Gesture DrawingGrade 10 Visual Art

GESTURE DAY IThe Basics

What is Gesture Drawing?

A loose drawing that captures movement, basic shapes, and weight of an object or figure.

Why do Gesture Drawing?

1. Warm-up

2. Capture the essence

3. Active thinking and planning

Techniques and Tips

1. Loose scribbles, no details

2. Capture the whole object quickly

3. Feel the subject-Action Line

4. Start lightly and then build weight

5. Use you arms and shoulder

6. Look at the big pictures

7. Exaggerate the action

Draw what you see, NOT what you think you see

Gesture made Easy: Q.L.A.W.

Quick

Loose

Action

Weight

Exercise #1: MeasurING

Materials:• Meter Sticks• pens and papers

Instructions:

Pair up and use your handout as a guide. Measure your partner in head units.

Human Proportions: Male

The body height = 8 heads

Distance between nipples on chest = 1 head

Width of calf muscles together at lower arc = 1 head

Bottom of the knees = 2 heads from ground level

Begin with Action Line

Exercise #2: Mark the Action

Materials:

• Action Line handout• coloured pastels

Instructions:

Use two lines to indicate the action on the figures. Share your results with a partner

Steps to Success

Types of Gestures

Exercise #2: Gesture Sets

Materials:

Newsprints

sketchbooks

Pencils (HB, 6B)

Conte

Markers

Charcoals

Oil pastels or crayons

Warm-Up Exercise

Step 1: Warm up your hands, arms and shoulders.

Step 2: Scribble on your paper until you feel loose

Step 3: Draw the object shown at the front

Gesture Sets: Instructions

Work in pairs. Each person will be the drawer and poser. After a few poses, switch roles. Use various media in your work where appropriate. Complete the following gesture drawings in class following the lesson.

1. Pencil gesture (your choice of HB or 6B)-15 sec (X2)

2. Markers (any colour)—30 sec (X2)

3. Black or Brown conte (with tones and values)-1 min (X2)

4. Charcoal (with shading using your fingers)-1.5 min (X1)

5. Coloured pastels or crayons (expression and mood)-2 min (X1)

Practice, Practice, Practice

Part I: Refine a Gesture Drawing

• Choose one gesture from class on a newsprint and refine drawing by applying human proportions and add some details. You can add anatomy using sources.

Part II: Sketchbook

• Practice 3-5 more gesture drawings of objects of your interests or human actions. You may choose any media where appropriate. These sketches should fill up one page each.

GESTURE DAY IIExtensions

Gesture Sets

Materials:

Newsprints

sketchbooks

Pencils (HB, 6B)

Conte

Markers

Charcoals

Oil pastels or crayons