Life Drawing
Lesson I
Gesture -- The Foundation of Figurative Art
The shortcomings of the stick figure
By itself, the stick figure can indicate the relationship
of pivot points in the gesture pose. It can suggest the tilt angle of the
ovals, and the rough placement of exterior-contour-center-lines.
But look at the above stick figure. Can you tell how the body
parts project toward you or away from you? Do you see rotund volumes? The
stick figure is a little like a pressed plant, where you don't get much
sense of the figure's lifelike volumes or position in space.
Gesture Intro Page 
Skeletal
Foundation
Stick: The following
are the key elements for organizing a "stick" figure:
The line of action Three
ovals -- Head, Ribcage, Pelvis Pivot
points Long bones
Tilts and angles Contour
center lines of front and back torso, and face
Projection
and volume augmentations: While good as a foundation, the stick
figure does not adequately express projection of form, volume, or relative
position in space. There is more you can do to express these important factors
in the posing model:
The shortcomings of the stick figure
Showing projection Application
of the projection concept to the stick figure Simple
volume solutions Relative
position in space
Loosen up:
Using the stick figure foundation with the projection and volume augmentations,
you can loosely organize an expressive gesture sketch:
Compare the "contour" method to the
stick-start method Importance
of the free-going mark The line of
action and stick are construction lines Adding
relationship and rhythm
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Rebecca Alzofon
can be e-mailed at rebecca@art.net
This page created February 14, 1998
1998 by Rebecca Alzofon. All rights
reserved.