Hip to Be Square
This week I wanted to explore the square/rectangle in sketchnotes and illustrations. Squares and rectangles are similar enough. One could argue that squares are just perfect rectangles, but I will leave that to the math experts.
If rock and roll legend Huey Lewis taught us anything, he taught us that it is “hip to be square,” not to mention the “power of love.” Although, I would argue that you do need money and do need fame to ride the train of a sustainable income as an artist. But hey, “I’m taking what they giving, cause I ‘m working for a living.” My apologies to Huey Lewis.
Where was I? Ah yes, squares, rectangles, and even rounded rectangles are everywhere, much like Huey Lewis was in the 1980s and 1990s.
Rectangles/squares are a powerful drawing tool. Rectangles may be the renegades of the drawing shapes. They are fond of fooling around. Don’t tell me that I’m crazy, but it's hip to be square.
Rectangles are the basis for drawing lots of technology shapes like computer screens, mobile phones, and even robots. Technology is full of rectangles.
Rectangles can help us draw hands and bodies.
Squares and rectangles are even great shapes to create animals, faces, and people. Many notable animation characters are based on squares and rectangles, like Professor Utonium from the Powerpuff Girls, Carl from Pixar’s movie Up, and BMO from Adventure Time.
Pay attention to things that you can draw using a square or rectangle, or where you might use a square rather than another shape like a circle to change things up a bit.
Be kind to yourself on your creative journey.
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The Rainbow Kawaii Satellite is a design I created last year. The satellite is based on squares and rectangles. You can find it on Amazon and Threadless.
You have reached the end of the newsletter. Here is the official video of the song Hip to Be Square by Huey Lewis and The News. There are two other of their songs referenced above: The Power of Love and Workin' For A Livin'.
Bonus video for all of the creatives trying to make a living from their creativity.