Gesture

Gesture Drawing
gesture
Drawing
Gesture Drawing
Drawing
gestureGesture
drawing
Gesture Drawing
gesture
Drawing
Gesture Drawing
Drawing
Purpose:
Today we will learn how to
represent the human body quickly.

Practice:
We will demonstrate our
understanding by using gesture
drawing to represent the line of
motion in a model.

Question:
What does gesture mean?
Purpose:
Today we will learn how to
represent the human body quickly.

Practice:
We will demonstrate our
understanding by using gesture
drawing to represent the line of
motion in a model.

Question:
What does gesture mean?

A movement of part of the body.

To express an idea or meaning.
How can we represent the movement
of the body?
How can we represent the movement
of the body?
Gesture Drawing: A quick
drawing used to show action
or basic structure of
something
How can we represent the movement
of the body?
Gesture Drawing: A quick
drawing used to show action
or basic structure of
something

How can we simplify the the shapes and

form of the human body?
How can we represent the movement
of the body?
Gesture Drawing: A quick
drawing used to show action
or basic structure of
something

How can we simplify the the shapes and

form of the human body?
Line of Movement: the line that
travels through the body, the
visual path
How can we represent the movement
of the body?
Gesture Drawing: A quick
drawing used to show action
or basic structure of
something

How can we simplify the the shapes and

form of the human body?
Line of Movement: the line that
travels through the body, the
visual path
How can we represent the movement
of the body?
Gesture Drawing: A quick
drawing used to show action
or basic structure of
something

How can we simplify the the shapes and

form of the human body?
Line of Movement: the line that
travels through the body, the
visual path
How can we represent the movement
of the body?
Gesture Drawing: A quick
drawing used to show action
or basic structure of
something

How can we simplify the the shapes and

form of the human body?
Line of Movement: the line that
travels through the body, the
visual path
How can we represent the movement
of the body?
Gesture Drawing: A quick
drawing used to show action
or basic structure of
something

How can we simplify the the shapes and

form of the human body?
Line of Movement: the line that
travels through the body, the
visual path
How can we represent the movement
of the body?
Gesture Drawing: A quick
drawing used to show action
or basic structure of
something

How can we simplify the the shapes and

form of the human body?
Line of Movement: the line that
travels through the body, the
visual path
How can we represent the movement
of the body?
Gesture Drawing: A quick
drawing used to show action
or basic structure of
something

How can we simplify the the shapes and

form of the human body?
Line of Movement: the line that
travels through the body, the
visual path
How can we represent the movement
of the body?
Gesture Drawing: A quick
drawing used to show action
or basic structure of
something Angle of shoulders
& hips

How can we simplify the the shapes and

form of the human body?
Line of Movement: the line that
travels through the body, the
visual path
gesture drawing helps us
capture the

essence
of a person
 It’s sort of like
we’re making a

“drawing skeleton”
 It’s sort of like
we’re making a

“drawing skeleton”
 It’s sort of like
we’re making a

“drawing skeleton”
later, we will learn about
putting on the “drawing
muscle” (and skin and
clothes and stuff)
Purpose:
Today we will learn how to
represent the human body
quickly.

Practice:
We will demonstrate our
understanding by using
gesture drawing to represent
the proportion and rhythm of
a model.

What you need:

- sketchbook
- drawing board & clip
- a black crayon
Purpose:
Today we will learn how to
represent the human body
quickly.

Practice:
We will demonstrate our
understanding by using
gesture drawing to represent
the proportion and rhythm of
a model.

What you need: Question:

- sketchbook What is the purpose of a gesture
- drawing board & clip drawing?
- a black crayon
Purpose:
Today we will learn how to
represent the human body
quickly.

Practice:
We will demonstrate our
understanding by using
gesture drawing to represent
the proportion and rhythm of
a model.

