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Tobe O
•
4yr
added comment inFigure Drawing Critiques - Gesture
Hi everyone! I've been stuck on basic gesture for a while, but over the past 4 weeks, have found some time to practice.
These are all 2-minute sketches, done digitally. I started with CSI, and tried to add contours on top, though usually I didn't have enough time to finish.
I greatly appreciate all feedback. Do you think I'm finally ready to move on to the bean?
For reference, this was my post 4 weeks ago: https://www.proko.com/course-lesson/figure-drawing-critiques-gesture/discussions#42L
•
4yr
Hi @Tobe O nice gesture studies! You have improved since last time! I think you´re ready to move on with the bean! Gesture will be part of almost every drawing you make so you'll constantly be revisiting the concept.
As for critiques, I have some practice tips that I like to share with people who take the figure drawing course. For me following along with Stan's examples was crucial for developing good habits and an intuition for gesture drawing. I don't see much of Stan in your gesture drawings, so maybe this is new to you:
"-SOME PRACTICE TIPS:
How you practice is as important, or even more important than what you practice. Here are some things that helped me improve faster:
STAN´S EXAMPLES
For me it was invaluable to look at Stan´s example drawings, following this routine
1. Try to draw the pose myself before looking at Stan´s example
2. Look at Stan and copy his drawing
3. Try to draw like Stan did, without looking at his example
I did this over and over, varying up with other poses I found on the internet, trying to bring with me the habits I learned from Stan.
DELIBERATE PRACTICE
Another thing that was important for me was to be on the look out for things to improve. Improving was simply a long chain of
- Doing a mistake
- Finding the mistake
- Trying to not make the same mistake in the next drawing "
These tips can be applied to many of the other parts in the course too.
I hope this was helpful :)
@tenolios
4yr
I can't give any critique on those. But just something to keep in mind : Proko recommended in a Draftsmen podcast that people shouldn't spend more than 2 weeks in the gesture section. Because if they wait until they master gesture, it will take years.
Since gesture is something that you will do a lot anyway, you will get better at it eventually. And you can revisit this course (or another) when you feel you plataued with your gestures.
Tobe O
•
4yr
Being completely honest - I was very nervous to post these. These are all 2-min gestures, done digitally.
Do you think I'm finally ready to move on to the bean, or do I need to keep practicing gesture?
Thanks!
•
4yr
Hi @Tobe O Nice work! I really like how simple you´ve kept them! A lot of people fall into the trap of just copying details. My favorite drawing is the one in the top left corner. I think it has a very nice flow going through the body.
I´m glad you posted these! Getting feedback is a crucial part of developing as an artist. Being nervous is normal, you´re not alone :) And I think you´re in good hands! The Proko community has been kind and constructive so far. I´ll try, too, to do my best to help you further:
DRAW THE FLOW
You seem to have a big focus on the contour, rather than the actual flow passing through the forms. When focusing too much on contours there is a risk of creating symmetry. This can hurt the flow. When drawing both sides of a leg or arm, as you often do in longer poses, have the lines bend to follow and help the main gesture. If the main flow is a c curve, bend the contours in a c-curve arc.
I think what made the drawing in the top left corner so succesful is that it had just that! :)
I did a paintover of your drawings, with red lines indicating the core gesture passing through the forms. The details on top will be based on and enhance this main flow.
Drawing contours isn't wrong, but the contour should be built on top, help and enhance the main gesture. In order to do that well you have to be comfortable with simple gesture drawings, like the ones in my paintover, where you draw the action lines connecting the parts, rather than the contour.
The exercise I would suggest for you to help with that is to do 30 sec quick sketches, using only 5 or less lines (CSI) + head. It´s a challange, but using only 5 lines will force you to find the core gesture. You can look at my paintover for inspiration. Note that I´m not drawing stick figures, but the flow passing through the forms
I hope this helps and good luck :)
