Process Book

The Skeleton

Stephan Campbell

620140626
 “The Skeletal System as a support and shield for the human

body”

Life drawing is referred to as the art of capturing a live model in various poses. The

skeletal system plays a major role in order for these various poses to be possible as it acts as a

support and shield for the human body and the organs within. Five major bones which acts as a

support or shield are: The skull, the shoulder, the ribcage, the spine and lastly, the pelvic girdle

and legs. Without these bones, the human body wouldn’t be able to move and perform regular

day to day activities.

The skull is one of the most critical bone as it acts as a shield for the human brain. The

skull helps to protect the brain in the case if an emergency fall or a hard impact to the head. If the

skull was to be damaged the it would lead to brain damage or seizures. This as a result tells why

the skull is needed as a shield for the brain.

Additionally, the shoulder proves to be essential as it acts as a support for the arms. The

shoulder gives strength and a range of motion to the arm which allows movement in the y-axis,

without it, the arms would be immobile. With the knowledge of restricted movement it is clear

why the shoulder joints are important to the body.

Moreover, the ribcage acts as a shield for two very vital organs: the lungs and heart. The

ribcage aids in protecting both the lung and heart from damage as well as helps with the

respiration system. If the ribs were to be injured the lungs would be at a disadvantage to collect

air for breathing. This shows that the ribs acting duty as a shield is major role in the body.
 The spinal cord is another critical bone that acts as a major support for the body. The

spine helps to provide a structured posture to the body and is connected to major nerves that aids

the body in functioning. If the spinal cord were to be destroyed the damaged the human body

might lose its ability to stand/walk. Thus proving my point as to why the spinal cord is a major

support of the body.

Similar to the spine, the pelvic girdle is bone that acts as a support for the body. The

pelvic girdle has a ball and socket joint which enables the legs to move around enabling humans

to carry out their everyday tasks. Without the pelvic girdle the legs would become worn out form

standing which is why sitting plays an important role in the process of movements. Hence, my

point the pelvic girdle as a support for the body.

 Gesture Drawing

Gesture drawing refers to the line of action or pose a model does for art. This is usually done in a

set time either 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 minutes.

 Reflection

I learnt the structure of the bones and locations of the different types of joints in the

human body. Drawing the skeleton in different angles got me intrigued to begin with due to

complexity of the bone count. The challenge got difficult I must admit as the details got to me,

especially the ribs. I think I could have done more but was partly confused throughout drawing

the skeleton. I would see this molded in my animation career by creating characters with

exaggerated features, but not straying too far away from what a human looks like. At this

moment I consider the skeleton to be muscle memory in the amount I have drawn.

Skull
Renaissance Skeleton Piece
Quick sketch
 Reference

What Is Figure Drawing & Why Is It So Important? (2018, March 22). Retrieved October 9,

2020, from https://conceptartempire.com/what-is-figure-drawing/

Frost, B., Camarero-Espinosa, S., & Foster, E. (2019, January 14). Materials for the Spine:

Anatomy, Problems, and Solutions. Retrieved October 9, 2020, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6356370/

Rogers, K. (2020, June 30). Rib cage. Retrieved October 9, 2020, from

https://www.britannica.com/science/rib-cage