[Joachim]

I started a thread about figure drawing some time ago, but I thought that no one would read it if I posted on that. Has anoyone done some figuredrawing lately ? Anyway, here's mine from yesterday (1-3 min sketches), not very good, but atleast I felt that I managed to do something new. Then I mean the 5 min thingy, I didn't managed to do that special technique on shading that fred does so elegantly, but I feel that the shading actually indicates more skin tone and realism than I've managed before. I will try to improve in that direction next time.

If more people would like to join in this time, it would be really cool ! Atleast, if someone have some good guidelines and helpful hints, it would be really nice.

ps! If you react on the breasts to be different in size or that the legs are a bit small, it's not me, she was like that. I usually try to draw things like they are, but I had to do a small comprimize on the breasts.. ..it was just to too non symetrical to look a bit natural.
But other than that, it's probably more than enough mistakes to point out.





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Joachim's Place

[SaltyDog]

Joachim, I'm really quite impressed with your ability to capture the essence of the figure in these small sketches. All too often in figure drawings (I saw this alot in college) people understated the pose and the figure turned out robotic in nature.
Like I said, you seem to have overcome that hurdle. But in the future (in case you stray) always try to overstate the gesture. Inevitably, when you go in to tighten it up a bit, you'll lose some of the flow.
Secondly, with regard to your shading. You've done a good job in creating form through value. The sharpest contrast is where the light breaks with the cast shadow. You also are correct in having the value range narrow away from the light. Less contrast in value equals less form (thusly putting it in shadow)
The only thing I might really suggest is dropping some tones outside the figure. Especially where the light is hitting the body. By darkening the bakground around that area, you'll pop out the light area even more and establish a bit of surrounding at the same time.
For example..the drawing you have labeled "5 min" By shading along her left side (around the shoulder and down at the hip and leg) you'll get a better sense of light. The only trick to this is knowing how much is too much. Use your judgement in creating a quasi-vignette feel to it.
Hope this helps

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Don't let the *Man* keep ya down.

http://holeinthewall.8k.com

[Farwalker]

Nice work Joachim! You really are improving on getting the whole shape of the figure to come out.
Keep em coming.

SaltyDog those are some really helpful tips. Thanks for sharing those. Will start to try do them in my figure work.

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Gamingvault.com

[nori]

wow those are great!

How do you do it with so few sketchy lines? When I practice figure drawing, I have like 3 or 4 lines for every 1 line you have.

Also, what media did you use when you did these?

[micke]

These are from the same session. Was sitting
on the side next to Joachim so they are simillar, but still different.Ifound out that experimenting with new techniques while doing figure drawing did'nt work out well for me. I'm having a hard time as it is building up the shapes. I would like to learn the same pencil-technique that Fred uses, but i think copying pictures would work better for me, cause then i could concentrate more on getting the technique right.

-Micke

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-Mikael Noguchi-

http://www.katode.org/noguchi/

[This message has been edited by micke (edited September 12, 2000).]

[el tigre]

Joachim, Micke both lookin' good guys, I especially like your clean, sharp style. I always had problems with unclear lines

CEENDA...if you're listening, do you know of any life drawing classes in Edinburgh? There used to be one in Stockbridge but I don't think they do it any more. I need the practice and my mates are kinda shy

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Does anyone know the secret formula? :�

[Gambit]

These are great. Thanks for putting them up The lines are really strong and clean. You capture the poses so well.

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Gamingvault.com

[Xcal]

Those are great sketches you both (joachim, micke) have there. I really want to improve my figure drawing skills, especially dynamic poses. I loathe the possibility of someone asking me to do an illustration of a gymnast or something in mid-motion. Unfortunately, I neither have the time nor money to attend live figure drawing classes. Do you think you can learn just as much by continuously practicing on photo references of people in motion? If not what would be a better way?
Thanks.

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Xcal
http://artofsin.com/

[This message has been edited by Xcal (edited September 13, 2000).]

[Joachim]

Damn, I forgot to switch on the email notification.

Anyway, thank you all for your nice feedback. It's always a nice ego boost when people like your stuff

SaltyDog, very nice pointers you wrote down. Thank you ABout shading around the character, ep. around the light area, is something I often forget. I get way to focused on the character itself, something that is good and bad at the same time I guess. Very true about dynamic as well. It's always difficult in incorporate as much dynamic and balanse at the same time as fosusing on the linework and shading quality. I try to make them as dynamic as I can, because when it all comes to an end, figure drawing is mostly about capturing the pose as lively as possible. There's always possibility to do great improvements in figure drawing, like I can never be happy with a drawing and probably never will, so to be reminded about those pointers you gave are very helpfull. I will try to keep them in my back head for next monday

cheers !

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Joachim's Place

[Sedone]

Those are great, fellas. I'll try to post some this weekend (yeah, even despite Fred's ego-crushing figure drawings). I did some this Sunday, but I was feeling rusty and they turned out crap. Kinda' depressing, really. It's hard for me to switch from doing mostly 3D for weeks and then try to do traditional type art.

Btw, how long are your classes? I admire the quick sketches...just wondering if you guys also do longer poses. Okay, that's my post for the week

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sedone's artfolio

[Joachim]

sedone, yes please post some !!

our classes last for two hours, and the models never stand longer than 3 min, sadly. This 5 min thing was something that this particular model chose to as the end pose that at that class. I wish I could get a chance to do a 10 min or 15, so I can try to draw more than the pose and outline for once

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Joachim's Place

[Bizarde]

HI guyz ,I know those r not studies , actualy i used my imagination to put it down,but i made it in almost the same time (10-15min)
What ilike on those is the non-static poz , however i can .
U guyz r immpresive !



ps: maybe u can give some points,i will apreciate,thanx !

