The Eye & The Hand

         This week we actually got to observe from a nude model. It was actually very relaxed and professional. I found it very helpful to observe the form, and we drew in different time increments.
The beginning was more gestural, as we did set after set of 30 second poses with many different positions. The key was to try getting the spinal column or middle lines of the body observed and figure out the half way position, which was just below the hips at the bottom of the coccyx. Then you would try to quickly estimate the rest of the body from that.

Contour Line Drawings

         However, as the time increased the trick was not only to employ those techniques, but to also use thick and thin lines with emphasis on certain strong points of each pose. This requires a skill to add "weight" economically. Also would give more suggestion of "space" with the added detail.
        Also we did contour line drawings, and these helped us to view the form of the object in 2D, while requiring us to view the model in 3D. This also helps us understand the form better, and we had 30 minutes at one point to observe the model and sketch what we saw.
        I, at this point, felt that I needed to work on my thick and thin lines, and also the composition in my paper. I feel that I have improved as time went on, but it took me a great deal of gesture drawings to draw confidently at such a fast speed.  I hope that we get more time with models to do similar observation drawings, so that I get more practice in coordinating my eye to hand.

Gestural

 

       Thursday, I was not able to make it to class, but we discussed how to use the Manikens and received and assignment over the weekend. In using the Manikens we are to make out of clay, the various muscle tissue on the figure for a more accurate understanding of the underlying structure beneath a person’s skin.

Shells and Spines 9/14-16

This week in class, we explored various topics to hone our skills. I had not taken a drawing class for a year and felt very rusty, especially since our first in-class assignment required us to stand at easels, which is a new experience for me.  However, the class started out quite fun.

Blind Contour

            It began with the observation of the shell.  Each of us were given a shell to observe and then instructed to draw it, but without looking at our paper. Within a half hour time, I managed to draw 3 shells, using vine charcoal. The hardest part was not looking but still trying to imagine the shape of the shell on the paper. Although it took awhile, I did manage to get a simplistic rendering with thick and thin lines. When critiqued, my classmates said that I had a strong composition and good use of thick and thin lines that were drawn very slowly, but that I needed to push the dynamics of my thick and thin lines even further to make it more successful. We then studied the same shell with one continuos line, which captured the form better, but needs to have more simplistic lines that are more controlled.

Shell Contour Drawing

            Thursday’s class we started to observe and learn about the human skeleton, specifically the spinal column and it’s individual vertebra.  Consisting of 5 segments, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccyx, each section has  its own curve. Notably the c1 that is the bump at the back of the neck, and the sacral triangle that is fused together with the coccyx at the base of the spine.  The lumbar will move when subject is doing motion, but only the atlas and the axis will support and move the head in different directions.  The atlas will have a resting spot for the head to move up and down and the axis will allow it to move side to side. These elements are important to remember while observing the skeleton or subject for a support system to be believable. The optimal viewpoint is the 3/4^ths view where you can see both the side and the front. 

Hello

I am a Junior in the Graphic Design  program with a minor in photography and business at the University of Wisconsin – Stout and this is my Life Drawing 1 blog.  My program will probably take another year at least at Stout to finish all my courses.   This blog will serve as a chronicle of my work in this class, and make it readily available to others.

This all began when I decided to pursue this major. I chose this path, as I have always enjoyed art from an early age. I loved all my art classes and joined all the related clubs in high school, and a teacher recommended I take up graphic design since I had a knack for it.  It was something that came natural and was fun to do since I could pick up a crayon and color.

While I may be in graphic design, I also enjoy the fine art field. A particular

hobby of mine is drawing, although I do like painting too. I decided to take the Life Drawing course not only to fulfill program requirements but because I am interested in finding out more about proportions and making believable renderings of the human form. The body has always been an interesting subject to me, as we humans can perceive so many emotions without a person actually saying so, but by observing each other.  Hopefully by taking this course I will learn more about seeing the human form and the underlying musculature that make up it so I can make more accurate depictions.

            Some particular works I am proud of are my drawings and hand crafted work on the computer. I am becoming more knowledgeable about photography  too.  One where I combined both my design skills and drawing skills (on the computer that is) that I am proud of is my set of postcards that illustrate my Travels in Typography trip according to country and type of typography technique applied. Here is an example:

Thank you for visiting my blog!