Grace
Earth
I love She-Ra, Avatar, Sherlock BBC and Merlin BBC and that’s what I love to draw. I also love Red, White and Royal Blue and LGBT+ fiction.
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Grace
•
4yr
added comment inHow to Draw Gesture – Step by Step
Asked for help
Hello! I drew 10 figures and... well. Time was really a problem, I guess I was still too focused on contour and proportions. I’ll try to do better tomorrow (when I practice again). All of them were 2min drawings, and I couldn’t complete one because I lacked enough space for it (dumb me, I should’ve drawn that on another page). Comparing the 1st to the last, I think I’ve gotten better :). I also attached some references here (sorry I couldn’t attach all of them, the maximum files I can add are 10). Thanks in advance for anyone who critiques my drawings.
Matthew Kioki
4yr
You're doing great. I'd suggested drawing a stick figures, not super straight stick figure but one that curves with the shape/motion of the body, then build the forms off of that. If you want to work on your speed you'll want to do this exercise a few minutes to an hour every day. Using video recordings of modeling sessions like Croquis Cafe https://vimeo.com/channels/1300087 are great way to improve.
Camellito
4yr
props for trying the 2min poses, it’s hard. Im not gonna give the same advice from the other comments, just a tip for lines. Try grasping the end of your pencil, and use your shoulders. Good luck
Nanna Skytte
4yr
yes if you work on bigger paper you have more freedom. It can be hard to draw fast when you're not use to it. I recommend that you find some reference gesture-drawings you like from a high level artist and analyse how little use of lines they use. Just as a reminder and a reference. Think of it like not drawing the figure, but drawing the energy og the figure. i think these are good, and that you're on the right path.
@fischei
4yr
because I also struggle a lot on it I have seen that your line quality could be improved. May be it helps to have this in mind when drawing. Strong confident lines...
Ernesto Vázquez-Belén
4yr
One thing that you can also try is switching your drawing tool (if you're able to). It looks like you're using a pencil for this, and that fine point lets you have the option to define details, etc. You could try using a piece of graphite, charcoal, or even pastel. Something that, by it's nature, isn't really meant for details. Then you don't have to worry about trying to get your lines right, etc., and you can just get into the movement.
Alban Ueb
4yr
I think you pointed out the problems: contour and proportions.
Don't focus too much on the 2 minutes limit for now. Take your time to feel the force of the pose, the main line and so on. You should check the Force series by Mike Mattesi.
When you'll practice tomorrow, I would suggest you to start by correcting your drawings. Once again by taking the time to get a better understanding and feeling of the poses.
I use to redo my drawings of the previous day. At first I check out the mistakes I've made then I try to correct them.
It has been a good help so far. When I compare the first attempt to the correction, I realise that I have understand something new.
Keep going !
•
4yr
Hi Grace! 2min figures are hard practice so props to you for doing them. Proportions are the main thing to look out for I think. You can do long studies (no real time limit) on proportions to get the feel and then mix in the 2 min practice along with that to learn to see proportions faster. Hope that helps. Good studies!
Palmer Vaughn
4yr
It seems to me like you're focusing a lot on the anatomy and less on the gesture. For 2min poses it's very difficult to grasp the complete form which is why we more so go for the action of the pose. Some of your lines are too focused on anatomy and instead you should use your C, and S curves to capture the poses. This will help in the future to add more life to the pose when you do start building all the anatomy on top, which tends to stiffen up your poses.
Grace
•
4yr
Asked for help
After watching this video, I tried making some poses. I made them big, so I could use more of my shoulder to draw. I didn’t keep track of how long it took me to draw them, but I’m afraid I took too long. Like, 2-5min to each one? I guess I focused too much on contour and they look somewhat stiff (especially the first one) and I chicken-scratched, but, overall, I’m pretty proud of it.
Hi Grace
Nice work. As you said, these are mostly contour drawings, not gesture. Gesture lines are not something you can actually see on the figure. It is more of a concept. Like feeling the flow of the movement, and the rhythm.
I would also add that you seem a bit too shy in your drawings. Don't worry about proportion, likeness etc.. Just try to express the gesture you feel when you're looking at the reference, and go wild. I think 30secs gestures would be a good way to focus more on gesture and less on contour.
keep up the good work. ;)
Hi Grace
These look pretty good, don't fret too much about time, the idea of timing yourself is not about speed, we time ourselves to keep away from details, which you did, so It's ok if it takes longer to find the right answer. I agree that you should try to keep away from contours at first and just find how things connect to each other and the abstract ideas rather than the shapes. In gesture drawings I just draw two shapes: the shape of the torso and pelvis as a group, and the head.
I love that you are also taking notes, and writing ideas, these will turn into specific answers represented by lines. I can give you more feedback about these answers if you post the references you've used next to the pictures.
Keep it up!
