Gesture Drawing Day 1 Notes Exercises with Pencil

Gesture Drawing

Day 1 Notes & Exercises with Pencil

Elements of Art • Line – the path of a moving point through space.

Principles of Design • Rhythm – visual movement created by the repetition of elements or objects

Principles of Design • Contrast – technique used to create a focal point by using differences in elements.

Principles of Design • Visual Movement – creates the look and feeling of action, and guides a viewer’s eyes through a work of art

Additional Vocabulary • Overlapping – when part of one object covers another

Additional Vocabulary • Gesture Line – sketchy lines that capture movement.

Gesture Drawing • Gesture drawing is many things: • • • A way to “see” A drawing technique An exercise A purposeful scribble A finished style • Gesture drawing trains the hands to quickly sketch what the brain has already seen. It helps you learn to become better at drawing!

Gesture Drawing – 5 Steps 1. Draw lightly – gesture drawing is done in light layers 2. Draw quickly – keep looking from your object to your paper. Don’t think about it.

Gesture Drawing – 5 Steps 3. Constant movement – keep your pencil moving 4. Outline – create a gesture outline / silhouette first, then focus on details 5. No Erasing – Erasing breaks focus and wastes time. Draw over or ignore mistakes.

Adding Shadows Think of the first layer as your rough draft. Once you have the basic outline/silhouette, add a second layer for contrast, and a third layer for deep shadows.

Gesture Drawing Video https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=e. RTqp. JMs 98 E

Exercises #1 – Timed Pencil Drawings • Take a piece of newsprint and fold it in half 4 times (makes 16 boxes) • Write your name in a top corner. • In each box, you will draw an object using gesture lines. You will have 30 seconds to complete each drawing. • Remember: Draw lightly, draw quickly, keep moving.

Exercise #2 – Gesture Drawing Figures • Gesture lines are a great way to capture movement. • On your newsprint, draw the paused figures from the videos below using gesture lines. • Again, your drawings will be timed. https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=vj. W 8 wm. F 5 VWc https: //vimeo. com/43303569

Day 2 Project Prep in Pen & Watercolor

Project Prep • Fold your paper into 4 ths. • With watercolor paint, and using broad brush strokes, paint in the general outline of 8 different objects (one in each section) • Once the watercolor has dried, use a black ink pen to create a gesture drawing on top of the watercolor. Don’t worry about your color being outside of the lines. Each of these paintings/drawings will be timed!

Day 3 Final Project

Final Project • Pick 4 of your gesture drawings from last class and cut them out • On manila paper, sketch a table or surface in sharpie • Crumple the paper up and apply a light coat of watercolor. • Once the manila paper has dried, arrange your 4 gesture drawings in an overlapping still life composition and glue them down.