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:
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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.) |
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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.) |
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Bee (stripes, stinger) |
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Ball (a baseball rather than a basketball, soccer ball, football, golf ball, etc.) |
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Boat (sails) |
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Book (has to be open) |
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Camera |
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Cat (pointy ears, whiskers) |
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Chair |
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Cherry |
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Chicken |
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Clock (analog face) |
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Crown |
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Devil (Again, no one's ever seen him, but we all know what he looks like.) |
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Droplet (Actually, when a drop is in free fall, it's spherical, not drop-shaped.) |
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Elephant (ears, tusks, trunk) |
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Factory (smokestack, skylights) |
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Flower (A generic flower is drawn as a daisy, not as a rose or tulip.) |
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Gift (ribbon, bow) |
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Grave |
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Heart (It doesn't really look like this you know.) |
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House (pointed roof, chimney) |
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Ice Cream (on a pointy cone) |
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Jewel |
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Lion (mane) |
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Moon (crescent, not full) |
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Owl (horns, big eyes) |
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Rocket (Always include the fins for aerodynamic stabilization, even in the vacuum of space.) |
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Shield (not round, oval or square) |
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Snowflake |
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Sound |
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Star (five points) |
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Street |
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Suitcase |
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Television (Even if you have cable, you need antennae.) |
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Tooth (molar -- not incisor or canine) |
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Tractor |
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Tree |
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Voice |
Some standardized depictions go one step further and illustrate abstract concepts rather than the object itself.
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Bank |
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Courage |
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Good Luck |
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Humor |
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Love |
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Medicine |
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Movie |
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Music |
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Officialdom |
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Weather |
External Sites:
Last updated August 2005
Copyright © 2005 Matthew White