The VILPPU BASIC FIGURE DRAWING MANUAL DRAWING Gesture “Gesture is the the action of the figure is single most impor- usually expressed as tant element in the "gesture".It means the movement and attitude of the drawing.' figure.It is body language andall of those subtle differences that experience in looking at real life. characterize individuals,be they technique.Later in this course,the the drawing is nothing more than human or animal.In this regard esture is combined with other an academic exercise.Long when I refer to the model.I mean visual learning tools to develop before we can actually see a not only a model posing for short drawings of longer duration with person's face,we can recognize poses of thirty seconds to three differentends in mind.The quick him by all those elements that minutes,but also people who are sketch uses some of these tools. make up that individual,such as not posing.and are in real life but its purpose is quitediferent. his ge eral bearing proportions situations weuse essentially the of his body.how he dresses.how same leaming procedure in what is referred to as the"quick When I say model,I mean not only he walks.and holds his head. sketch."It will be assumed that the model in the class but also those that you are drawing outside Iam going to present this material ofclass as"quick sketches."Other in a series of steps stopping to point,they are the sa terms used for what we call gesture explain and clarify points as Igo. re“attitude”and"body language. In reality,ofcourse,it is never The primary difference between Gesture is the single most important quite that neat or simple.Many of this lesson and aregularclass in element in the drawing.No matter the steps are actually done quick sketch is that we are only how well a drawing is rendered, simultaneously.The total isa applying the beginning steps of the without that feeling ofindividuality summation of the action in simple learning process for this particular that we terms and is essentially what this
The Vilppu DRAWING MANUAL BASIC FIGURE DRAWING lesson is about The illustrations The basic procedure. see You should do each drawing using the same series of steps until it becomes second nature to you in a "You are not only similar sense as how driving a car becomes almost automatic.Start learning to draw the drawing with simple lines that but to see.” take in the total action of the figure,without worrying about the shape.A simple sequence of steps nd the is indicated in the followingex- amples.Remember,there are no memory.When doing gesnut rules,just tools! hile yo Step One. ing Start with a simple oval for the head. shopping mall imagining a central axis so that the In looking at theaction,o oval ciearly represents the tilt and gesture,it is important to try to lean of your subject.Use a simple tore you put a "dot"on the top to indicate when the head is tilting toward you.and your subject and then drawing possibly an ellipse for the eyes to help show more clearly the action of is particularly useful when you the head. don't have your sketchbook with you(which shouldn't happen),or are in situations where it is awkward for one reason or another to be drawing.When drawing in your head,go through the same steps and use the same imaginary lines you would ifyou were drawing on paper.You draw with your mind,not your hand.Then when you can,redo the drawing on paper.With practice you will be amazed at what you can do,but it takes practice
The Vilppu DRAWING MANUAL BASIC FIGURE DRAWING “Gesture is the single most impor- tant element in the drawing.” Step Two. Draw a line from the head,repre senting the neck.This line is not necessarily any actual contour or line that you see on the model but a general feeling of the attitude of the model.Continue this line, representing the neck,pulling from the head,into the upper body down to the hips.You should be more concerned with the how the lines show the action of the model. rather than any actual line that vou see on the model.Look at the examples on this page to see the varietyofways that this can he accomplished.These are not the traditional stick figures that you se in many basic books on drawing. They are lines that show the flow ofthe movement and relationship of the parts in a simple way. Step Three. Continue in the same way,drawing the legs.Notice that all of the lines do not have to be connected. nember,"there are no rules iust tools.”Itisir tant to mher the si ple fact that wha the vi wer sees a
The Vilppu DRAWING MANUAL BASIC FIGURE DRAWING give asense of movement and continuity,you must draw n such a way as to have one line ead you into the next. Step Four. Now add the arms and hands in th same manner that we drew the legs.Again,they do not necessarily have to be attached but must indicate the movement and general placement. In practice.these steps should take a maximum of thi Continue this simple first step in feeling the form,then go a step further and start pushing outward with your lines."Feel"how forms contract and stretch,pinch and expand.Look at the sample drawings
The Vilppu DRAWING MANUAL BASIC FIGURE DRAWING The hardest part of this lesson is to overcome the desire to copy the model.Remember,we