Spartan Camp #94 - 50 gestures + Optional Study of "Neck area"

[Anthis]

Spartan Camp #94 - 50 gestures + Optional Study of "Neck area"
The aim is to produce 50 gestures by Sunday the 5th of July.

- The gestures can be of anything, human, animal, cavorting capybaras.... You can draw full figures, but you can also go for heads, arms, eyes, or anything specific. All media can be used, both digital or traditional. Coloured or black/white. Quick scribbles or long studies. Imagination or referenced. Clothed or naked. Specifics are up to you!

- In addition to this, participants can choose to do an Optional Study of "Neck area", in any media.
Additional notes on this weeks’ Optional Study: Simple: this weeks optional is focused on the neck area. Try and grasp its anatomy, function, movement. Use reference! Colour, medium, time frame, any specifics are up to you.

50 poses is a challenge, but don't hurry or stress yourself reaching it! Focus on drawing, as practicing is the main goal of this exercise.

Critting each other is highly encouraged!! Share constructive criticism, reference and resources!! Let's help each other get better!

:muscle: Come on soldiers! Flex those muscles!! :muscle:

HALL OF FAME - SPARTAN CAMP #93

DKHutcheson
shiNIN:star:
Anthis:star:

[krisCrash]

I have a couple of questions if you don't mind?

How to make the best of your gestures? I'm drawing from some photos right now and I feel it varies how much I learn. It's priobably 'cause I don't do that a lot, but if you have tips for the best approach (draw what you see or be more analytical?) and
Is it best if I post all 50 in one post?

well, anyway, I've been working hard on it today (with anatomy studies) and I hope to finish in time :)

[Mindbendermind]

Hi,
great to hear you're working hard, Kris - I'm sure you'll learn a lot if you stick to it. I believe the most important thing is to actually keep drawing and trying to draw SOMETHING every single day. If you don't do that, I don't believe it really matters what you're drawing. You still won't improve as fast as if you just draw ANYTHING (if just lines and basic shapes) each and every day.

More gesture specific, I have learned (as I wondered the same things you do) that the best things to draw from are LIFE and OLD MASTERS (trying to copy figures painted by Michelangelo, Rubens, Frazetta etc.)

That takes a lot of time however, so at the moment I draw mostly from photo references (right now mostly from a fashion site).

MOST important is however that you have FUN while drawing gestures, otherwise you won't keep doing it. :-) For me as a beginner at figure drawing I have found that QUALITY is more important than QUANTITY. But I guess that's individual.

Hope this was of some help. Draw what you feel like drawing, what makes you happy and try to make it a daily habit. :-)

Here are my first gestures for this week. Some creatures without ref, then from photo refs found at Wetcanvas (great reference library and free drawing classes - highly recommended!) and Style.com. Used ArtRage 2,5:

[shiNIN]

Mindbendermind: wow, you're improving :) it's not surprising, you make efforts... :)

I go to a holiday today, after my motorbike exam I passed (not the final one). I rested a lot for this noble goal, it was quick but I'm done for, no patience or energy, I can't draw either, I go nuts :( I keep trying though.

krisCrash: I ask this questions sometimes myself... I try to build my figures, because I want to learn drawing the human body very well (almost perfectly from imagination! I'm optimistic, perfectionist and plan a very long life ;)) - and I hate spending hours for searching for the specific pose I have in my mind - and finally giving up (I may use my only model except me if he's around and willing).
even with this attitude, I sometimes just 'scan and draw' it and I feel I don't learn from it much...
but if we try to build and draw it ourselves, looking at our refs now and them and we haven't much skills... then may come the infamous 'you draw what you think, not what you see and you think it wrong'... I experienced that :(
they remind me of Scylla and Charybdis...

sorry for my lengthy post, I tried to be ontopic.

[EDIT]
it won't work. there are completely bad days for anything.
I'm pleased with some of my few days old drawings :) but there are some messy crappy lazy ones too.
far less than 50.

[krisCrash]

Well let's try then
Me and some others decided to put numbers on a body, roll a dice and study the anatomy we got. So far I've worked on shoulders and backsides. The reason I asked the silly questions was that I still have issues with shoulders (and armpits) but you know, I just gotta stick to it.
715198
and just a quick paint thing, also referenced
715199
I have more but they don't feel so relevant to this thread

I don't know if I'll make 50 since I got addicted to watch Bob Ross videos today and there's plenty of videos yet, hah.

