Rebecca Kimmel's Anatomy Review 001: GESTURE

#321

Kunal,

I think you did a really good sheet of gestures, and I’m glad to see that you are working hard to follow the lesson ~ thank you!

Here is my review:


Comments: Overall, I would say you have a really decent sense of proportion and of how various axes of the human body relate to one another. You seem to really understand the peanut shape concept and have exhibited that understanding well.

Crits: This isn’t a crit so much as a suggestion: since you seem to grasp the basics of peanut shape, proportion, and axes, I would recommend that you begin to play with the more artistic aspects of gesture ~ in terms of breaking up your line (ie ~ you don’t have to draw the entire peanut, you can SUGGEST it by a series of broken, but flowing, lines) and using calligraphic, exaggerated lines to suggest the formal principles listed above.

Keep going, I like to see sheets like this~

Look forward to your posts!

~Rebeccak

#322

lutonomy,

thank you! I appreciate the feedback, and am thrilled this is proving useful.

I’ll be working on your review today or tomorrow, thank you for being patient :slight_smile:

In terms of feet, we will definitely be reviewing them specifically in a later lesson.

Let me review several gestures, and I will try to post something briefly on feet a bit later.

Thanks!
~Rebeccak

#323

StarlightGloom,

Thank you for being patient :slight_smile: here is my review of your post:

I am impressed because I know that this is maybe your fourth or fifth figure drawing ~ at that.

What I would basically recommend is to elongate the back a bit ~ allow for the whole peanut shape to take form organically ~ give it expression in terms of your lines and in terms of how things flow.

For gesture drawings, you do not need to draw each finger and toe ~ you merely need to suggest them with lines which show the basic direction in which they are pointing.

I would always suggest where the ground/floor is so the figure is in relation to something.

Exaggerate the curves to add dynamism to a drawing ~ you don’t want to get crazy, but you want the eye to flow in a smooth, circular direction.

Thanks for your post! I am happy you are participating :slight_smile:

~Rebecca

#324

commodore,

finally had time to post your review :slight_smile: ~

Comments: This is a nice gesture sheet ~ I would recommend creating several small gestures to a sheet as did FromanylanD in his post #264 ~ there is a decent sense of movement in these which I like.

Crits: I would make a similar crit here as I did for StarlightGloom ~ I would make sure to draw the head, the neck, and the connection to the pit of the neck entirely ~ otherwise, the head looks as though it is sort of smooshed up on top of the torso. ALWAYS find and draw the centerline of the figure ~ I would draw this IMMEDIATELY after drawing the head ~ as it goes a long way toward establishing the gesture of the pose as well as determines where everything else will go in relation to it.

Keep up the posts (Your original post #163 here), and continue to do quick gestures frequently! :slight_smile:

~Rebeccak

#325

JimiPhoenix,

finally had time to post your review :slight_smile: ~

I’m sorry you can’t gain access to figure drawing workshops due to your age (a bit silly, I think), but FromanylanD has provided some great links to online Muybridge photographs from which you can draw in this post #264.

Comments: I would say you’re doing very decently, I think the smaller of the two figures is especially well-done, there is a clear center axis and the weight is well established.

Crits: The head of the left larger figure needs to be more generalized in terms of its shape and horizontal and vertical axes, but I think you’re doing a good job on the legs, and seem to have a basic grasp of form which only needs to be refined through practice. I would emphasize that you need to show the axis of the shoulders in this back view ~ this will help the drawing considerably.

Thanks for your posts and patience!

~Rebeccak

#326

Tried again - I think I finally got the idea of what a “GESTURE” is. It took me a while to get my head around the idea of defining the shape with so few lines!

I anyone wants a go at correcting my gestures, then please feel free to do so. I’m really enjoying this - long may it continue!

#327

default.rol wrote:

>Tried again - I think I finally got the idea of what a “GESTURE” is. It took me a while to get my head around the idea of defining the shape with so few lines!

Wow! What a great improvement! Forgive me for being confusing…it’s taken me a while to figure out how it’s best to demonstrate concepts and to describe them well…so I appreciate your hanging in there! I’m thrilled to see your progress!

>If anyone wants a go at correcting my gestures, then please feel free to do so. I’m really enjoying this - long may it continue!

Awesome! This is exactly what we need :slight_smile:

Thanks for the great post!

~Rebeccak

#328

Wyatt Harris,

I Revised my Revision of your original post, because I thought my own Revision needed help :wink:
So please check it out again here: #225

Fabian84, I did the same thing for your original Revision here: #182

Thanks! Learning :slight_smile:

~Rebeccak

#329

I guess it’s safe to assume they’re Muybridge…found them through an “eadweard muybridge” Google Image search. Could be a good topic. Aside from the decent poses (although I prefer the ones from my first batch), the fact that they’re in a series makes the motion obvious (EDIT: also, we’re not restricted to humans (though I know they’re the focus here)).

I did these last night :slight_smile: (the first batch was also for the thread)

It’s not your browser…I just cut out some unrelated scribbles.

Medium: col-erase colored pencils on some grey paper I found. The large one from the first batch was charcoal pencil.

#330

FromanylanD wrote:

>did these last night :slight_smile: (the first batch was also for the thread)

Great! I hope you continue to post for the other topics :slight_smile:

>Medium: col-erase colored pencils on some grey paper I found. The large one from the first batch was charcoal pencil.

Hmm, do you have any other charcoal gestures which you would like to post? I really liked the first, and would love to see more.

