How to Draw a Concert Stage

Although the details of a concert stage may vary a great deal from one to the next, certain elements will remain the same in all or nearly all cases: there will be a stage floor, lighting, and a flat background. In order to draw a concert stage, one should have a general knowledge of one-point perspective, in addition to a working knowledge of human anatomy (in order to populate the stage, once it has been drawn).

Things You'll Need

• Image of a concert stage to draw from
• Ruler

Instructions

1. Gather your materials, and select the picture from which you plan to draw. Unless you're very adept at drawing from imagination, it is best to draw from a photo or real life.

2. Determine the vanishing point (VP), and make a small dot on the page where you have decided the vanishing point shall be. If you are drawing from a photo, the vanishing point can be established by following the edges of the right- and left-hand sides of the stage with a ruler. The VP will occur at the point at which the two lines intersect on the horizon. Although concert stages frequently have a two-dimensional quality that renders the VP less significant than in the case of other technical drawings, it is still important to establish as it will affect the rendering of objects on the stage once the stage has been drawn.

3. Draw the front base of the stage using a ruler to ensure a straight line.

4. Draw the rear base of the stage, where the floor meets the wall behind the band, using a ruler.

5. Draw the exterior edges of the scaffolding that support the lights using a ruler. The scaffolding will frame the stage in such a way that the edges of the stage will likely not be visible. Do not yet add details such as the lights themselves, or the intricate crisscrossing bars of the scaffolding.

6. Compare your drawing to the photo from which you are working. Flick your eyes back and forth a few times between the two drawings. Look for inconsistencies and distortions before proceeding. Amend any mistakes you notice.

7. Add details to the scaffolding, but try to generalize wherever possible. Imply the presence of the lights, bars and wires that make up the mass of the scaffolding by adding only the most critical lines and ignoring the rest. The scaffolding will be pattern-like and repetitive. You'll see crisscrossing bars, and circles and ovals for lights. Drawing only the most critical elements of the scaffolding will go a long way to creating the effect of a fully realized image without needing to create one.

8. Add details to the flat wall behind the stage, such as the decorative background structures. This may include the name of a band, images and signs.

9. Populate the stage with any people, instruments, speakers, props or other necessary objects on the stage.

10. Add shadows where needed using the side of your pencil lead. Most concert stages will have dramatic lighting effects, so there will be areas of intense darkness and areas of intense light.

Tips & Warnings

• Most concert stages may look technically difficult to draw, but in reality, many times the edges of the stage remain vague. Special lighting effects, darkened amphitheaters and architectural structures to support lights and equipment often hide or distort the dept of the stage, giving it a two-dimensional quality. This allows the artist drawing a concert stage to easily fudge the perspective if needed. Draw lightly at first. Only once you have solidly established the location of the fundamental elements of your drawing (stage floor, scaffolding, background and figures or structures on the stage itself), then you may add details with a heavier, darker mark.

Resources

• Concert Stage Images
• How to Draw Website
• How to Draw in One Point Perspective