I am currently enrolled in a Basic Drawing I class! Which I am thoroughly enjoying, but, i need some help, suggestions, or whatever you can give me.

Can anyone help me make sense out of drawing gesture. I understand that is a body movement, from the shoulder, and to sort of draw feely, Can someone give me something!!!!


Thanks
Fawn

Hi Fawn,
Gesture drawing is a more advanced form of speed drawing,you select a subject any subject and try to capture it without lifting your pencil off the paper,it is drawing directly from what you are looking at without stopping.Very quickly,without thinking ie. a direct link from your brain, eyes, perception to the drawing.

Dont ,look at the drawing look at the subject and capture it very quickly ,typically two to three minutest to draw a figure,you feel or experience the drawing process.

I hope this helps, regards Wayneo

Hey Wayneo!

Thank you so much for the quick response! Everything you said actually started making gesture make more sense! But, what really struck me is where you said "without thinking" For once I actually think I WAS thinking tooooo much!!!! LOL ! BINGO!
I am going to do my 10 drawings over. tonite. I work for an Art Dept in SF and was also told to do the ten drawings as if I were going to throw them out, as if I did not care! (That will be hard)

I must admit that after waiting a day and lookiing at what I did it actually was not to bad. But I should have done them in a more rapid succession, I'll let you know how it comes out!

Thanks again!
Fawn

Good luck Fawn,

One of the lecturesrs that i studied with destroyed all of my work for about four months,it was part of the process,
Regards Wayneo

Hello Wayneo

I'm going to try your concept in my life drawing class that I'm taking again. I'll let you know how it goes.

You say don't pickup your hand from the canvas and follow the contour of what your drawing right? Just like blind contour drawing?

Regards,
Gilbert

Hi Gilbert,

It is simmilar to blind contour drawing, the big difference is that it is much faster, the time limit set to complete the work is shorter.Also you are not only focussed on the contours,the objective is to capture the entire subject ,with all of its detail.

you do not have time to look at the drawing while you re doing it.

Have fun,i am looking forward to seeing the life drawings.

Rregards Wayne

Gesture drawing is often done with conte stick or charcoal where you can use the side of the stick to pickup more weight or energy. I use gesture drawing to capture the models gesture quickly, the major movements, twist and turns. The axis of balance and energy of the pose. I watch my model and my sketch these are loose studies. beginners should do large sketches. After developing this form of drawing you might want to go back later and add some lines to play against the gestures it can add character and is fun.

Hey Wayneo!

Thanks so much for your help, I've completed the class and got an A!!! But, unfortuantely the instructor lost my gesture drawing of my room! I wasn't real crazy about it! LOL But, I definietly understand gesture a lot better now!