Project - Rhythms

6.1K
Course In Progress

Project - Rhythms

6.1K
Course In Progress

It’s time to draw the figure! Use the rhythms method I showed in the previous lesson to draw the poses from the photo references in the downloads tab.

Deadline for submissions to be included in the video critique is 10/6/2023.

  • Capture the gesture of each pose using rhythms.
  • Spend at least 5 minutes on each pose, ideally 1-2 hours per session. Take breaks as needed.
  • Shoot for accurate proportions by eyeballing placement of the rhythms. Have an idea of where the line will end before you execute the line.
  • Use the the template as a starting point, but observe the pose. Remember that each pose might have some of their own unique rhythms that differ from the template I proposed. This will develop your own rhythms over time.
  • Balance loose, energetic lines with more committed singular lines. Don't let it get too messy. Consider what we've learned about line quality.

Level 2

There are a few ways to make this more challenging. Mix and match based on your comfort and experience.

  • Set a timer for 5 minutes to force yourself to draw only the most important rhythms.
  • If that's too easy, go for 3 minutes.
  • Practice developing the overhand grip.
  • Try charcoal pencils (sharpened like a bullet) on newsprint paper.
  • Add another layer of smaller rhythms indicating the muscle masses. You can add some time to the clock.
Newest
Julia
6h
This was a challenge, my line quality could definitely be better. I'm still trying to find that balance of drawing carefully with attention to proportions and drawing expressively.
Melanie Scearce
It's possible to draw carefully and expressively simultaneously! You may just have to slow down in the beginning and move at the pace of your thoughts. It helps a lot to visualize the path of the line and where it ends before you touch pencil to paper. You'll pick up speed the more you practice this way. You found some great rhythms in these poses, keep it up!
@lucagray
An attempt was made 😖 I always psyche myself out before attempting any of the assignments and then it takes me a good while to actual start. I think I put this off for like a month. 😖 I don't think I've fully grasped Rhythms but there is at least one element from each drawing that I quite like and I think it's just a case of practicing. I think most of all I need to be a bit more relaxed about it. 😅
Martha Muniz
This is already such a great start!! I think you did a good job simplifying the poses into the main rhythms while keeping the energy of the poses. Definitely keep going, you're on the right track! A bit of advice to keep an eye out for next time would be to watch out for any symmetry, especially in the limbs. Keeping the arms/legs the same width or starting the lines at the same point (pinching the joints) can obstruct some of the flow, so finding ways to incorporate more asymmetry can help keep the energy moving. For example, finding a variation in width, tapering from wide to narrow, or making a 'chain' by alternating the stop/start points of the lines can bring more energy.
Daniel
5d
This was fun, I need to practice way more but as I was working on the poses I felt like I was starting to understand more and more where the rhythms might fit. Open for feedback!
Brad Hewitt
Not as good as Proko (just yet)…..
Martha Muniz
Great start! I see a lot of long, simplified rhythms that capture the energy of the pose -- keep it up! Don't feel pressured by time when you first start out and are exploring ways to simplify. You can take some time before before placing a line to envision how it will appear on the page. That will help with controlling the lines you mark on the page, keeping them simpler and cleaner.
@markplewis
These still took far too long but I think I’m slowly building confidence. I’m going to watch the next video then keep trying.
Lib
11d
I had trouble in the first couple of poses, but it has gotten a little easier a long the way. I still need to work on it though.
Rachel Dawn Owens
These look great! Especially this one.
Elijah R
13d
I just like the line variety of an overhand grip, so all of these are extra messy. I’m not particularly proud of any of them in particular although I do believe that this type of thing gets better with time. Such as the line cleanliness and proportional mistakes. These were really quick, am planing to do more. However any suggestions as to how I could make the lines… well less complicated. Thanks for your time :)
Rachel Dawn Owens
The notes are great. You will learn a lot that way. Keep practicing this way. Don’t over complicate it though. Anatomy and proportions come second to the simplest statement possible.
@markplewis
I’m struggling with this one. These took over an hour each, so I’ll have to get much better at this if I ever hope to crank them out in 5 minutes! I’m just not able to quickly eyeball accurate proportions and distances. I think I need to be much sloppier and treat these like throw-away attempts.
@markplewis
I'm not sure why this post was tagged with "asked for help". I don't think I did that on purpose. This happened to me once before too. Feedback is welcome, of course. I think I just need to do this dozens of more times to get better and faster at it.
