Still Planning

Our thanks to Janet, she is always the perfect "artist's model".  

Ed King 

Sally Rhone-Kubarek 

Susan Ohle 

Susan Ishii

I'm including some tips on Drawing the Figure from Life. I'm  familiar with all of them but have to continually repeat them to myself while working. You can see by my drawing that I didn't adhere to many of them. Good to know, none the less.

1. Look at the figure. 

How is the figure supporting its own weight?

Hold your pencil up and visualize three lines; shoulders, hips and knees.

2. Plan your composition

Using your hand and without marking the paper, motion the general shapes, then very quickly sketch the general composition.

3. Quickly sketch the entire figure

Get the whole thing sketched out in a few seconds, then do your drawing  on top of it.

4. Draw fast and keep your arm moving

Remember, a slow steady and confident hand is faster than indecisive chicken scratch. (I know this one well. I drove a professor in college nearly nuts with my timid short little lines).

5. Practice good line economy

Practice by not lifting your pencil from the paper.

Try to be fluid and efficient.

Draw shadow shapes inside the figure - not just an outline.

Don't draw everything. Be selective in what you draw and what you leave out.

6. Don't erase (much)

This is probably the one guideline I have the hardest time with.

7. Add shadows and highlights

Your figures will develop weight and drama.

8. Draw the whole pose

Don't avoid head, feet and hands.

9. Ground your figure

Sometimes just a simple line is enough to keep your model from floating in space.

10. Date your drawings

Enables you to track your progress.