Drawing the Human Figure - How to Get Started-spun1

When little young children are taught the alphabet, they're offered a tool that permits them to generate any word inside the language. In the exact same way, understanding the basics of human anatomy will help you to draw any animal, since we're all constructed towards the very same simple design and style. Till the time in the Renaissance, no systematic study of anatomical construction had been made. Painters struggled to represent men and women or dogs or horses within a believable, realistic manner on the twodimensional canvas. They all failed. Then the genius of Michelangelo and Leonardo rose like a pair of new suns, to shed light on the darkness. Even so achieved a master as Raphael was grateful for the lessons supplied by their functions. Like everyone given that, Raphael realised he could by no means attain the perfection of Michelangelo. Like us, he could only search and wonder. But Leonardo did something that surpassed the fairly small body of paintings he created; something which need to endear him to all artists who adhere to. Having a scientist's curiosity, he investigated the mechanics of Nature. What's more, he left an invaluable legacy of thorough reports on what he uncovered. To make his discoveries, Leonardo had to dissect cadavers, teaching himself as he went. We, thankfully, do not must undergo that. Right now, we've got the advantage of his hard-won understanding available in texts of varying degrees of complexity. TIP: For beginners, the excellent array of Walter Foster books in limp cover gives an easy-to-follow introduction to the subject. For painters, the 'Bible' is Victor Perard's Anatomy & Drawing. Along with this study, it's vital that you draw constantly from life. As a youngster, I helped out after school in my parents' corner shop. Sure, it often seemed a drag, but it offered an opportunity beyond value. Perched behind the counter with my sketchbook and pencils, I drew the customers, scrambling to get down a likeness within the time they were there. It was the best grounding I could have had. You can do the exact same while waiting for the bus, while taking your lunch break within the park, while commuting on the train. Your family and pets are readily obtainable models; they'll seldom submit to 'posing' but that just teaches you to catch a likeness quickly. If all else fails, there is always the mirror. Another indispensable method of learning figure drawing is the Life Class. In most instances, no actual instruction is provided at such a 'class.' What usually happens is that a professional artist - often one who gives private tuition - will invite a tiny group of other professionals, or serious students, to meet on a regular basis.Their aim is to maintain and hone their skills at drawing the nude figure. Everybody 'hits the kitty' in equal shares to pay the fee of an artists' model. Professional models come in both genders, all shapes, ages and colours. They can hold even difficult poses for up to twenty minutes and deserve a lot more credit than they get. The conveyor from the class will take responsibility for timing 'lightning' poses. For these, a stopwatch will be set for a dauntingly few seconds, while you - the newcomer - will sweat blood trying to keep up with the old hands. If you ever get an invitation to such a group, don't hesitate to take it; you'll advantage far more than I can tell you. Whether you're drawing in a life class, at the bus stop, or inside the park, a few good habits will save you a lot of frustration and false starts. 480. The first mark you'll make on your paper is the Line Of Gravity. This is a straight line, perpendicular for the ground, against which you will balance the figure. The second line will indicate the centre in the figure. You can find this by measuring with your thumbnail on a pencil held out at arm's length. If you remember always to hold the pencil at full arm's stretch, you'll get correct measurements every time. Your next step is to find the Rhythm Of the Pose. You'll do this by quickly expressing the figure's pose with freely drawn lines. It's a good idea to keep these lines faint, to avoid later confusion. Now, indicate the angles in the shoulders and the pelvis, and you're off to a strong start. At home, hit those Anatomical Drawing books! Research the principles of proportion until finally they become second nature. You'll learn to think in the human physique in terms of 'heads' since you'll know that the average male adult is seven-and-a-half 'heads' tall; a head being the length from top in the skull to
file:///L|/PDF2/Drawing_the_Human_Figure_-_How_to_Get_Started-spun1.html[1/11/2012 7:34:31 PM]

Drawing the Human Figure - How to Get Started-spun1

tip from the chin. Speaking in the head, a common error beginners make is to imagine they can draw 'A Face' without learning anything of anatomy. This just couldn't be far more wrong. You see, there's no such thing as a face - in isolation - except as part from the head. And this is a three-dimensional object whose underlying structures build the face. To understand them is to be able to draw any person's head, adding those variations from the norm that give each face its unique characteristics. Michelangelo was not only sculptor, painter and architect, but also a writer of note. He once gave this advice to painters: 'Painting most closely approaches perfection when it most closely resembles sculpture.' In today's high-tech world, painters have access to equipment that the Old Masters would have coveted. Cameras can save us hours of tedious reference sketching; projectors can reduce the time it takes to place objects within a composition. But painters who rely on such aids, lacking the confidence and skills gained by freehand drawing and a grounding in Anatomical Drawing, soon find themselves in trouble. They're trapped while in the very same dangers as that unfortunate generation of school kids who were the victims of experimentation by well-meaning education reformers. Trying to generate understanding easier and more fun, they introduced 'whole word recognition' in place of boring old spelling. As a result, two generations of kids grew up lacking an ability to spell. Some men and women question if it matters. 'After all, they can usually work out what the other person meant to say.' Here's an example. Recently, I saw an advertisement within the newspaper for a sale at a local department store. Among the items discounted was: 'Intermit Apparel 50% Off.' A good deal, if only I knew what 'Intermit Apparel' might be. Later, I spotted that sign over - you've guessed it - the women's underwear section. The impression it gave me was: 'These men and women don't really know what they're doing.' (c)Dorothy Gauvin

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