@thenotsogrim
Putting my pre-demo ones here - the project is a good confidence builder!
Brad Hewitt
Really nice ! i feel the gesture of the girl holding the guns have you tried using just a 6B? Drives more commitment and brings even greater flow with the ability to taper and add value). I’m just a kid at this but that is what I am experiencing. good luck going forward!
Pat Lou
16d
My attempt TT I tried drawing whole bodies and different parts, but I'm still struggling to get used to drawing gestures and visualizing movement.
Isaiah
19d
👋🫡, Looking forward to doing more, Definitely going to fill some page's exploring variations and shapes that indicate specifiv anatomy, gesture, tilts, twist, turns, balance, force, weight, rhythm, and motion😀...
Elijah R
13d
all of these are so captivating. Honestly, good job. Is definitely something to aspire to!
@shaaneeq
20d
Wow. Can’t believe I’m finally posting something for this assignment. This one was harder than I expected. My first few attempts at this were such a disaster and so discouraging, plus stress at work caused me to give up. 4 months later I’m trying again, thankfully with better results. The proportions were my biggest fail last time, which I’ve improved massively on. Line work started out okay, light and loose, however my attempts at building up the lines has made them look stiff and added emphasis to the contour, I think. I was hoping to to do all the poses, but some are still not working out for me, so I’ll submit what I can so I can finally move on with the course. I’ll keep practising on those harder poses.
Jacob Granillo
Welcome back Shaaneeq! We all start some where, keep practicing and you will get better! Don’t give up, you got this
MisterG
22d
Although intimidated by all the amazing submissions, I am somewhat satisfied! I like the bum and the legs and some general proportions. I find the arms much more intricate and difficult to get right with all the swings and boney bits... I also think - not sure if this is correct or the right approach - making rough elliptical shapes for the arms and legs helps me before thinking too much auch the curves which i add as a second step...
Abitha J
23d
Here is my attempt
Tori Tempo
24d
I'm a little out of practice with the overhand grip so this was a good challenge. But I noticed my paper is very rippled. This is a problem I've noticed with all my Strathmore newsprint. I'm not sure if its caused by weather or what, but I'm going to try out another brand. Any suggestions?
Melanie Scearce
I recommend checking out packaging supply companies like Uline over getting newsprint from an art supply store. You can get it in bulk for way cheaper that way. Uline sells bundles of 500-1000 so you’d probably never have to buy it again lol. If you’re not looking for that much you might check out other paper/packaging companies and see what they offer. These look amazing by the way! Nice work.
@schmal
27d
this is my second attempt on level 1. Is there anything I need to have in mind?
Jacob Granillo
You are doing an excellent job schmal! I do notice you make the shoulders a bit wide. But other than that I don’t notice much issues, keep it up!
Andrew Kovachik
Haha really fun project! I can definitely see the importance of doing longer sessions with these. I think at the start they were very contour heavy. I noticed at some point for a couple of drawings that I really did feel like I was "flowing" through the pose. But then once I noticed it I kind of lost it and went back to seeing contours. I'll have to keep working on more of these to try and get better at switching modes. I noticed some obvious ideas I had wrong too during the demo and hopefully enough other people made the same mistakes during the demo that I can learn from :). Maybe I'll do this set again or try one of the "tool" packs? Cheers, Andrew P.S. I really cant seem to get my lines to come through darkly when I take a photo. I'm using a pixel 8a which I thought had a decent camera but yes everything seems very low contrast. P.P.S when I moved the files over to my phone the order got scrambled so I will leave it to you to figure out the order they were drawn in, haha.
Andrew Kovachik
Actually on that note does anyone have recommendations for a good set of poses from the tools section with many varied models?
Rachel Dawn Owens
Some 2 and 5 minute gestures from a life drawing session last week. It was a great time. I love quick pose. This particular model likes to bring her pet dove. He’s a surprisingly good model as well. 🐦
Rafael Rangel
They look awesome! :D
Juan Andres Gonzalez Trejo
Hi everyone, i know the project was intended to do on paper/pencil but decided to do it digital, i had a but of rough time to figure out some of the lines and had a bit of scratch and i think it took longer time (tried to no focus on the details much), any critique is welcome since im going to integrate in the daily routine :)
Rachel Dawn Owens
Nice use of straight and curved lines! Keep up the practice!
Disha
1mo
This is quite difficult for me so i just started with the head. Any suggestions/ feedback is welcome.
Disha
1mo
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Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.
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