GESTURE DRAWING

M R S . P OW E L L

A RT I & I I

OBJECTIVE -

• By the end of class, students will learn how to create

gesture drawings and then practice & produce their

own gesture drawings of several classmates in various

poses.

WHAT IS GESTURE DRAWING?

• Gesture drawing is a quickly sketched drawing, focusing on the

form in motion (features and details are minimal)

• Drawings are usually only 30 seconds up to 5 minutes

WHY GESTURE DRAWING?

• Gesture drawing has a very practical use –

• It allows an artist to capture a form in motion

SO HOW DO I GESTURE DRAW?

1. Subject/model will pose for a brief amount of time (anywhere from 30 seconds – 5 minutes)

2. Focus on your subject. Before even beginning your sketch, take 5-10 seconds to really look at the model.

3. Start sketching using quick, flowing movements of your pencil. Try to keep your eyes on your subject and taking quick glances at your paper. Remember to focus on the essence/pose.

- Concentrate on quick contour line drawing to get your shape

Time will move quicker than you think!

SO HOW DO I GESTURE DRAW?

4. Your hand should be moving the entire time you are drawing

- Hold your pencil loosely, on its side

(not sketching with the point)

- Limit the time you spend on each area of your drawing

(don’t spend too much time on one area, you want to keep moving)

- Don’t stop to try and fix an area if it doesn’t look right, keep going!

(sketch right over top of your mistake lines)

Don’t worry about adding

details…gesture drawing should

have very minimal!

LET’S PRACTICE!

Sketch this silhouette in 4 minutes. Focus on the contour lines and angles.

OKAY, LET’S PRACTICE WITH SOME REAL LIFE MODELS…

• I will need a few volunteers who would like to choose a

gesture pose and be a model for a drawing

• When given the “go”, students will be given a specific

amount of time (to be clocked on the timer) to complete a

gesture drawing from 30 seconds up to 5 minutes

GESTURE DRAWING PRACTICE

• Make sure your name is in the corner of your paper

• As we gesture draw, you will be utilizing the same paper

continuously, just move to the next available area of your

paper for the next drawing.

https://blog.schoolspecialty.com/gesture-drawing-101/

DBI STUDENTS -

• Practice sketching the following sketches as a timed

gesture drawing

• Write the pose and the allotted time you took to

sketch (30 seconds to 5 minutes)

Annoyed - 2 minutes Throwing a football – 3 minutes

Happy - 1 minute Reading a book– 5 minutes

Statue of Liberty – 30 seconds Sleeping in class– 30 seconds