~bizarde

[Joachim]

very nice sketches bizarde. You have a really good pencil technique and a confident line. I like them and also your alien sketch. Would be really nice to see some of your figure drawings as well, as they would probably fit this thread a bit more...But, it was nice of you to post them anyway
A few comments: They have a nice lineform, as I said, but maybe a bit too soft here and there. The reason why I say this, is also because I've done a lot of characters with very soft lines, the animation way. But, I've lately tried hard to vary a bit more with soft and hard lines and create more bones in the joints, the characters often seem more "solid" that way. Also, they could have more weight to them, as they seem very light. I guess it has something to do with the feets don't seem very stamped to the ground.

Hope you don't mind me trying to point out a few things here and there that could be imrpoved, in my opinion, that's what I want people to do with me as well. But, the drawings are still very good , post more if you have any.

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Joachim's Place

[Bizarde]

first,i have to thank you for your crit.
and second,i want to tell you cuz i learnd by my own drawing,(roller pen was my tool...=)...)i don't have any art school in my back... =( that's why i dont have modell-drawing,but i take a good look at yours...=)
as i told to Micke my BG is animation,that's why my drawings are soo "out of anatomy".

i want to thank you once again for your crit.

ps: xcuze my english.


~bizarde.

[Jorge]

I am not starting my LD workshop until Oct, and I said I would prefer not to post anything from my first LD classes I had (I know, nobody asked either), about 50h until 2 months ago, but I looked through the archives for life drawings with watecolors and found nothing. So I though that (gulp) I would post one of those I made to encourage people try it.



I found it real fun, mainly because it was quite a dirty thing. The pix below was about 5 min and you do not want to waste much time making mixes, so I ended up just splashing everything with water making real loose brushtrokes. Felt like at primary school. Real fun (although I had to clean all the watery mess on the floor at my feet afterwards). I bought this real big brush for the occasion.

Joachim (gulp, gulp, gulp), my line FDs suck, so I do not intend to give you any advice on yours, but you mentioned (I think) you wanted to strafe from line drawing a bit. Trying FD with watercolors has a real different approach, since you cannot just make the outline first and shading last. You just spit this big blob of water for the hair and wish you are guessing the right proportions on the fly.

This was one of the drawings I was somewhat happy with, mainly because it turned out... well, different.

PS: Oh, it was too my 1st watercolor painting at all, so bare with me, OK?

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Jorge

[This message has been edited by Jorge (edited September 13, 2000).]

[Fat Assasin]

Great subject. I just started up a life drawing class again after a hiatus. Here's some 5 minute poses. I usually start in with quick, straight lines first just to block in the pose, and then I go back and draw in the curves and the anatomy. I do a little shading while I go, and if I have time I'll go back and refine the shading.





Thanks Joachim!

[Joachim]

oh, cool. FInally some other have aprticipated Great figure drawings.

Jorge, yes, I think I must try to use watercolor some time. It gives a nice effect. Comment to your figures, I don't know it it's difficult with watercolor to be able to clearify the different areas more, I mean more "edges" from shadow to light, to make the shapes more distinct. ?!? ANyway, nice going, post more....

Fat Assasin, nice figures. I see you do that technique fred uses ?! Don't what it's called when holding the pencil that way, so I'll call it Fred's way (I wanna do that too do you need a soft paper for that ?) I like the shapes, there's a few areas which have a bit too straight lines, I mean it could have been more shapes withing the line to juice up the forms a bit ( like the girl lying on the floor with the head toward us). But, they look very good. A tip, if it's possible, do what you can to include the feets, they kind of wraps up the character and make more balance to it. Also, if the weight and balance is off, it's much easier to spot if the feets are included.

Would be really nice if some of those who find an interest in doing figure drawings would participate every week or something, so that we can see the progress when people are commenting eachother. I hope there will be some improvements in min the next time.


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Joachim's Place

[Fat Assasin]

Hey Joachim: I'm using smooth newsprint and a charcoal pencil. I use the tip of the pencil for the line work and then the side for the shading. The smooth newsprint is really great for this kind of work, but it's kind of hard to find for some reason. Not all art stores carry it.

And about the feet, I know . The problem is that it's a pretty big class and I always end up with people in front of me so that I can't see the feet. And I don't want to try making them up since the whole point of this kind of drawing is to learn the proportions and correct perspective of the various body parts. I'll have to be more aggressive and get a front row seat next time.

More artist should be encouraged to take life drawing classes. And not just one or two, it's a continuing thing throughout your whole career. Plus you get to stare at nekid people for hours at a time. And sometimes they're even good looking.

[Jorge]

Er... Joachim. I did not understand what you said (my english has some pretty clear limits). Was that a question? A comment on my drawings? And what was exactly that question or comment? I feel stupid, but could you retype it please

[Joachim]

jorge, hmm I guess it was a question and comment at the same time sorry.
As I haven't tried it before, I don't know if it's easy to make the shapes more clear. I liked your figures, but I mean like, if it's possible in that short amount of time, it could be nice if you added more edges and the forms would be a bit more ditinct. Hmm, I don't know how to explain, ofh..
I'll try to illustrate it.


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Joachim's Place