Week 5
Life Drawing
Human Models Drawn Live
Embedded Files
Introduction
Introduction
This week is all about figure studies of the human body. Learning how to draw from life is an integral part of learning how the human body can move and how it is constructed so we have a better understanding of line of action, weight, balance and dynamic form.
Before Class
Before Class
Gesture - drawing the essence and flow of the figure (4 mins)
Line of Action - for expressive, dynamic poses (27 mins)
Glenn Villpu - Gestural approach to drawing (29 mins)
Pre Class:
Pre Class:
^^^ Watch 2 of the above videos ^^^ for gesture and line of action drawing.
Please bring to class
Digital: portable device, digital brushes, and large A2/A3 digital sheets.
Traditional: large A2/A3 paper; light blue, 2H, 2B, and 4B pencils; transparent plastic ruler; sharpener; conte; graphite sticks.
Practise Measurement Technique from Week 4 for at least 15 minutes. You can measure from reference, for your project work, or from life. This will help prepare you for life drawing.
Dynamic figure poses from photo posing sites >>>
Get some practice in, before class.Please note there may be guest students and lecturers from other classes attending :) All the SAE community is welcome.
As usual:
- Practise Digital Drawing and/or Traditional warmups
- Borrow/bring:
- Drawing materials/equipment, as per Week 1.
- Headphones/earphones for viewing videos at your workstation.
- Use your own credentials for borrowing, thank you.
- Complete last week's Post-Class activities.
- Update GDrive files and links
Figure pose photo sites
Figure pose photo sites
Alternative figure posing photo site - for advanced students - to select other types of figures, poses and timings.
Construction
Use light blue and light/pale tones.
Digital, use low opacity.
Shorter pose times: you can draw swiftly and firmly, with long, decisive strokes.
Longer pose times: gently draw the first soft measurement marks, lines and shapes, then build up slowly.
Digital, use low opacity.
Shorter pose times: you can draw swiftly and firmly, with long, decisive strokes.
Longer pose times: gently draw the first soft measurement marks, lines and shapes, then build up slowly.
Measurement
Quickly estimate the essence of the figure, using thumb and pencil.
Memorize the realistic human construction formula.
For longer poses, you will have time to measure, re-measure and revise. Use a transparent plastic ruler for millimeter accuracy.
Generally, draw at a large size.
For short gesture drawings, the minimum size is 4 to 6 drawings per A4 page. Always use the space, and fill the page.
For longer pose times:
A4 landscape, full figure head size: about 20mm A4 portrait, full figure head size: about 30mm A2: double it
Memorize the realistic human construction formula.
For longer poses, you will have time to measure, re-measure and revise. Use a transparent plastic ruler for millimeter accuracy.
Generally, draw at a large size.
For short gesture drawings, the minimum size is 4 to 6 drawings per A4 page. Always use the space, and fill the page.
For longer pose times:
A4 landscape, full figure head size: about 20mm A4 portrait, full figure head size: about 30mm A2: double it
Simplified Skeleton First
Start with head ellipse, and line of action, then measurement marks of the biggest parts. Show:
before details or outlines
- proportions
- gesture
- action
- mass
- balance
before details or outlines
Forms as Shapes
The most effective way to simplify drawing the human figure is to reduce its complex forms to fundamental ones.
Negative Shapes
Shade from the outer edges of the paper or the margin frame. Do not create an outline.
Drawing Figure as Silhouette
Allows for a quick understand of whether or not the pose can be read easily. Use fast hatching to fill shapes.
Scumbling a series of spirals
A loose way of building a silhouette quickly.
Overhand/Side Grip
On a long-sharpened pencil, for broad, long, early strokes, using the whole arm. This requires deliberate practise.For later, sharper lines, tilt the pencil more. You can swap with the detail/writing grip in the later stages.
Deliberate practice is a special type of practice that is purposeful and systematic, and it's part of the SAE Transferable Skills philosophy. While ordinary practice might include mindless repetition of inferior habits, deliberate practice requires focused, methodical attention, with tolerance of discomfort, and is conducted with the specific goal of building superior habits, and improving performance.
Drawing in the Style of eg. Modigliani
- Amedeo Clemente Modigliani
- Italian Jewish modernist painter/sculptor who worked mainly in France
- Known for portraits and nudes characterized by elongated faces, necks, figures, and leaf shapes.
Gorilla vs Human. In realistic humans, the crotch is around the halfway point of the standing figure: 4 + 4 heads. We are a long-legged species.
