Currently, I'm into studying Gesture. Making complete works of art where gesture dominates detail respectively. Previously, I was all about copying accurately, improving my ability to observe and compare shapes and values from real life figures. However, the drawings never felt my own when I simply copied them. Often it made me frustrated when I've spent all day on a simple contour study just to find it still looked wrong. The realization that even after gaining the discipline to draw all day, did not necessarily mean I improved. Studying this way lead me nowhere feeling lost. So when Stan Prokopenko said that he admires drawings that simplifies detail beautifully more than copying detail accurately made me wonder if I should focus more on simplifying detail then copying it. So I spent an hour working on a complete drawing where gesture is the dominant component, I'm super happy with the results. Just don't ask me how there's a bunch of hand looking wings sprouting out of her lower back. More importantly I feel relieved that I have a clear direction of study. Mastering these fundamentals will take time, but it feels good to make progress. Thank you Stan!

Gesture Drawing Practice #1