SPECIAL NOTE - posted 1/23/06:
SINCE THIS IS LARGELY A CLOSED THREAD, FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN FURTHER EXPLORING BASIC DRAWING CONCEPTS, PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING (ACTIVE) THREAD:
Here we explore the Concept of Gesture ~ anyone is free to join in! 
Beginners’ Lounge
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=297229
[](showthread.php?t=297229)
[u][b]
REBECCA KIMMEL'S Anatomy Review [/b][b]002: OPPOSING CURVES[/b][/u]
[img]http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/rebeccak4/CG_Talk_Anatomy_Workshop_II_OPPOSING%20CURVES/Demo_002_Image_1.jpg[/img]
[b][u]REBECCA KIMMEL'S Anatomy Review 002: OPPOSING CURVES[/u][/b]
[b][/b]
Welcome to the second thread of Rebecca KimmelÂ’s Anatomy Review. Hopefully this will be only the second of many "tutorials" that I will be writing about the core concepts concerning drawing the human figure in an artistically anatomical way.
But first let me tell you a bit about myself -- I graduated with honors from the Art Center College of Design having studied Illustration. I studied under the popular teachers Harry Carmean, Burne Hogarth, and Steve Huston among many others. I have always had the interest in teaching figurative drawing and artistic anatomy, and I am thankful to Roberto Ortiz for presenting me with this unique and special opportunity. So bear with me as this is a fledgling teaching attempt. :)
So bring your drawing pads, sketch books, your wacoms and your pencils & pens, and letÂ’s start drawing. :)
[img]http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/rebeccak4/CG_Talk_Anatomy_Workshop_II_OPPOSING%20CURVES/Demo_002_Image_2.jpg[/img]
[b][u]Part II: OPPOSING CURVES[/u][/b]
Human form is organic form, and organic form is built for economic movement. As with plants and trees, so with human beings – we are built with curves, not straight lines, and the reason for our curve-based structure is to allow us to move efficiently. So, when drawing the figure, the principle to keep in mind is simple: [b]CURVES[/b].
But here is a "[b]twist[/b]" on the principle of Curves – :scream: – [b]Curves in human form oppose each other less like the parentheses I just used ( ) and more like the curves evident in the DNA spiral where the curves are offset from one another, rather than perfectly adjacent[/b]. You can create the illusion of human form with a few swift offset curves, but [b]you will never create such an illusion (or you will create a poor one) with curves that look like parentheses ( ).[/b]
As an example, letÂ’s look at the Belvedere Torso, an antique sculpture dating to the first century B.C.
[img]http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/rebeccak4/CG_Talk_Anatomy_Workshop_II_OPPOSING%20CURVES/torso_demo_300dpi_small_FUL.jpg[/img]
[b]Figures B. and C.[/b] show [b]OPPOSING CURVES[/b] in action – the [b]NUMBERS[/b] indicate the sequence in which the [b]OPPOSING CURVES[/b] might be drawn, and they also show [b]how the eye moves from one side of the form to the other and from one curve to another[/b]. The [b]COLORS[/b] indicate the [b]FORM[/b] which is being created by the [b]OPPOSING CURVES[/b].
As mentioned before in the previous lesson, [b]NEVER use Parentheses ( ) curves to indicate form[/b] – you will end up drawing a vase, not a leg, as human form is organic and rarely perfect in its symmetry. Instead, use [b]OPPOSING CURVES[/b], or [b]OFFSET CURVES[/b], to generate [b]FORM[/b].
[b]Figure D. [/b]shows how one might [b]DRAW[/b] Opposing Curves on the page. These need not be drawn in a certain order – but the point is to [b]THINK AROUND AND ACROSS THE BODY [/b]instead of down one side and then another.
Here is an example of a drawing of a torso which I recently created that employs the use of OPPOSING CURVES:
When drawing the figure, I draw from one side of the body to another, from top to bottom usually, to create both form and a sense of movement in the drawing. When drawing the torso, I typically start somewhere at the top of the torso and work my way down, going back and forth to establish PAIRS OF CURVES which will generate form as I go along. So, in the above demonstration drawing, I would have started with lines indicated in ORANGE, then the lines indicated in BLUE, then the lines indicated in GREEN, then the lines indicated in YELLOW, and finally the beginning of the legs, indicated in FUSCHIA, ORANGE, and BROWN.
