Gesture Drawing

1. Gesture Drawings
Agenda:
1)Explore the SHAPES that make up a human form and how
to draw them.
2)Practice drawing a figure (correct proportions and
shapes.)
1) First with handout of figure
2) Draw mannequin
3)Activity: Gesture Drawing
1) The body in motion
2) We will be doing QUICK, timed drawings that capture
the gesture (movement) of our models.
Next Activity: My Shadow and Me!
Create a full figure selfie and shadow of yourself in
action! 

2. Gesture Drawing
I Can…
Study a pose, and draw what I see
Use basic shapes to draw a figure
Create gesture drawings using
quick, loose gestures
Practice observing and drawing to
improve my skills

3. What is a Gesture Drawing?
A non-verbal communication – can be seen on the
human figure, animals and even objects, a drawing
used to study the human figure
Sometimes called an action drawing: the action a
figure is performing
Limit looking at your paper as much as possible and
use the whole page – DRAW BIG!
Use a continuous line and DO NOT ERASE if you
make a mistake – JUST IGNORE IT!

7. Rembrandt Gesture Drawing, Preacher, 1644

8. Examples of Gesture Drawings from
17,000 B.C.
Lascaux Caves located in France

9. Focus on:
SHAPE! SHAPE! SHAPE!: Focus on the
shape of the model – not the fine details
Use your whole arm when drawing – don’t
grip the pencil too tight
Remember, this is an exercise – have fun
with it!

10. Keep in mind…
We are NOT couch
potatoes…
so do not draw the
model like one!
I am not a potato!

11. We have a torso and a pelvis!
TORSO
PELVIS

12. Gesture Drawing
Start with Basic
Shapes…
Head
Neck
Body
Arms/Hand
Legs/Feet

13. https://vimeo.com/45170280

16. https://vimeo.com/45224763