1. Drawing
Gestures &
Contours

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

6. 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.

7. Practice is key!!!

8. 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.

9. 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

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

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

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

13. 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.

14. 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

15. 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.

16. It can look like scribbles
Justin Sweet

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

18. 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

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

20. Quick Line Gesture

21. Mass and Line Gestures

22. Mass gesture examples

23. Mass and Line Gesture

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

25. 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.

26. Gesture

27. 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.