Life Drawing Help

shuffles03

Hi,

I started a life drawing course over the weekend and was wondering if anyone could give me some pointers.

The class was broken up into 30 second/2 minute/ 10 minute drawings. Having never done this before, I didn't know how to approach each type and was unaware that each one required a specific type of drawing.

I was trying to go for detail as opposed to getting the most out of the time I had on the drawing.

What approach should I take for each style?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

shuffles03 wrote: »

Hi,

I started a life drawing course over the weekend and was wondering if anyone could give me some pointers.

The class was broken up into 30 second/2 minute/ 10 minute drawings. Having never done this before, I didn't know how to approach each type and was unaware that each one required a specific type of drawing.

I was trying to go for detail as opposed to getting the most out of the time I had on the drawing.

What approach should I take for each style?

The less time you have, the more you just want the basic shapes and form of the body. Don't worry abotu mistakes - you;ll get a fresh start in 2 minutes, just try and relax and flow.

shuffles03

I've been looking at videos like this to try and understand the approach I should take:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j39NqwL7s4

Is the above video the right approach?

I enjoy drawing in my spare time but have never studied it in school or college so I never learned any techniques etc. The problem with this is that after each drawing, we have to turn it around and show the whole class. Needless to say, everyone else in the class studies art so knows specific techniques. It was a bit belittling.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

shuffles03 wrote: »

I've been looking at videos like this to try and understand the approach I should take:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j39NqwL7s4

Is the above video the right approach?

I enjoy drawing in my spare time but have never studied it in school or college so I never learned any techniques etc. The problem with this is that after each drawing, we have to turn it around and show the whole class. Needless to say, everyone else in the class studies art so knows specific techniques. It was a bit belittling.

Dont worry about the showing of your work - the people who look at it don't criticise, even internally - and we were all beginniers once (important to remember that!)

Another good idea is to take a sketchbook with you when you go out. Draw people in shopping cetnres, train stations, wherever. This forces you to be quick because to cold move off at any minute.

shuffles03

Cheers. So for 30 second/ 2 minute drawings, should I try and replicate the style in the above video?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

shuffles03 wrote: »

Cheers. So for 30 second/ 2 minute drawings, should I try and replicate the style in the above video?

Try it out and see - the trick is not spend too much time thinking about it. You'll develop your own style over time.

megaten

shuffles03 wrote: »

I've been looking at videos like this to try and understand the approach I should take:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j39NqwL7s4

Is the above video the right approach?

I enjoy drawing in my spare time but have never studied it in school or college so I never learned any techniques etc. The problem with this is that after each drawing, we have to turn it around and show the whole class. Needless to say, everyone else in the class studies art so knows specific techniques. It was a bit belittling.

There's no right approach. Proko's video's are a good starting point though. Focus on getting the entire figure down and don't worry about specific details on the form. Also if you say the other students clearly show the use of specific techniques ask them about it. Experiment with different artists instructions and take the bits you find useful.

FlashD

Check out this website forum (Sketchbooks) to give you a better idea of various styles of figure drawing from beginners starting out, to the more advanced.

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/

The best thing starting out is to use a large charcoal stick and get as many marks down on paper in the shortest space of time. Don't think about it too much, keep your eyes on the model while glancing at the paper. Keep the charcoal moving freely laying down marks quickly as you search out the shape and form of the figure, work from your elbow not your fingers or hand. Make your figures nice and big too.

To be honest, I don't advise working in the slow style of the Proko vid but it does show you what to aim for. This artist already has an understanding of figure shape and form and knows exactly where to place the mark making which produces the exact final results shown. Most beginners don't have that knowledge - the division of the figure into a combination of spheres, cylinders and boxes.

You should think about investing in a figure drawing book to gain an understanding of proportion, shape, form and basic anatomy. Check the linked website for advise on decent books or links to pdf versions