Stars on my figuritive gestures!

A 20 minutes drawing on newsprint with vine charcoal.

I received a star on my drawing last night from my instructor. He doesn't give them out often.

This drawing is moving toward artistic express. I was given a star for the artistic line and achieving what he has been drilling for the last five gesture classes.

I am truly at a turning point now. This is what I have been working for; not that I think for a minute I have "arrived" rather this is a break through. From this point forward Glen will be emphasizing artist expression and aesthetic beauty of the figure...and likenesses.

I'm more energized than ever. How fortunate I am.



The following drawings are 45 second gestures. My instructor says "you must learn to achieve the figure in less than a minute. It should be in proportion, the figure balanced, and it should have movement showing exactly what the figure is doing."

I got stars on these drawings.


The second figure especially. This is not about a finished drawing ... it is getting the structure solid. As you see, you have to draw quickly.





These are all good.


Here I use simple pink sidewalk chalk and have 15 seconds to first gesture the figure using the flat side of the chalk. Then I drew the figure in the remaining 45 seconds with as few lines as possible the figure ... achieving the same three criteria as stated above.

These are a total of one minute drawings. See how they read as a complete figure allowing your mind to fill in.





My instructor, Glen Thomas, says this to his student artists, "If you do not gesture first you run the risk of having to keep correcting your figure because the gesture assures that your figure will be convincing in the end because it will be balanced, in proportion, and dynamic ... that it will show exactly what the figure is doing regardless of whether the figure is still or in motion. Even a motionless figure has weight."

He is right. Now begins working on likenesses, aesthetics, and not in just getting the features correct and recognizable but in showing the real person and intent of the figure.

On Praising the Copper Teapot Update

POST UPDATE: 9 Nov 2010

Well good grief....
WILL I EVER GET THROUGH WITH THIS!!!

Today, I was looking at this and realized that I have a drawing drafting problem. Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
I made some major corrections but I am philosophical. I think that all of my figurative drawing has also made me a better draftsmen for my eye accuracy is much improved. Now what I have to do is persevere and correct this ... then I'll be happy and can move on.

I truthfully can say I have learned a great deal from this little study.

Will post a finished picture to compare with the photo below when it is done.

A work still in progress.... #4 update

I'm getting close but there are still some clean up issues.

Why the Progressive movement is un-American

PLEASE READ THIS. Please, I beg you.

I don't have to say a thing if the eight points in this article are read. If you want to understand what is going on in politics today, I implore you to read this article especially the eight contrasts and comparisons of what the Founders ... Jefferson and others.... of this nation believed in forming the US Constitution and how their views compares to the Progressive thinking. (A page turner.)

You will be appalled.

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2007/07/the-progressive-movement-and-the-transformation-of-american-politics

Written by Dr. Thomas West for the Heritage Foundation. Thomas G. West is a Professor of Politics at the University of Dallas, a Director and Senior Fellow of the Claremont Institute, and author of Vindicating the Founders: Race, Sex, Class, and Justice in the Origins of America (Rowman and Littlefield, 1997).