26.2.12

Life Drawing Tips

So I have been going to life drawing classes for about two months now and I feel like I can share some of the things I have learned (not that I know much, if anything at all!!!!)

I think the most helpful tip I could give anyone who is struggling with life drawing is to make sure the feet are flat on the floor. It is super hard to make that model stand on a surface as if they are a MASS putting pressure on the surface they are standing/sitting on. I'm still trying to figure it out, but when I get it right, it feels really good! They are usually placing their weight on one side, one leg. You can push the drawing to exaggerate it and make it more readable.

Another shortcut I have been using is to start with a bean-shaped body. I love the bean! I'm not sure how else to explain it, but if you look below, you might notice it in my drawings.

Draw feet as triangles to begin with... it makes it much faster....

As far as heads go, draw the neckline and note the placement of the ear first. That way, your heads are at least kind of in the right place. I used to just throw a circle in, but now I draw the head last and I always do neck and ear first.

That's all I know so far!!!!

I'll keep doing figure drawing until the summer, then you will probably see a lot of animals instead from my multiple zoo trips!!!!

I really hope I am improving and this isn't all for nothing!!!!!

1

1

1

1

3

3

5


Below is a 20 minute drawing from class. We used the skewers to check our proportions and try to draw a perfectly proportioned person... I'm not really sure how well I did...

20

20

20


The following drawings are from extra life drawing. No instructor.. just drawing. I find these a lot more enjoyable since we are not being stopped (for a lesson) and can get into a groove. I think I was a little off this night, but I'm still noticing an improvement.


1

2

5?

5

5

5

5
10


The last two drawings I was really starting to feel it. If you look at the legs of the 15 minute one, you can see the structure lines of the planes of the body (if you look really carefully). I was feeling pretty good!

10

15


Thanks for the support everyone!


4 comments:

  1. Very good indeed Nic!!! They are excelent!!!
    LOVE!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. These are looking great Nicole, you have a solid structure down for each one, I definitely get the feeling of "weight" in the figures. You make an interesting point about drawing the neck and ear before the round portion of the head, I think that's a good way to break out of old habits and see the anatomy from a different perspective. Really strong figure drawings, awesome job!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This blog is a fantastic place of educative information! Do you mind if I reblog some of your posts on my private domain?

    ReplyDelete