Expressionistic Drawing Erich Heckel Gesture drawing and drawing that features expressive mark making with character.

Figurative Representation Egon Schiele

How do they use line? Aggressively Deliberately Fearlessly Because of the aforementioned qualities, their figures are rich and full of character. They are not exactly realistic or purposefully abstracted.

What is Gesture Drawing? Gesture drawing uses lines that are an attempt to be accurate and representational, however, turn out very expressive due to restraints on time or a lack of restraints on worrying to be perfect and accurate.

Different Examples of Gesture Drawing The lines suggest that they were made quickly and with energy. Below, both are related to the emotion expressed.

Max Beckmann's Expressionist Artwork.

Edvard Munch paintings Edvard used to punish his paintings by talking to them and hanging them outside in Norway. He would often bring them back inside after he thought they would behave.

Willem De Kooning (Abstract Expressionist)

Practice Gesture Drawing Choose a partner in class and practice drawing their head and torso with a gesture style. We will draw for 10 minutes, 5 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute and 30 second periods. Media: Charcoal on newsprint or in your DW. Paste the newsprint in your DW. Try to be expressive and deliberate. Try to be somewhat accurate but don’t worry about this too much.  Record all ideas, examples of thinking, sketches, practice, media experimentation, etc. into your DW.

The Project Create three 18 x 24 inch drawings of humans who are your relatives or friends. You choose the medium. I recommend beginning with charcoal. Your focus should be line quality and contrast. In your DW, research two artists who use expressive lines. Paste two pictures for each artists and write about why these examples are expressive and effective. In your DW, create at least one practice drawing for each of your three final drawings mentioned above.