Gesture drawing

     Gesture drawing is a good way to capture and show life in a figure drawing. If you don't know what gesture drawing is, it could be described as quick controlled scribble like drawing which is targeted on action. The subject of the drawing is the action of the pose, what the model is doing, rather than the model. This type drawing is focused movement and proportion.
     Gesture drawing is also a great way to warm up. My Drawing from Life class begins with a few minutes of very short poses, which artists work from in order to wake up the creative and artistic machinery.
    The artist is working to become a more active observer, to see what is there and break through preconceived ideas about the human body. The artist is also working to strengthen the connection between the eyes and the drawing hand, so that the eyes drive the hand.  Also this exercise helps bring the artist in the present moment. The quick nature of the process also helps to develop intuitive and graceful movements where the artist is working subconsciously with out conscious thought.
     Gesture is also a the drawing itself. A gesture drawing is useful for setting the tone for the rest of the drawing or process. Through the use of a light and loose gesture drawing an artist can assess composition, placement of the drawing on the page and proportions of the figure. I like to do a quick drawing which lasts about 5 to 30 seconds and check to see if the I was able to capture the life and vitality of the pose. Is the gesture weighted and balanced correctly? Do I have the main shapes of the figure lined up to depict the action? If these look close, then I proceed with the drawing in progressive stages. An accurate or precise gesture drawing can save a lot of energy devoted to fixing proportional and compositional problems.
      Gesture drawing is a valuable process for practice and skill building, while a gesture drawing is a helpful tool which can make the process of figure drawing a little less difficult. Through my experience as a figure artist and figure drawing instructor, I've come to understand that gesture drawing is a skill which is most effective when done well. There many levels to understanding the gesture and the more you know, the more natural your drawings will look. Look for more on the gesture in future blogs. Until then happy drawing. https://www.facebook.com/TheAlvarezSchool/