Forum posts by Swen

I can relate to your frustration, all the advice and information out there can be overwhelming, and every individual learns in a slightly different way. However there are certain general principles that you can't get around. To become good at drawing you have to learn the basics. Notice that I said this is something that you need to learn. It doesn't exist in your mind automatically nor do you get it by just making tons of drawings. You need to acquire the right knowledge, which means reading books, taking classes, watching tutorials etc.

The frustration you're feeling is due to a lack of knowledge, and the good news is that the knowledge you seek is available out there.

For learning how to think and draw in 3D you may want to check Scott Robertson's How to Draw book or Perspective Made Easy by Ernest Norling.

I hope this helps. If you have further questions feel free to ask :).

You're welcome Steve :).

I prefer to use the words "constructing" and "building", like if you where working in a 3D program. After all, the figure is a 3D object.

This indeed needs to be considered when drawing the gesture. Even though the focus at this stage is not on forms, the gesture is being performed by the 3D forms of the body so you need to consider how and where the parts attach so your figure doesn't fall apart.

As for modeling, it can based on both an intuitive understanding of form and on the actual lighting. Personally I like to save lighting for later stages of the drawing process. At the gesture stage I focus on analyzing and understanding how the body stays balanced relative to gravity through rhythm. This is what's happening in reality. If you look at the examples in my thread I think it will be clearer.

I hope this helps.If you have further questions feel free to ask.