~Rebeccak

#331

Darktwin,

finally had the chance to post your review :slight_smile:

I finally recognized this as one of the Burne Hogarth drawings which I’ve done a copy of and posted (duh) :wink: and I think this is a really good go at learning from his work. I can’t emphasize enough the importance at looking at “contemporary” masters like Hogarth and Old Masters like Michelangelo, Rubens, et al. Even tracing their work can improve your drawing vocabulary.

I think the importance of refining one’s gesture drawings ~ one never stops doing so, actually ~ cannot be overemphasized. Therefore, though I think the drawing that you have done is really good, I would go back and break it down again into simpler shapes and forms ~ because in a finished drawing, all of these basic concepts will need to emphasized ad-finitum, and if you are not comfortable or practiced with making a basic drawing flow, a finished drawing will typically fail, impaling itself upon its own principles, to be dramatic about it! I’ve gone the “focus-on-detail” route enough times to know that you usually end up spent, and you’ve lost the point and spirit of the initial drawing. So I would heavily emphasize GOING BACK TO BASICS.

That being said, I am looking forward to your future posts! I think that once we get into specific anatomical regions, your capacity for rendering will be called upon in spades.

~Rebeccak

#332

Gordon Freeman,

I finally reviewed your post #231 thanks for the patience :slight_smile:

Comments: I think that you have a very decent start ~ I like the line which defines the stomach, and I think your proportions are decent with the exception of the head. (I made mine a bit smallish too).

Crits: I would not worry about shading at this point, as doing Gesture drawings help you to learn how to employ LINE economically to produce form. Shading will come in a bit later, but at this point, I would focus on EXAGGERATING CURVES, and keeping curves that define a form, such as the neck, PARALLEL to one another. I think that it needs to be more clear where the rib cage ends and where the pelvis begins ~ but we will also get more into that more in-depth later.

Hope this helps, and thank you for your posts!

~Rebeccak

#333

Rebeccak wrote:

I had a good friend in college whose drawings were AMAZING, and her car was stolen with all of her best drawings in the trunk. She missed the drawings more than the car.

Wow! that really sucks!

  • Thanks for the review, there is always need for improvement in every medium. Thanks for taking the time to do it!

@ default.rol:
Wow! thats a big improvement! I’m sure Rebecca would agree that if you keep practicing with this “sense” of what gesture is, you can’t go wrong. The only thing I would say is try to get inside the body more. don’t just draw whats in front of you…see right through to the anatomy, try to include quick references to the bones (esp. legs) and muscles. This is really important on parts that overlap others (as in the legs of your figure on the right, HER right leg looks very broken/long). Also try to show more of the jaw for the heads, not just circles.

Like I said this is a BIG improvment from your earlier work so do some more like this but looking through the model. If you have any rough underlying sketchwork to these leave it in, it helps to give it life! I’d like to see them in black medium on white (as a personal preference in keeping with a traditional sense).

  • Somhairle
#334

damn Ms Kimmel has been busy 2day…phew.wudn’t catch me critting like that,i can barely keep myself awa…snor

#335

…i can barely keep myself awa…snor

@NOOB!:
hahahha lol! good one!

#336

LikuidSnake,

Thanks for your post! (Original post #148) Here is my review:

Your original drawing is a very lovingly rendered piece :slight_smile: ~ however, I would recommend for the purposes of this thread, but more importantly, for your benefit, to begin breaking down form more simply before rendering out a final piece…

Comments: I think that the head and neck in your drawing are the strongest, and I think the torso is decently done. The center axis of the body is clear, which is good.

Crits: I would say that the reason I recommend doing a gestural drawing before going for a final render is because you will soon realize some of the problems that you may encounter: for example, HER right arm is a bit over-foreshortened, and therefore looks a bit short ~ I think a quick gestural sketch would loosen your arm and allow you to draw the full extent of her arm at rest. HER left hand is also a bit smallish, and I think doing a gesture drawing would get you away from drawing minute details such as fingernails, and focus your attention on the more important aspects of overall proportion.

You should also always include in a gesture drawing a line connecting the shoulders, as this is a crucial axis apart from the central axis of the body. Additionally, I would recommend your laying out the ENTIRE figure, even if it is not to be shown in the final piece, as this will give you a better idea of the exact pose the figure is taking.

Glad to see your post, and I hope you continue to participate in the future lessons!

Thanks,
~Rebeccak

#337

NOOB wrote:

>damn Ms Kimmel has been busy 2day…

Meh, keeps me off the streets :wink:

_

Somhairle,

Thanks again for critiquing a post ~ others are free to join in :slight_smile:

~Rebeccak

#338

I don’t have any, but I’ll do some. I’m not very confident with charcoal and always shyed away from it in favor of pencil, but I realize it’s a great medium for figure drawing.

EDIT: if you do/don’t mind someone drawing on top of your image as a critique, just state so in your post so we don’t have to get permission.

#339

FromanylanD wrote:

>I don’t, but I’ll do some. I’m not very confident with charcoal and always shyed away from it in favor of pencil, but I realize it’s a great medium for figure drawing.

I think your original charcoal drawing shows great promise, and I would like to see where using charcoal might take you - really that, or using one of the charcoal brushes in photoshop, or creating your own brand - but I a have to give a strong endorsement to the real, old-school deal, because of the power and possible range of expression which a plain charcoal pencil on paper or newsprint affords.

Particularly when it comes to shading, charcoal is great, and can accomplish a lot just by way of suggestion.

>EDIT: if you do/don’t mind someone drawing on top of your image as a critique, just state so in your post so we don’t have to get permission.

GREAT IDEA! Duh - I will edit my original post regarding re-draws.

~Rebeccak

#340

I don’t think I’ll be using Photoshop, because I have a hard time using a wacom for serious linework. But I am addicted to making custom brushes…