Drawing Gestures & Contours

Drawing starts early… The desire to draw is as natural as the desire to talk. As children, we draw long before we learn to read and write. Writing is a kind of “drawing”. To some, developing drawing skills may be easier than learning to write.

BEFORE AND AFTER STUDENT DRAWINGS To visually illustrate the fact that drawing can be learned, here are some before and after drawings done by students. The first drawings by the students are on the left. Two months later the same students drew another portrait (not necessarily the same subject). They learned to draw.

With practice, we can see how much someone can improve in just 2 months!

VINCENT VAN GOGH These two drawings by van Gogh also illustrate how he learned to draw with practice. 1880 DRAWING 1882 DRAWING These two drawings also illustrate how Van Gogh learned to draw better with practice.

Practice is key!!!

DRAWING There are two basic ways to practice drawing. The first is an intense, slow inspection of the subject – a careful examination of its parts. This is called contour drawing. The second is a quick, all-encompassing overview of forms in their wholeness, this is called gesture drawing.

Contour drawing shows the outline of the subject Contour drawing shows the outline of the subject. Not the volume or mass of an object. Picasso War and Peace Henri Matisse Fleur

Picasso Contour lines define only the edges of the subject. Igor Stravinsky

Learning how to contour draw will… Enhance your drawing skills.

Gesture…. Unlike contour drawing gesture drawing represents the interior of an object. It is done very quickly. Justin Sweet

Gesture – is an essential starting point for the drawing student. The gestural approach is actually an exercise in seeing. The hand duplicates the movement of the eyes, quickly defining general characteristics of the subject Gestures are done quickly capturing the essence of the object. It is spontaneous and free flowing.

Focus on: SHAPE! SHAPE! SHAPE!: Focus on the shape of the model – not the fine details Use your whole arm when drawing – don’t grip the pencil too tight

Keep in mind… We are NOT potatoes… …so do not draw us like one. I am not a potato! TORSO PELVIS …so do not draw us like one.

It can look like scribbles Justin Sweet

Imagine lines that are… Continuous Flowing Coming out of the Drawing Looping Twisting Changing direction Justin Sweet

Why do we do this? To train your hands to quickly sketch what the brain has already seen To let go of inhibitions To capture the essence of an object

Artist create gesture drawings to portray an idea of an image. Practicing this technique helps them understand that image. Rembrandt Gesture Drawing, Preacher, 1644

Quick Line Gesture

Mass and Line Gestures

Mass gesture examples

Mass and Line Gesture

Assignment : For this assignment, you will create contour and gesture drawings.

Steps for creating a successful contour drawing… There are two things to remember: 1.) You must keep your pen on the paper at all times without removing it 2.) You must allow your hand/pen to follow the direction and speed of your eyes as they move across the object.

Gesture

Steps for a successful gesture drawing 1. FOCUS--- constantly. Estimate proportions, contours, movement, and contrasts quickly. Determine contours first, then interior shapes and shadows. 2. DRAW LIGHTLY---then get darker as you correct your mistakes and finalize your work 3. DRAW QUICKLY--- Keep the pencil/pen in constant circular and linear motion. Catch the form, not the details. 4. NO ERASING. Gesture drawing's purpose is to develop visual skills which will effect expertise. Erasing breaks focus and wastes time.