Elementary schools and clip art have reduced the drawing of some tangible objects to a few simple conventions. As long as you follow those conventions, the image will be recognized. See also Cartoons and Corporate Logotypes
Two things to notice:
Angel (OK, technically, an angel isn't a "tangible object", but that proves my point. Even though no one has seen one, we all know how to draw one -- with wings and a halo.) | |
Apple (An apple is generically round when viewed from the outside, so we draw the shape of its cross-section instead. And include a stem.) | |
Bee (stripes, stinger) | |
Ball (a baseball rather than a basketball, soccer ball, football, golf ball, etc.) | |
Boat (sails) | |
Book (has to be open) | |
Camera | |
Cat (pointy ears, whiskers) | |
Chair | |
Cherry | |
Chicken | |
Clock (analog face) | |
Crown | |
Devil (Again, no one's ever seen him, but we all know what he looks like.) | |
Droplet (Actually, when a drop is in free fall, it's spherical, not drop-shaped.) | |
Elephant (ears, tusks, trunk) | |
Factory (smokestack, skylights) | |
Flower (A generic flower is drawn as a daisy, not as a rose or tulip.) | |
Gift (ribbon, bow) | |
Grave | |
Heart (It doesn't really look like this you know.) | |
House (pointed roof, chimney) | |
Ice Cream (on a pointy cone) | |
Jewel | |
Lion (mane) | |
Moon (crescent, not full) | |
Owl (horns, big eyes) | |
Rocket (Always include the fins for aerodynamic stabilization, even in the vacuum of space.) | |
Shield (not round, oval or square) | |
Snowflake | |
Sound | |
Star (five points) | |
Street | |
Suitcase | |
Television (Even if you have cable, you need antennae.) | |
Tooth (molar -- not incisor or canine) | |
Tractor | |
Tree | |
Voice |
Some standardized depictions go one step further and illustrate abstract concepts rather than the object itself.
Bank | |
Courage | |
Good Luck | |
Humor | |
Love | |
Medicine | |
Movie | |
Music | |
Officialdom | |
Weather |
External Sites:
Last updated August 2005
Copyright © 2005 Matthew White