Figure Drawing Unit

Objectives:

Students will use gesture drawing to find proportions of the human figure
Students will use line of action to find movement of the human figure
Students will develop value using conte crayons
Students will create a dynamic composition including a human figure

In Class Practice

The figure in Art History and Contemporary Art

Human Figures in Art, AP & Drawing

Proportions of the Human Figure

What is Gesture Drawing?

The term "gesture drawing" is most often used to describe a quick, loose drawing of the human figure. However, gesture drawing can also refer to any quick drawing of any subject. The purpose of a gesture drawing is not to complete a "finished" or refined drawing. Instead, it is more of a way to study the subject through loose marks, shapes, or values.

Figure Drawing Day 1

Learning objectives:

Students will use gesture drawing to find proportions of the human figure
Students will use line of action to find movement of the human figure

Assignment:

4- 1 minute gesture drawings

3- 2 minute gesture drawings

1- 3 minute gesture drawings

10 points

Lines of Action & Simplifies Shapes

Directions:

Draw the line of action- the line that runs from the top of the figure through the main curve of the body.

Find the angles of the axis lines along the shoulders and hips.

Draw the broken down shapes of the figure.

Refined Forms and Proportions in a Gesture Drawing

Directions:

Begin to refine forms of the figure.

Find egg shape for the chest and bowl shape of the hips.

Illustrate other main features of the figure.

Figure Drawing Day 2

Learning objectives:

Students will understand the proportions of the human body
Students will develop value with conte crayon

Assignment:

2- 1 minute gesture

2- 2 minute gesture

2- 5 minute drawing

1- 10 minute drawing

Refining the Form and Adding Value to the Figure

Figure Drawing Day 3

Learning objectives:

Students will progress from a gesture drawing to a more refined drawing.
Students will draw a figure proportionally and check their work in the gestural stage
Students will develop value with conte crayon

Assignment:

Warm up:

2- 2 minute gesture drawings

1-5 minute gesture drawings

Extended:

For the remainder of class (30 minutes or so) create a more developed figure drawing.

Choose from one of the photos provided at the end of the slide show.
Determine proportions and form of the figure first.
Develop value with conte crayons.

Extended figure1.wmv

A couple demonstration videos:

Starting a Value Figure Drawing.wmv

Extended Figure Drawing (Sped up).mp4

Summative: Extended Figure Drawing

Learning objectives:

Students will use gesture drawing to find proportions of the human figure
Students will use line of action to find movement of the human figure
Students will develop value using the materials of their choice
Students will create a dynamic composition including a human figure

Directions:

Using a full piece of newsprint paper or other paper, create a 4 hour long figure drawing.

Select a reference photo from the following slides (or your own).

Find the proportions and movement of the figure.

Refine shapes and details.

Add value to figure and surrounding background.

You will have all of 3-5 class periods to complete the drawing.

Figure Drawing Day 4 & 5

Planning Assignment

Final Figure Drawing Planning Assignment

Extended Figure Drawing Rubric

Examples:

Black History Month Art Contest - Pieces due February 24th

Jordan Casteel

VIDEO

Portraying the Black American Experience — Art21

Reginald Baylor

Other Figure Examples:

Hope Gangloff

Artist Hope Gangloff captures the personalities of her friends and family in brightly colored large-scale portraits. Gangloff’s acrylic and collage paintings show her subjects in intimate settings—often domestic interiors—in poses of relaxation or quiet focus. The artist’s strong but gestural lines create defined shapes that are filled with repetitive marks and bright patterns. Gangloff gives equal textural attention to all areas of the painting, which draws the viewer’s eye to every detail and also contextualizes each portrait sitter in a unique set of surroundings.

Laura Callaghan

False body positivity, wellness and clean eating – Laura Callaghan goes after the pseudo-aspirational aesthetics of the modern age

Susan Chen

“As a first-generation American immigrant, I create portraits of Asian Americans to survey members of my racial community to better understand the psychology of race, while re-adjusting my own perspectives of looking from both the lens of an ethnic majority in one part of the world to that of a minority in another.”

Addressing an increase in anti-Asian hate crimes, Chen sought sitters to paint via Zoom ( during Covid quarantine) with the aims of the project culminating into more than 40 canvases of Asian Americans.

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