Life Drawing - Dynamic Gestures

You will learn to observe the pose using various techniques to make strong gesture drawings from short poses and from these, to continue on, to make longer pose drawings that represent the figure as a three-dimensional form in the space it occupies. Through demonstration, individual tuition and support, you will understand simple construction of the body, what the pose is about and how to draw it. A session may include a structured or experimental exercise to practise observation.

The length of the poses will vary and will be tailored to the needs of the class but generally, short poses are considered to be from between approximately 2mins to 10mins each; we may go shorter or longer!
Each session has a different model, either female or male; the poses are creative and dynamic, often spontaneous with energy and character. This keeps things engaging, interesting, challenging and hopefully, enjoyable.

Using soft pencils, charcoal or chinagraphs, your drawing will improve as your confidence grows. You will be encouraged to develop your own unique style within the context of exploring and experimenting with knowledge required to produce competent work. Whether you join the class for simple pleasure, or to compliment your professional work or educational coursework, Vanessa will support you to gain new skills and understand their relevance to your interests.

Topics covered

• Using gesture drawing to represent the human figure as a 3D form
• Observing and interpreting the life and vitality in the pose
• Understanding simple body construction
• Recognising shapes
• Foreshortening
• Proportion
• Body landscape relationships
• Use of line.

Outcomes

You will leave this course with an understanding of how the body is constructed, how it moves and how to represent this, using a range of learnt techniques and new skills for observing and drawing the human form convincingly in a completed drawing


Level: All levels

Please note: This course is for students aged 18 and older