What you need: Question:

- sketchbook What is the purpose of a gesture
- drawing board & clip drawing? To capture the motion of
- a black crayon a person in a drawing
Each day during the Gesture Drawing unit, you will be
assessed on participation according to five criteria:
Each day during the Gesture Drawing unit, you will be
assessed on participation according to five criteria:
1. Artistic behavior: Quiet during instructions &
drawing, focus on your work;
Each day during the Gesture Drawing unit, you will be
assessed on participation according to five criteria:
1. Artistic behavior: Quiet during instructions &
drawing, focus on your work;
2. Drawing: Look at the model MORE than at your
paper; draw from your ARM not your WRIST;
Each day during the Gesture Drawing unit, you will be
assessed on participation according to five criteria:
1. Artistic behavior: Quiet during instructions &
drawing, focus on your work;
2. Drawing: Look at the model MORE than at your
paper; draw from your ARM not your WRIST;
3. Modeling: Participation as a model, keeping as
still as possible; not interfering with a model (no
touching, throwing things at, etc);
Each day during the Gesture Drawing unit, you will be
assessed on participation according to five criteria:
1. Artistic behavior: Quiet during instructions &
drawing, focus on your work;
2. Drawing: Look at the model MORE than at your
paper; draw from your ARM not your WRIST;
3. Modeling: Participation as a model, keeping as
still as possible; not interfering with a model (no
touching, throwing things at, etc);
4. Effort: Putting forth your best effort; trying
your hardest;
Each day during the Gesture Drawing unit, you will be
assessed on participation according to five criteria:
1. Artistic behavior: Quiet during instructions &
drawing, focus on your work;
2. Drawing: Look at the model MORE than at your
paper; draw from your ARM not your WRIST;
3. Modeling: Participation as a model, keeping as
still as possible; not interfering with a model (no
touching, throwing things at, etc);
4. Effort: Putting forth your best effort; trying
your hardest;
5. Materials: Taking care of materials; voluntarily
assisting in clean up.
Each day during the Gesture Drawing unit, you will be
assessed on participation according to five criteria:
1. Artistic behavior: Quiet during instructions &
drawing, focus on your work;
2. Drawing: Look at the model MORE than at your
paper; draw from your ARM not your WRIST;
3. Modeling: Participation as a model, keeping as
still as possible; not interfering with a model (no
touching, throwing things at, etc);
4. Effort: Putting forth your best effort; trying
your hardest;
5. Materials: Taking care of materials; voluntarily
assisting in clean up.
Purpose:
Today we will learn how
to give more structure
and proportion to the
figure.

Practice:
We will demonstrate
our understanding by
sighting and
representing the basic
geometric solids of a
model to make an
accurate tonal gesture
drawing.
Purpose:
Today we will learn how
to give more structure
and proportion to the
figure.

Practice:
We will demonstrate
our understanding by
sighting and
representing the basic Question:
geometric solids of a How can we check for accuracy in
model to make an our gesture drawing?
accurate tonal gesture
drawing.
Purpose:
Today we will learn how
to give more structure
and proportion to the
figure.

Practice:
We will demonstrate
our understanding by
sighting and
representing the basic Question:
geometric solids of a How can we check for accuracy in
model to make an our gesture drawing?
accurate tonal gesture
drawing. sighting / measuring
Breaking the figure into geometric parts
The geometric solids provide structure to show form

Use the shapes to measure proportion

 After drawing the line of movement
and establishing the structure let’s
focus on adding to that structure

Add contours and

shapes to create form
and establish the
overall proportion of
the figure
Basic Proportions
Basic Proportions
Head
Basic Proportions
Head
chin to armpit
Basic Proportions
Head
chin to armpit

armpit to waist
Basic Proportions
Head
chin to armpit

armpit to waist

waist to bottom of hip

Basic Proportions
Head
chin to armpit

armpit to waist

waist to bottom of hip

hip to mid thigh

Basic Proportions
Head
chin to armpit

armpit to waist

waist to bottom of hip

hip to mid thigh

mid thigh to below knee

Basic Proportions
Head
chin to armpit

armpit to waist

waist to bottom of hip

hip to mid thigh

mid thigh to below knee

knee to above ankle

Basic Proportions
Head
chin to armpit

armpit to waist

waist to bottom of hip

hip to mid thigh

mid thigh to below knee

knee to above ankle

ankle to foot
After the line of 1. Draw the position of each
movement and tilt of limb
shoulders and hips:
2. Emphasize where the stress
and movement is in the body
 1. start with your initial
gesture sketch/skeleton

