Figure Drawing & Painting 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
Students will create a composition that comments on "American life"
Students will create a composition that has the illusion of space, foreground, middle ground, and background.
Students will render the human form with natural movement
Students will create value with color
Students will control and mix acrylic paint
Students will mix skin tones with acrylic paint

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:

5- 1 minute gesture drawings

5- 2 minute gesture drawings

3- 3 minute gesture drawings

15 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:

3- 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.

Assignment:

Warm up:

3- 1 minute gesture drawings

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

Figure Drawing Day 4 & 5

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 conte crayons
Students will create a dynamic composition including a human figure

Directions:

Using a full piece of newsprint paper, create a 2 1/2 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 two class periods to complete the drawing.

Figure Drawing Day 4 & 5

A couple demonstration videos:

Starting a Value Figure Drawing.wmv

Extended Figure Drawing (Sped up).mp4

Extended Figure Drawing Rubric

Examples:

Summative Assessment

Assignment:

To create a painting that represents "American life" or "The American Experience"

Requirements:

Painting needs to include a figure.
Painting should have a dynamic composition that fits with the theme of the project- American life or The American Experience.
Painting needs to be completed using acrylic paint.
Painting should demonstrate a proficient level of color mixing.
Painting shows a high level of craftsmanship and effort.

Inspiration

Jordan Casteel

VIDEO

Portraying the Black American Experience — Art21

Reginald Baylor

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.

Other Famous Figure Paintings

American Gothic Grant Wood 1930

Ballet Class Edgar Degas 1874

First Lady Michelle ObamaAmy Sherald2018

Song of the TowersAaron Douglas1934

Salvador Dali Woman at a Window I 1925

The Old GuitaristPablo Picasso 1925

Student Examples:

Kareena H. 2023

"Our Fashion and clothing influences behavior in multiple ways; our perception of ourselves, how others react to us, our confidence and self-esteem level. "

Katrina H. 2023

Seniya D. 2023

"My painting represents American life because it represents the American beauty standard. In America, the beauty standard is an hourglass body. Even though the hourglass body is a rare body type to be born with, you're not seen as attractive if you have anything but. This painting shows the danger of wearing a corset, which is a type of clothing that pinches in your waist and forces you to give yourself an hourglass body. "

Janiya P. 2023

"The concept of my figure piece is based on Black Culture. One of the things many African American people do in their everyday life is get their hair done. These styles consist, silk presses, hair cuts, natural, curly, wavy, and all sorts of hair textures. In this painting I chose to focus on the way African American boys/ men get their haircuts. My painting is of a famous actor/ rapper named Ice Cube, who has impacted a lot of people in the Black culture."

Process

Mind Map Brainstorm Assignment

Learning Targets:

Students will brainstorm aspects of the American experience

What is a mind map?

A mind map is a graphical way to represent ideas and concepts. It is a visual thinking tool that helps structuring information, helping you to better analyze, comprehend, synthesize, recall and generate new ideas.

Strategies for mind mapping:

Start in the middle of a blank page, writing or drawing the idea you intend to develop. I would suggest that you use the page in landscape orientation.
Develop the related subtopics around this central topic, connecting each of them to the center with a line.
Repeat the same process for the subtopics, generating lower-level subtopics as you see fit, connecting each of those to the corresponding subtopic.
Use colors, drawings and symbols copiously. Be as visual as you can, and your brain will thank you. I’ve met many people who don’t even try, with the excuse they’re "not artists". Don’t let that keep you from trying it out!.
Keep the topics labels as short as possible, keeping them to a single word – or, better yet, to only a picture. Especially in your first mind maps, the temptation to write a complete phrase is enormous, but always look for opportunities to shorten it to a single word or figure – your mind map will be much more effective that way.
Vary text size, color and alignment. Vary the thickness and length of the lines. Provide as many visual cues as you can to emphasize important points. Every little bit helps engaging your brain.

Planning and Project Proposal

Learning targets:

Students will draft thumbnail sketches to plan artistic work.
Students will create a composition that expresses the concept of "American Life" or "The American Experience"
Students will be able to write about their concept for their final piece
Students will be able to sketch their figure composition proportionally

Directions:

Using the form provided complete the following three categories:

Project proposal document:

Project Proposal Drawing and Painting

Step 1: Concept (Written Portion) (10 points)

Directions:

Based on some of the topics you came up with on your mind map, come up with an idea or concept for your figure painting. Your concept needs to be based on the theme of " American Life"

Write out your ideas in the concept section of the project proposal. Answer the questions about concept and viewpoint.

Questions to consider:

Concept:

What is the concept or theme of your painting? How will you apply the concept of “American Life” into your painting? What is America to you? (Painting themes can focus on social justice, inequality, or everyday life.)

