Sketch

Now you know why artists do gesture drawings, but you may wonder how to get started doing them yourself. In the next set of exercises, you will work on creating gesture drawings. You will need:

If possible, go to an area where a lot of different people are being active, such as a park. Find a spot where you can sit comfortably and arrange your materials. [You could also ask a friend or family member to be your model or use videos of people doing active things like playing sports, running, or dancing.] Once you are set up and comfortable, work your way through the following exercises.

Exercises 1

Five One-Minute Poses – Felt-tip/Brush-tip Marker in Sketchbook

Set your timer for one minute, prepare your marker, and choose a subject. Quickly analyze their movements and imagine how your body would look performing the same movement. Then begin to draw your subject without lifting your marker off the page very much. Try not to use sketchy marks; instead use sweeping lines that connect to one another. If your subject moves, try to make your drawing move with them; and if they leave, try to finish the drawing from memory. Just draw continuously until your timer goes off. Do this for at least 5 subjects. You can draw more than one subject on a page or use a whole page for these works.

Exercises 2

Five Two-Minute Poses – Charcoal/Pastel in Sketchbook

Now set your timer for two minutes and get your charcoal or pastel ready to work with. Choose another subject and begin drawing their movements with continuous lines. Slow down and pay closer attention to proportions. Again, do not focus on creating details but on capturing the overall shape and movement of your subject. Draw for the entire two minutes. Do this at least 5 times. You may draw more than one subject on a page.

Exercises 3

Five Three-Minute Poses – Choice of Media in Sketchbook

For this last exercise, set your timer for three minutes and choose either your marker or your charcoal to work with. Use a full sheet of paper for each drawing in this exercise. Choose your subject and draw their movements using continuous lines for the entire three minutes. This may mean that your drawing moves across the page as you draw. For example, your subject may kick a ball and then run after it, so you would first draw them kicking the ball and then continue your drawing with them running. If your subject is doing a slower movement, such as yoga, then you can spend more time focusing on realism and proportion.

After you have finished, look at the drawings you have made and answer the following questions in your sketchbook.

• Where did you struggle when making your gesture drawings?
• What did you do well?
• Do you feel that gesture drawing helps you observe your subject better?

Post one of your drawings from each exercise onto the Art Discussion Board and leave a comment that outlines what went well for you and what you struggled with. Look at your classmates' work and give positive feedback to three different people.