Life Drawing 23/11/11

For this weeks' Life Drawing class, I warmed up doing left-handed sketches again.

We then used triangles to capture the pose in these very simple geometric shapes.

And lastly we went back to last weeks' new technique of adding lines vertically and joint-to-joint to correct the accuracy of the drawing. Each time I did this, I also then went back afterwards and did a quick one-minute sketch again hopefully to have a more informed attempt.

Life Drawing (16/11/11)

This week we started off with some basic 1-minute sketches to warm up:

Then we tried more 1-minute sketches, but left-handed; I was apprehensive at first, but on reflection I like these a lot -- there is a vulnerability to them which is lacking in my right-handed drawings, and an almost better sense of perspective etc. They are obviously less well defined and confident, but I think that actually works for them. I will definitely be trying this again and also will try to bring something of them into my right-handed drawings too.

After this we then were instructed to join up with straight lines our opposing joints, as well as vertical lines between similarly placed joints that way, in order to force us to analyse the spacing and proportions of the model and the pose. 

Practise of Life Drawing from Pose Photographs with Graphics Tablet

Today I have been practising using my graphics tablet for drawing poses. I think this will be particularly helpful for improving my general animation skills as so much work is done with this tool now. The following were each roughly 3 minute sketches.

I am also noticing that my technique in general is improving greatly sice the start of my life-drawing lessons. I am free-er in my style, using more curves rather than straight lines (though this can still be improved) and am more confident in my strokes. I'm also trying hard to concentrate on three key things:

The ESSENCE of the pose
The FORCE in the pose
PERSPECTIVE and PROPORTION

Life Drawing Practice

Unfortunately, I have missed the last two life-drawing sessions due to ill health, but I have been practising sketching from a life model photography book I have bought.

The following are all roughly 3 minute sketches:

Life Drawing (12/10/11)

Here are some samples from this weeks' sketches:

We then practised trying to capture the pose in just 5-lines:

Life Drawing (Week 2)

The second week of life drawing, and I feel slightly improved already. My first sketches were still a bit stiff, but we also were advised to loosen up by using the shoulder more than the wrist to sketch from, and hold the pencil higher up. These few for example are still weak, but I think I am getting better at identifying the weight of a pose (marked 'x')

05/October/11 - 3 minutes

This next one I am quite happy with. I have taken in the idea that I am not drawing a 'likeness' of the model exactly, and here attempted to really emphasis the power of the pose, the perspective, and push the meaning I interpretted. 

05/October/11 - 3 minutes

We have been encouraged to spend some time thinking about the pose before trying to capture it. What is the emotion in it? Imagine it as a frame in a scene of animation - what happens before and after? What is the model trying to convey? Here, I sensed a feeling of frailty and weakness so tried to get that across:

05/October/11 - 3 minutes

And this last one I am particularly proud of given the one minute time constraint, especially compared with my one-minute attempts from last week. I think this is the first time I have managed to successfully capture all of the essence, weight, movement, perspective and emotion of a pose in one picture.

05/October/11 - 1 minute

Life Drawing practice with Graphics Tablet

Some 3-minute practice graphics tablet sketches I made today from miscellaneous mannequin poses.

Life Drawing 28/Sep/11

This morning was my first experience of Life Drawing. I found it rather difficult - especially the constraint of time. When told we were moving to one-minute sketches because '5 minutes is a luxury' I laughed to myself in mild despair... My first attempts were predictably awful:

28/September/11 - 5 minutes

28/September/11 - 5 minutes

As the time got quicker I found it harder, though I was interested in the idea that we were not supposed to draw a complete likeness of the model, but rather identify the 'essence of the pose' and find the weight and movement. I think in this 3 minute sketch I managed to get the perspective okay. 

28/September/11 - 3 minutes

Here, I basically lost it.

28/September/11 - 1 minute

I will continue to practice this week, and hope to improve.