Research (drawing skills) - Gesture Drawing

'Quicksketch Examples - 2 Minutes Poses' video by ProkoTV on Youtube

Trying to bring some figure drawing practice back into my regular study. I stumbled upon this video as well as the following video that expresses the importance of approaching figure drawing from a gesture basis rather than a contour-copying basis

Tells us to practice finding the gesture of the gesture of a figure so many times that it becomes second nature. Do lots of quicksketch lessons. 2-3 hours, poses 30 sec to 10 mins per pose. Gesture is primary concern. Then design details to compliment gesture instead of copying details randomly.

Gesture is an attribute everything has - waves, trees, mountains. So implied information and character of objects based on gesture.
Body language is important idea with gesture drawing - conveys information, emotion, tell a story.
Exaggerating pose - can help to tell a better story. Skill in exaggerating enables us to capture subtleties

Key Concepts:

1. Longest Axis - look at the longest axis of a form to find gesture - length of torso/leg/arm is where the fluid motion is
2. C.S.I. - try to limit gesture drawing to C or S curves or straight lines. Eliminate unnecessary information.
3. Line of Action - start the drawing by finding the longest action line of the body - a single C curve
4. Bendiness - Smooth vs zig zags. Zig zag for tension, smooth for calm eg water. Tight curves more tension than loose.
5. Asymmetry of Body - Side view of body shows alternating C curves.