Model Drawing 2, Spring 2014, Week 1

We began with TEN 1-MINUTE GESTURES focusing on movement and proportion.  To be done with adult proportions from the proportion sheet.  These were followed by FIVE 2-MINUTE GESTURES.

Student work, example of a gesture page.

I then DEMOED the BASIC SHAPES OF THE FASHION FIGURE, addressing GESTURE, BALANCE, BASIC SHAPES, AND SHAPE RELATIONSHIPS IN THE LIMBS.

We then completed SEVEN 3-MINUTE GESTURE DRAWINGS, (2 FIGURES TO THE LEFT OF THE PAGE).  We followed these gesture drawings with FIVE 1-MINUTE BLIND CONTOURS, and TWO 2-MINUTE SIGHTED CONTOURS.

We then combined the ideas of a QUICK GESTURE DRAWING with A SIGHTED CONTOUR SILHOUETTE.  SO, WITH TWO DIFFERENT COLOR PENCILS - ONE LIGHT, ONE DARK - COMPLETE A QUICK GESTURE DRAWING, AND IMMEDIATELY BEGIN DRAWING A SIGHTED CONTOUR SILHOUETTE AROUND THE SKELETAL GESTURE.  USE FASHION PROPORTIONS WHILE DRAWING WHAT YOU SEE, SO THAT YOU BEGIN TO MENTALLY STRETCH THE MODEL YOU ARE LOOKING AT TO FIT THE IDEAL FASHION PROPORTIONS.  BEGIN BY DOING TWO 2-MINUTE POSES OF THIS EXERCISE, FOLLOWED BY THREE 5-MINUTE POSES OF THIS EXERCISE.  THE 2-MINUTE POSES ARE MEANT TO PUSH YOUR SPEED, THE 5-POSES PUSH YOUR ACCURACY.

I then DEMOED the basic anatomy and structure of the FASHION TORSO and LEG.  Keep the anatomy simplified, elegant, and pay attention to the shapes you use to describe your forms.

We then completed ONE 6-MINUTE TORSO STUDY, using the proportion sheet proportions, and ONE 6-MINUTE LEG STUDY, again using proportion sheet proportions.  Student example.

Another student example of the above exercise.

After lunch we warmed up with TWO 2-MINUTE GESTURE DRAWINGS (on the left).  I then completed a demo of a basic Fashion figure (center drawing) focusing on: GESTURE, PROPORTION, SHAPE DESIGN, AND SHAPE RELATIONSHIPS.  IN 15 MINUTES I WANT PERFECT PROPORTIONS, EXAGGERATED GESTURE, BALANCE, CLEAN LINE WORK, AND A CLEAN SILHOUETTE.  I'M ALSO LOOKING FOR SIMPLIFIED ANATOMY.  We then completed FOUR 15-MINUTE FIGURES EXEMPLIFYING THE TOPICS STATED.  NO SHADING!!

Student work, IDEALLY YOU SHOULD END UP WITH A FRONT VIEW, FRONT 3/4, PROFILE, AND BACK.

Student work.

Student work, back view.

For the exercises use however many pages is necessary, but do try to keep as many of the exercises separate from each other.  Try not to mix different exercises on one page as it will lead to confusion when I take a look at the work.  The finished four 15-minute figures can be on white paper and all grouped together onto one page, so create a nice composition for all of them.