Making a quick sketch with loose arm movements to capture the pose or gesture of the model is typically the first step in completing a life drawing. The act of gesture drawing trains the synchronized workings of the eyes, the brain and the hand from direct observation of a subject.
Purchase a package of charcoal, Conte crayons or graphite from your local art store. These three types of media are most widely used when creating a gesture drawing because of how easily and loosely they are applied to the paper. You will also need to purchase a pad of sketch paper-11 by 14 inches is a good size to start.
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Locate a friend, family member or classmate to pose for the gesture drawing session. The session may last however long the artist and model decide, but one hour is a good time frame to start.
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Choose a room and an area where the model will pose. No props are necessary. Typically the model will sit on a chair, the floor or stand.
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Determine how long each pose will last. The purpose of gesture drawing is to make many quick sketches rather than detailed drawings. It is not important to capture every minor feature, but rather the major shapes of the model. Normally, each pose will last for five minutes.
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Practice a few quick sketches in your pad to get used to the feel of the charcoal, Conte crayon or graphite. No matter what media you are using, hold the drawing tool horizontally rather than vertically. Remember, this is a loose drawing, so use the muscles in your whole arm rather than just in your hand.
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Pose the model and start the stopwatch. Quickly begin mapping out the shapes of the model. Rectangles, circles, and squares can be used to illustrate body parts. Do not include the eyes, nose, labels on the clothes. The goal is to capture the overlapping shapes that make up the gesture, not the minor details. Once the stopwatch beeps, create a new pose and repeat.
Tips & Warnings
Practice gesture drawing every opportunity you get. If you cannot find a model, go anywhere that you can sit down and sketch people. The more you sketch, the better artist you will become.
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