2. add geometric shapes (like

cylinders)

3. refine these shapes

(tapered cylinders for
arms/legs)

4. add contour lines to show

edges
the form 5. add tone to show value
of the figure (push & pull)
line width & quality
line width & quality
are you using a thin line?
line width & quality
are you using a thin line?

are you using a thick line?

line width & quality
are you using a thin line?

are you using a thick line?

are you using a rough line?

line width & quality
are you using a thin line?

are you using a thick line?

are you using a rough line?

how does this change your drawing?

PUSH back with dark value
 PUSH back with dark value

PULL forward with light value

PUSH
 PUSH

PULL
Tonal Drawing:

using value in your

lines and shapes
Taking our gesture drawings further
Taking our gesture drawings further
1. Start with the skeleton of your drawing
LOOK FOR:
Taking our gesture drawings further
1. Start with the skeleton of your drawing
LOOK FOR: • line of movement, the “spine”
Taking our gesture drawings further
1. Start with the skeleton of your drawing
LOOK FOR: • line of movement, the “spine”
• angle of shoulders
Taking our gesture drawings further
1. Start with the skeleton of your drawing
LOOK FOR: • line of movement, the “spine”
• angle of shoulders
• angle of hips
Taking our gesture drawings further
1. Start with the skeleton of your drawing
LOOK FOR: • line of movement, the “spine”
• angle of shoulders
• angle of hips
• angles made by arms & legs
Taking our gesture drawings further
1. Start with the skeleton of your drawing
LOOK FOR: • line of movement, the “spine”
• angle of shoulders
• angle of hips
• angles made by arms & legs
• location & size of head
Taking our gesture drawings further
1. Start with the skeleton of your drawing
LOOK FOR: • line of movement, the “spine”
• angle of shoulders
• angle of hips
• angles made by arms & legs
• location & size of head
2. Build onto your skeleton: what basic shapes do you see?
Taking our gesture drawings further
1. Start with the skeleton of your drawing
LOOK FOR: • line of movement, the “spine”
• angle of shoulders
• angle of hips
• angles made by arms & legs
• location & size of head
2. Build onto your skeleton: what basic shapes do you see?
3. REFINE these shapes: make adjustments
Taking our gesture drawings further
1. Start with the skeleton of your drawing
LOOK FOR: • line of movement, the “spine”
• angle of shoulders
• angle of hips
• angles made by arms & legs
• location & size of head
2. Build onto your skeleton: what basic shapes do you see?
3. REFINE these shapes: make adjustments
4. Build on details - what shapes are made by your person’s
clothing, hair, etc? Start simple!
Taking our gesture drawings further
1. Start with the skeleton of your drawing
LOOK FOR: • line of movement, the “spine”
• angle of shoulders
• angle of hips
• angles made by arms & legs
• location & size of head
2. Build onto your skeleton: what basic shapes do you see?
3. REFINE these shapes: make adjustments
4. Build on details - what shapes are made by your person’s
clothing, hair, etc? Start simple!
5. Add tone, shadows, value
 the form
of the figure
 the form
of the figure
 the form adding tone
of the figure and details
Using our Gesture Drawings...
Using our Gesture Drawings...
Using our Gesture Drawings...
Using our Gesture Drawings...
Using our Gesture Drawings...
Using our Gesture Drawings...

...to make Monotypes!

Look at your drawings from last class,
and decide what parts you would like to
trace onto a plate
(can be all from one drawing or from more than one)

print will be made of 3 or 4 (or more) plates -

may be overlapping or lined up, may be straight
or crooked, may be realistic or abstract, may be
colorful or monochromatic
can re-wet and blot paper for printing more
plates