Legs practice

Done as part of a 2 hour class.

My current goal is: Better understand human anatomy, so I can render imagined poses.

new to figure drawing. looking to get some feedback on my figure as a whole but mainly the legs

Jcmlfineart January 2, 2022 9:33pm

Rashuneagle,

I think you would highly benefit from contour drawing and specific light exercises.

The body is not as believably depicted with vertical lines. Often you will be served better by a series of horizontal concave lines. A common mistake is to draw in a way that gets the job done faster and is "more comfortable" than taking the time to direct how the flesh moulds to the body. We have all fallen into it. Many a drawing has died due to our attempts to "hide our weaknesses in shading". It never works and often makes the problem worse, not better.

Here are a few rules to remember while using the line as a form of shading:

Lines drawn across the state suggest softness.

Lines drawn in concave curves express the fullness of a forms mass. Creating a relief of the page makes the form feel like it "jumps off the page". This rule is especially true in foreshortened figures.

Lines drawn across each other in a chris-cross x shape create an atmosphere.

If you would like a good anatomy book to study, I can not recommend enough Classical Human Anatomy by Winslow. It breaks down the body, colour codes the parts that matter most to the artist, and gives simple forms to help the artist know how the body moves.

All the best,

JCML Fine Art

Rashuneagle January 2, 2022 11:16pm

I'm definitely going to get that book. Looks exactly like something I was looking for.

What kind of contour drawing exercises do you reccomend, and what did you mean by light exercises?

The advice on shading was very helpful. I'll definitely practice it and apply it to my work.

Thank you.

Jcmlfineart January 3, 2022 10:26am

[color=#212529; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px] [/color]Rashuneagle,

Why not join our drawing group on this website? (See link below) Every so often, I will place different exercises from good art books into the group assignments page, and if you need them, due dates to keep you honest.

I recommend you try Dot, Shape Life. Follow the instructions. The first time you do this is very informative because you have to follow each intrusion without knowing what will happen next.

After you accomplish this exercise, I recommend that you continue to repeat this shading light exercise at least once a week. Do it as a warm-up before you draw and until you understand light better.

I know they are boring, but a desk light and plain children blocks are great still life material mainly because they are simple shapes. They are making light and form easier to understand. If you don't have these, I made a set of them on my website. It's flashcards like here but blocks instead. Scroll to the bottom.

Another book that may help you is "The Science and Practice of Drawing". It's wordy. But if you break down what the author is saying onto your sheet of paper, it is well worth the lessons.

I suggest investing in "Drawing the 5th edition" by Betti and Sale or "Drawing from Observation" by Brian Curtis if you want more exercises. - (These books are my go-to places to give assignments on the group page)

I hope this helps. If you need more references or someone to draw next to virtually, I am cool with that.

All the best,

Michellerose Cusack

Jcml Fine Art

Fellow artist-Creative Family