Viewpoint:

There are many different types of Americans. We come from different backgrounds and different cultures. Whose eyes are we looking through in this painting and how does that change the meaning of the painting?

Step 2: Collect reference photos ( 5 points)

Directions:

Collect 3 reference photos to use in your final figure painting composition.

Reference photos could be new photos taken by you, old photos, or resourced photos from online. Make sure you are not planning on copying a photo directly that was not taken by you.

Maybe you want a particular pose that you plan to use in your painting but you will adapt it to being a different person, ask a friend to pose for you so you can see the proportions clearly.

You can combine reference photos or not.

Step 3: Thumbnail sketches (5 points)

Draw 3 thumbnail sketches experimenting with different possible compositions. Remember to consider the size of your canvas and the amount of detail you think you can include.
Remember that thumbnail sketches are not large, detailed drawings, rather they are small rough sketches done mainly to experiment with composition.
Make sure the figure is the main focus of the composition and takes up a lot of the space.

Step 4: Create a full page sketch (10 points)

Choose your canvas size
Get a piece of newsprint paper that is the same size as your canvas- this will be what you complete your final sketch onto.
Draw out your final composition plan

Consider the style of the painting- realistic, abstract?
Make sure to make your proportions accurate because you will transfer this sketch to your final canvas!
Make sure you are using the entire space of the page

This is a line drawing, not in full value

Drawing Hands and Feet

Break parts of the hands and feet down into simple shapes.

Add more detail with each step.

Step 5: Peer Review and Critique (10 points)

Directions:

Using the critique form provided in the project proposal packet; critque 2 student's project proposals.

You will be critiquing each other on the concept, composition, and craftsmanship of your final sketch and written concept.

Think about the following questions for the Peer Critique.

Concept: Are the written ideas clear and concise? Did they put time and effort into the ideas behind the painting? Did they use full sentences?

Composition: Is the sketch well laid out and ready to transfer to the canvas? Are there areas of interest in the composition. Where is your eye drawn to?

Craftsmanship: Is it a quality sketch? Did your classmate take time to focus on proportion, in the sketch? Where is there room for improvement.

Starting the Painting

Step 1: Paint an acrylic wash in the background + decide on color scheme

Objectives:

Students will understand how to mix neutral colors
Students will create a watered down wash of acrylic paint to prime their canvas
Students will understand color as mood

Directions:

Think about a color scheme you want for your painting, choose a color that generally fits with your "color mood".
Mix a neutral color. It can be more purple or more red but you need to neutralize it)
Mix a quarter sized amount of the color with acrylic paint.
Use a bit of the paint and mix it with water in the middle of your pallet. Paint the whole canvas with a transparent layer using a large brush.
Let dry for at least 30 minutes or until canvas is completely dry to the touch.
Use the remaining time to add a color plan to your full page sketch.

Making an Acrylic Wash (1).mp4

Color as Mood:

Choose a color mood:

See the following color theory image to decide on your color scheme for your painting.

Color in your final sketch.

Watch this video for more information on color as mood.

Step 2: Transferring sketch to your canvas:

Learning objectives:

Students will utilize a method of transferring a design onto canvas.

Directions:

Wait for your initial acrylic wash to completely dry
Lay the carbon paper black side down onto your canvas. Tack down with masking tape only on one long edge.
Place your collage composition on top of the carbon paper. tack down with masking tape on the same long edge. You should have the ability to lift and check the image without it moving.
Using a pencil or pen, trace over all the outlines of your image. Continuously check to make sure the lines are all transferring.

Tape transfer paper BLACK SIDE DOWN to your canvas. Tape along one long side.

Tape your collage sketch along the same side as you taped the transfer paper.

3. Apply pressure on all of your ourlines using a pencil or pen.

4. Check your work periodically to ensure the transfer is working. Once complete, remove your transfer paper, peel off the tape and return it for re-use.

Step 3: Begin painting

Learning objectives:

Students will create value with color
Students will control and mix acrylic paint
Students will mix skin tones with acrylic paint

Directions:

Using the color theory information provided, begin working in the different sections of the painting. I advise you to start with the background and work your way forward. Block in major shapes first and layer detail on top of it.

Mixing value with acrylic paint:

High saturation:

Medium saturation:

Low saturation:

Blending vs. layering:

Blending: A Painting technique where two different colors are slightly mixed together when wet, giving a smooth transition from one color to the next.

Layering: Adding paint to an already dried surface. Colors won't mix together.

Slow dry blending medium will slow down the drying time without changing the color of the paint. It will make the paint a little more transparent.

How to paint skin tones:

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