[Mindbendermind]

Hi again,
have been fiddling with a Frazetta study last few days. Finished last night, here's what it ended up like:

[shiNIN]

I came back earlier...
maybe I shouldn't post my stuff if 1. it's bad 2. crappy shot (lack of light) and modification took more time than the actual drawing...

some Bridgman studies and a few RL drawing (rock concert on the riverside):

[krisCrash]

I wont make 50 this time, sorry guys D: I got carried away with some painting fun
though in total I guess I did draw about 30 sketches. I am realizing I really have to loosen up and that's what it became about
715869 716214
715864
I'll stop talking about myself now, hah

[Mindbendermind]

Thanks for another great STC week. Will be heading off on vacation for about two weeks now. Hope to be back for STC...97/98 something. Good luck to you all - will be bringing my sketchbooks and hope to do some drawing while away. Bye for now :-)

/M

[immortalindigo]

This is my first time attempting Spartan Camp. I didn't make it all the way to 50. I got 36. I'm doing it again this week for maybe I'll make 50.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/3676673199_fc88f3b22b_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/3694129412_b2568e5578_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2623/3693307759_29dcf554b0_o.jpg

[Anthis]

Wow, high turnout! Great job everyone!

I will be adding crits and replies to this thread tomorrow!! Bit low on time at the moment, but they will be there!

Ref from Posemaniacs.com, http://imageevent.com/justmeina/refc/bytype
Last ones from imagination.
Neck study from ref.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Anthis_/spartan%20trainings/94-1.jpghttp://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Anthis_/spartan%20trainings/94-2.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Anthis_/spartan%20trainings/94-4.jpghttp://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Anthis_/spartan%20trainings/94-5.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Anthis_/spartan%20trainings/93-3-1.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Anthis_/spartan%20trainings/94-6.jpghttp://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Anthis_/spartan%20trainings/94-7.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Anthis_/spartan%20trainings/94-optional.jpg

[Anthis]

krisCrash; Welcome and wonderful poses! I think shiNIN and Mindbendermind answered your questions. I think an important aspect of using photo reference is comparison. Notice the differences between your own work and the reference. Where do things go wrong? Also, I don't think simply copying reference works. But as you analyse your reference, understand the light source, visualize the subject as a 3d object, and then try to reproduce it yourself, you'll learn loads. At least, from my experience ;)
"Gestures" is fairly broad here. Yours are perfectly fine. They're very good actually. You're doing a nice job following the form with your lines. Nice values too. I don't think you actually need those thick lines around some of your studies. I think you can manage with just the form and value, but that may be preference. nr. 4,12,11 seem really good to me. Inspirational! Like the loose sketches too, especially the kneeling female and male lying down.
Mindbendermind; Like the fashion studies! Left one is pretty good. Those can be challenging. Somehow, those artrage drawings of yours always seem a little uncomfortable to me. I guess its the pen tool, because I usually dislike it myself ;). But I guess you prefer to use it. Reason I'm saying it is because your sketches look a little scribbly sometimes. While pencil sketches are often cleaner. Like the Frazetta study, which is nice. Have you tried brush tools?
Have a nice vacation, and see you soon!
shiNIN; It's exactly how you say it - know what you're drawing, don't just copy. I think you've done a nice job, shame you don't think so yourself. I can spot some good details in there. Compared to some of your former sketches, there are some more 'fluent' ones in your first post. Less stiff, more organic. More life. And nothing feels better than actually capturing life in a study. Especially in the hip and leg area of those females, first and second scan. Your linework is uncomfortable sometimes, but the observation is clearly there. Not sure If you've spent more time on the poses, but some of em turned out well.
Always happy so see some Bridgman! Aside from the subject he's drawing, also take a look at the drawing itself. His linework has a strong sense of function. Notice how he varies line weight, flow, thickness to create a clear and accurate image.
immortalindigo; Hi and welcome! No problem, keep your own pace. The '50' serves as a stimulus ;).
I can see some nice construction in there, you are clearly trying to build up an image. I'm not sure if you are using reference. If not, I would recommend so! Or at least keep reference nearby. To keep you on the right track, strengthen your sense of proportions, and allow for comparison! But since there seem to be (college?) notes there, I don't think you used reference.
Also, you don't have to group your images and number them, you can also just leave them big. As long as we can see them, so that we can comment and help eachother!
Think the crocodile is wonderful, some of those drawings have a great 3d feel because of your construction.
But in the case of human figures, you'll still need a sense of proportion! If you are not already practising that - I'd recommend using Bridgman and Loomis! You can also compare your studies to yourself, reference, others, etc.
Nice going!

[krisCrash]

Thank you for the feedback, Athis. The "lines" on my shaded pieces are an effect of them being a sketch I sort of just painted on top of, so in a way they are both shading and line. I am fairly scared of not having lines, lines are my little comfort zone ;) to be worked on slowly. The reason I began shading them at all was that the lines left me with little feeling of volume somehow, felt clunky.

Athis: I really enjoy your sketches, they are precise and to the point with adequate detail and form.