Life Drawing Dump

[Samael]

http://www.geocities.com/verezzi42/barbarian.txt
http://www.geocities.com/verezzi42/woman.txt
http://www.geocities.com/verezzi42/gesture.txt
http://www.geocities.com/verezzi42/drapery.txt
http://www.geocities.com/verezzi42/doodle.txt

[Samael]

Hmmm...nearly a hundred views and no comment.

I suppose there are a number of ways I could take that...

[tinyhands]

I guess i'll post a reply. Basically, all your drawings are just too out of control. Theres really no underlying structure to them, which there needs to beem. Even though, alot of those look like there done really quickly, theres no volume to your forms, and no strong shapes to support what you have. It just looks like you need a lot of fundamental drawing skills, which your probably trying to get right now.

[Samael]

Wow.

Even the old fellow holding the blanket?

Most of these are 30 second poses, excepting the one with the old man, which took 5 minutes (if I remember correctly).

[egerie]

I disagree with previous posts. I think your sketches look a lot of dynamism. Were you aiming for that ? A little background on those wouldn't hurt :) Are you in animation ? Are those warumps or doodles or studies ?

[tinyhands]

I'm gonna have to disagree with those other posts. Its great to have a nice gestural feel and good dynamics, but even still, every drawing needs a solid foundation. Even if you look at animator quicksketches, the big shapes are there, thats what drawing is. Look at the good people from the past that drew and painted loose. There is always a foundation, and everything is always in control, and nothing is ever by chance. Nikolai Fechin is a great example of loose drawing and painting. Once traditional skills are learned and mastered you can let go and do anything you want. I'm not trying to grill you or anything, I just want to give you my honest opinion. I still think you should try to break everything down into shapes. Maybe you can post some longer sketches when you do them.

[Samael]

These are sketches used to keep me in shape for animation, and of course, to further study the human form.

My main goal is entirely gesture and movement.

It surprises me that you assume I don't already have a foundation in form and anatomy (as is the case), and I'd be lying if I said it didn't trouble me...

I find that if one worries about form and structure in 30 second poses, you loose the movement, weight and gesture of the drawing and end up with a two dimensional, stiff or floating figure.

[tinyhands]

I can understand you wanting to keep your hand loose for animation, I myself studied animation for about six years until the traditional market pretty much died. I also understand that 30 seconds isn't alot of time to get a figure down. With timeframes like that its intuitiveness that will allow you to keep proportion and form right. But those things aren't evident in your drawings. And if you know anatomy like you say, then that longer drawing you posted would have better insertions, and the forearm would be forshortened properly. I've seen alot of glen keanes, john pomeroys and james baxters quicksketches from life, and while there all loose and gestural they know form and shape so well that structure is intuitive. Thats the direction you need to head. I hope you don't take any of this personally. We are all artists here in the pursuit of knowledge, and we all want to get better. I would like to see some longer drawings of yours to see what you can do with a longer time frame. Hope to see some soon.

[Samael]

Ah, don't worry about it.

It's not as if I think you're wrong, I was just startled by your response.

I'm all for ripping apart drawings, it's my purpose for coming here. Apparently I haven't been getting the criticism I need, and I put more value on my art than my feelings.

So, what exactly is wrong with the forearm? I admit I'm too close to the piece to be viewing it objectively.

(other than his hand....I know that's completely buggered)

[tinyhands]

well its good to hear that you don't cherish your drawings so much. Your probably gonna be doing this the rest of your life, so whats a couple sketches while your a student. From some of the other posts I've read, i don't think you are getting the right kind of critiques. I think some people out there aren't trained well enough to say some of the things they say. But thats just my opinion. I think with the forearm on your drawing, there needs to be a little more overlapping in the bicep as it meets with the extensor muscles of the forearm. And i think its a little thick where the humerous bone meets up with the ulna and the radius of the forearm. It is receding in your drawing, just not enough i don't think. And also like you mentioned the hand is a little broken up in your drawing. Anyway, hope that helps. Like i said before, it'd be nice to see what you could do with more time.

[egerie]

Hmm. well it *is* a public forum. Every critique, opinion, 2 cents is valuable. Wouldn't you agree ?

[tinyhands]

yes, I agree with the fact that every opinion has its meritt and its value. But I'm purely speaking from an academic standpoint only.

[Isric]

very lively sketches. I wish more people life drew like this

[tinyhands]

thats funny that you caught that iffy. I don't think i was paying all that much attention when i typed it. Chase is a favorite among many. Too bad theres not many books on him.

[Samael]

Here's a fifteen minute pose with one of my favourite models.

http://www.geocities.com/verezzi42/dave.txt

I have better drawings, but I can't get at a scanner until much later today.

As always, rip this guy apart!

[tinyhands]

That is SO much stronger samael. Everything feels locked together and the drawing reads really easy. Great job. This drawing just feels alot more structured and it shows. Very solid. The one thing I would say however, is that he feels a little lumpy because of all the rounds you put in. I think alot more straights would make this drawing even better, and help balance him out more. Glad to see you post a longer study.