Need help >>> Self-Learning : Linear Structure

[Ian Mack]

I would like some feedback as to whether or not my self-studying is focussed enough. I began by focusing on using my line to display structure. My method of doing this came from the Nicolaides method of drawing with a "felt" line. However, in my latest drawings (from da Vinci sketches), I feel that I am dong something different...something more like displaying structure with values through line. It is still using lines but depends more on darker and light patches of linear strokes for structure rather than the line itself changing according to the planes. Does this make sense to anyone?

http://basementlife.ca/ca/ana04.gifhttp://basementlife.ca/ca/ana06.gif

I think this means line quality, planar anaylsis, gesture, proportion. The main avenue of my learning is thru anatomy so far and I have been studying out of my books (Stephen Peck, Rubins). Some exercises that I do are blind contours, anatomy study with emphasis on how the artist uses his line to convey form and well, that's about it.

What I'm hoping to get from the community here is info on what other exercises there are for me, other resources online that I could use, advice, feedback on where I'm at in terms of linear quality because when the time is right, I want to jump into the next facet of art.

I want to be a great artist so I that live comfortably and I'm willing to put in the work.

[v0rbiss]

Well, what works best, at least for me, is to observe and patiently analyze and draw the lines exactly as they are. Don't bother to imitate the linework of Degas or something, there are years of extensive drawing behind them, so yeah...and don't rush the shading(skulls bottom part for example), because you've seen it done in some example pics. Behind that seemingly toughtless shading are many many hours/years of work(I repeat myself...) Trust in yourself! :)

[David Kassan]

a great exercise for drawing is to get into a life painting studio or hire your own models, preferably natural light for painting, and artificial light for drawing, the natural light will teach you about the subtlety of color and temp. while drawing with dramatic artificial light will help you to see large masses and shadow shapes really well that are much more subtle in natural light. Good luck with your studies and be prepared for a lot of work and don't expect to rely on anyone else but yourself. Its a tough but rewarding road. Best of Luck.

[Ian Mack]

vOrbiss: Hm, what you've said makes me think think of some extended studies I did last year. Is this boot study what you mean by analysing patiently? I'm not so sure that I understand why I shouldn't copy a Degas. Isn't copying master works supposed to help?

Kassan: That does seem like a great exercise..I mis life drawing sooooo much since I've left Toronto. I still do it outdoors but it certainly isn't the same as having a model.

I'm thinking of investing in a skull so that I can do studies from that using the same technique as I did on the boot here.

The images shown below are form my last year of study @ my school. The life drawing follows the Nicolaides Natural Way to Draw method and the painting was done on white canvas analysing and relating spots of colour to each other.

http://basementlife.ca/Online01.gif

[Dizon]

GREAT job on the drawing of the hand! I love that!

[v0rbiss]

Hm, what you've said makes me think think of some extended studies I did last year. Is this boot study what you mean by analysing patiently? I'm not so sure that I understand why I shouldn't copy a Degas. Isn't copying master works supposed to help?

Yes, the boot is exactly what I was talking about, good job! :)
Nothing wrong about copying masters, but I said "imitate". That's the bad thing. :)

[Ian Mack]

Patdzon: Hey thanks! I had a fun time doing that one. I had more fun doing the palette knife colour sketch before it though...opened my eyes to how many colours are in your hand.

v0rbiss: I thought alot about what you said as I worked on this next one. I feel that imitating causes you throw lines on less carefully and with less thought than actually analysing his lines and learning from them. I learned quite a bit about the form of the skull, and even learned some things relating to how Rubins turns the form.

Even though I was trying to keep this in mind, I was still having a hard time being faithful to the original! Primarily it stems from laziness...Rubins has alot of lines and it doesn't feel natural so the temptation to just make it 'look like Rubins' was def. there. When I consiously tried to imitate it, I noticed that I started thinking about proportion, value, line quality, etc.

It isn't perfect but I will go back to it to finish drawing the bones of the neck so if you want to point out any changes I can make then I will go back and look at them. :)

[Ian Mack]

So I got this mad ass book on Leonardo DaVinci from my gf's univ. Seriously, Ic an barely lift the thing! Anyway...I've beenr eading through and did a few of the head studies I saw. I believe they were done in chalk but I used a pen for mine.

After I finished the two, i did a sp using the thought process I felt from the others. it didn't turn out as well as the studies but I nonetheless feel I learned something about creating value with line.

Alot of the strokes were straight and didn't seem to follow the forms of the head (not all, but some) and rather relied on heavier strokes to create form through value changes.

[Ian Mack]

Two images...the lower right one was a coy from a DaVinci sketch...and the upper left one is from my anatomy book where I tried to use the same method...still don't think this is what I'm going for in linear sturcture though. o_O

[incolorinred]

this is most commonly called hatching and your study of great masters' hatching techniques will be most helpful in developing your personal style.

[Ian Mack]

haha what I wanted to know is if this is considered linear structure. I'm trying to focus on that....hatching seems more value oriented?