspective (The Simple Method)
Learn how to draw a top hat in perspective using simple construction techniques. A quick drawing lesson covering ellipses, cylinders and solid forms.

James Otto Allen
1 min read


How to Draw a Head (A Simple Construction Method)
Learn a simple method for constructing the head using basic forms before adding facial features. A quick drawing lesson for building stronger portraits and character designs.

James Otto Allen
1 min read


How to Find the Centre in Perspective (Simple Construction Method)
Learn a simple construction method for finding the centre of a shape in perspective. A quick drawing lesson for more accurate perspective drawing and object construction.

James Otto Allen
1 min read


My Recommended Perspective Books
During the Head and Hands Drawing workshop I taught this past weekend, quite a few students asked if I could recommend any good resources on perspective. It’s a question that comes up a lot, so I thought I’d share my favourite perspective books (and one excellent YouTube channel) that have helped me most over the years. Some of the books are available in the public domain and some aren't so I've linked them either to where you can read the pdf or where you can buy them if you

James Otto Allen
3 min read
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