RECAP: HOW TO CREATE A DRAWING USING OPPOSING CURVES:
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ALWAYS THINK AROUND AND ACROSS THE BODY – not up or down one side and then the other.
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The sides of the body are always thinking of one another – without the other side, they are incomplete! Think Jerry McGuire, with Opposing Curves.
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When beginning a drawing using Opposing Curves, DO NOT FORGET those things you have learned about GESTURE DRAWING in the previous lesson. You should ESTABLISH THE OVERALL GESTURE FIRST, lightly, and then, once the initial GESTURE of the figure is established, go back into the drawing and refine the pose with OPPOSING CURVES.
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There is NO TIME LIMIT for these types of drawings – so TAKE YOUR TIME, and start to get a feel of what it is like to draw using OPPOSING CURVES.
FINAL NOTES:
So thatÂ’s it. Go now, pick that sketchbook up, and practice drawing using OPPOSING CURVES. My advice is to do several and then pick the best one to post here.
YOU HAVE ONE WEEK TO POST YOUR BEST PIECE (OPPOSING CURVES DRAWING).
GENERAL RULES:
Once I have posted my lesson it will be your turn:
[ul]
[li]Post a drawing based on the topic or body part covered in this lesson. You may use a model (preferred) or photo reference.[/li][li]A couple of times a month, a new thread will be posted on theWIP/Critique: 2D, Illustrations and Concept Art called:REBECCA KIMMEL’S Anatomy Review [ID]: “Thread Title” [/li]
For example:
REBECCA KIMMEL’S Anatomy Review 002: OPPOSING CURVES
This will be the CORE thread, created by Rebecca Kimmel, where the lessons will be posted along with the FINAL pieces done by the participants.
[/ul]
[ul]
[li]This will be the only thread where artwork will be posted. Comments WILL be allowed on the thread.[/li][/ul](In short, when an artist wants to show his or her drawing based on the lesson, he or she just has to post a reply to the thread.)
Each entry will have:
[ul]
[li]An original piece done after the topic has been picked.[/li][li]The artwork done by the participant based on the latest class.[/li][/ul]And some more rules:
[ul]
[li]All artwork must have the following words written on them: b 2005 YOUR NAME[/b][/li][li]At the end of the week, I will pick up to 4 pieces of my choosing and will review them. My advice: KEEP IT SIMPLE[/li][li]You are encouraged to use MODELS but if you cannot you can use PHOTO reference.[/li][/ul]At the end of the week, I will pick up to 4 pieces of my choosing and will review them. My advice: KEEP IT SIMPLE.
All text and images posted on this lesson are © 2005, Rebecca Kimmel. Good luck!
-Roberto and Rebecca
DISCLAIMER: The creator of this thread, Roberto Ortiz, Rebecca Kimmel, CGNetworks and CGTALK are not responsible for what happens during these classes. Participants are posting under their own accord and their actions are their own. The aforementioned parties of Roberto Ortiz, Rebecca Kimmel, CGNetworks and CGTALK are in no way responsible for their actions and are thus not liable in any way.
[color=yellow]EDIT: Please see [/color]#37 for RULES ABOUT CRITIQUING OTHERS’ DRAWINGS
NOTE: COMMENTS AND CRITICISMS MUST BE [color=lemonchiffon]CONSTRUCTIVE AND SENSITIVE IN TONE,[/color]
[color=yellow]OR THEY WILL BE REMOVED or EDITED. [color=lemonchiffon]ANYONE MAY DO DRAW-OVERS SO LONG AS THE ARTIST THEY ARE CRITIQUING DOES NOT MIND AND THE PERSON DOING THE DRAW-OVER IS VERY COURTEOUS. [/color][/color]
) and I see pretty symmetrical curves and have a hard time avoiding them.
? It’s so confusing 
.