Wikimedia commons
Wikimedia commons
1 foot = 1 head long
Study of One Part of the Body
1 hand = .75 x 1 head
Proportion / Construction Formula
Proportion / Construction Formula
Especially for longer poses, please learn and demonstrate the correct use of at least one realistic or semi-realistic-styled construction formula for human character proportions in your drawings.
Formulas are simply measurements and math, and can be memorized, just like a recipe.
human-body-8-heads-construction-formula.jpg- 4 + 4 heads = 8 heads
- A4 landscape, full figure head size: about 20mm
- A4 portrait, full figure head size: about 30mm
- A3: x 1.5
- A2: double it
During Class - Life Drawing
During Class - Life Drawing
Change positions and angles every now and then: Sitting on the floor, standing, closer to the subjects, left side, right side.
Warm Up
Warm Up
Gesture drawings - 30 sec poses x10
Gesture drawings - 60 sec poses x10
- For all short pose times, you can draw swiftly and firmly, with long, decisive strokes. Side grip recommended. Draw head ellipse, line of action, and simplified skeleton first. Focus on flow.
- For 1 min and longer, optionally add a few suggestions of mass/outlines/forms, but keep focus on flow.
(15 mins)
Help the drawing flow, by shaping/bending the figure to fit the line of action
5 x 2 min Poses
5 x 2 min Poses
Line of Action, Contour/Outline
- Shape/Bend the figure to flow with the line of action.
Blind contour
Negative shapes
- traditional: side of pencil
- digital: zoom out more and use a larger brush
Internal Contours
- Alternatively, silhouette only
Free Drawing - choose a process
(10 mins)
For all longer poses:
For all longer poses:
Construction stage: Slow down, and measure more, with broader strokes, using light pressure, no heavy tones. Re-measuring, revising, sculpting and smoothing with multiple strokes is okay. Keeping your light construction guidelines and measurement marks visible is okay. You have time for revisions.
Decisive stage: Opaque/dark strokes, medium/faster stroke speed, more pressure, and for fine detail: thin and sharp. Build up to the decisive lines.
3 x 5 min Poses
3 x 5 min Poses
Head Ellipse, Line Of Action, Weight Balance Line, Simplified Skeleton (standing)
- Measurement points or dots for joints
Simplified skeleton + Contour Outlines (arm raised)
- 1 tone shading
Simplified skeleton + Contour Outlines (dynamic)
- 2 tone shading
(15 mins)
1 x 10 min Pose
1 x 10 min Pose
Traditional: Charcoal/Pastel Drawing
Digital: Brushes Panel > Dry Media Brushes > Select charcoal or pastel brushes
You may add shading tones, progressively.
(10 mins)
BREAK
BREAK
(10 min)
2 x 10 min Poses
2 x 10 min Poses
5 Min geometric shapes, 5 min contour over the top
Topology
(20 min)
2 x 15 min Poses
2 x 15 min Poses
2 coloured pencils - add lighting
- Example: Cool color for shade, warm for light.
- Construct the shapes first. Consider complementary colors.
Charcoal/Pastel Drawing
- Digital: Brushes Panel > Dry Media Brushes > Select charcoal or pastel brushes
(remaining class time)
Padlet wall for sharing
Padlet wall for sharing
After Class
After Class
Weekly outside-class-time is 6 hours per week.
Use a calendar and schedule your recurring time, with access to tools, software and equipment.Please do any in-class exercises and Project work due, whether you attended or not.
- Digitize any traditional work.
Save all files/images to
GDrive > My SAE Studies > Trimesters > [Tri] > [Unit]
- Students are responsible for keeping their data safe and accessible in an agreed, shared location.
Insert/embed images for web display
- Ensure your GDrive link is well-displayed in your unit home page.
Publish your web pages
- Whenever work-in-progress changes, finished or not.
Work on Project 2 Milestone 1
Due next week.
Still Lifes x 2
Character Props / Costume Accessories
Work on Project 2 Milestone 2
Revise and resolve any feedback or tests on your Project 1 rough character shapes and proportions.
Start the Construction Turnaround, at least with roughs. This is a demanding technical project, which often requires many feedback revisions. Next week is the only opportunity for supervision before Project Week 7, when the Construction Turnaround (the most difficult turnaround) is DUE! Then ALL Project 2 Turnarounds are due in Week 8. Please give yourself a head start, and be prepared with Construction Turnaround work, for feedback, next week.
Post more drawings to the class Padlet wall
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