In this post, I’m going to begin to show you how I do quick life drawings. If you’ve always wanted to learn to draw, or just to improve your drawing skills, playing this Angle-Abstraction Game will probably help you quite a bit.
To demonstrate my process, I’ll use one of my 2-minute life drawings of Don Duga, of the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
My 2-minute sketch of Don Duga
Don used to run a monthly life drawing session for members of East-Coast ASIFA (the international animation society). One night the model didn’t show up, so Don posed for us himself.
Since I can’t post the actual Don here to enable you to see the 3-dimensional model I was drawing from, we’ll have to do this lesson from my sketch alone.
The goal of quick life drawings is to learn to sketch people within a few minutes or seconds, which is all the time artists often get in real life. You’re not going for detail here. You’re learning to make fast sketches that convey a solid body with limbs, head, and torso positioned in ways that are viable in real life. (There are also more detailed life drawings – an example of one of mine is toward the end of this post.)
My personal key to success in life drawing has been learning to abstract the way I see. I view the pose as a series of angles and shapes, either positive (the person) or “negative” (the space around the person). I’ve named this the “Angle-Abstraction Game.”
It may sound technical and inhuman to focus on angles and shapes when drawing a living person. But abstracting the way you see is paradoxically the best way to capture the unique posture of each very special human being.
Let’s get started with the lesson. You might follow along step by step below with your own drawing to get a better feel for what I’m describing. Boiled down, this process begins with drawing a simple shape, in this case an oval. You are then able to draw lines emerging from this shape which correspond to various elements of the body. With each added line, you build exponentially more reference points from which to base your next lines and angles.
Astonishingly, from this mess of geometry, a human form will appear. The magic moment when it suddenly does is the reward for forging through any difficulties that precede it!
Don Duga sketch detail
I often begin a life drawing with a rough egg-shape for the head. For many poses, this is the easiest way to orient the rest of the piece. (In the figures below, each line is color coded to match the text describing it.)
In the finished sketch of Don, you can see the lines of my egg faintly under the facial detail I added later.
The important thing with the egg is to set it at the correct angle. Here’s your first moment of abstracting what you’re seeing. Look at the head purely as an oval that’s tilted at some angle or other. Forget hair, forget facial detail – forget even that this is a head. Just play this game with yourself: Can you get that oval tilted properly? What direction is it tilted? Straight up and down? Toward left or right? Bent way over or only slightly bowed?
(Oh, and place the head on the paper roughly where it is in the pose, so you’ll have space on the page for the rest of the body. In this case, Don’s head needed to be placed in the upper left of the page.)
Now quickly add a single line along the side of your oval, indicating the front plane of the profile. Don’t worry yet about the nose or eyes or anything else that makes this a face. Just look at the fundamental flat plane of the face and play the angle-abstraction game with yourself: what is the angle of the plane on the front your model’s oval? How closely can you replicate it on your paper?
Now add a line indicating the underside of the chin, using the same angle-abstraction game. Last, really look closely and add a quick line for the neck. Forget that it’s a neck. Just ask yourself: Where along the bottom of your model’s oval does that line emerge? What angle does it slant at, and how long is it? Getting these angles down accurately on your paper will help you accomplish the entire rest of the drawing.
Don Duga sketch detail
Continuing to move as rapidly as you can, look at the top edge of the model’s outstretched arm. Forget that it’s an arm. See it as a line that emerges from the face-plane line. Play your game: Where along the face-plane does it emerge? What angle does it form?
In this particular pose of Don’s, this line emerges at the level of the chin and moves to the right, slanting gradually downward.
How long should this line extend? As you practice drawing, you’ll get better at sensing how long lines should be. Meanwhile, you can use the head oval as a rough measuring unit: the line is about twice as long as the width of the oval it’s emerging from.
When I drew the line, I put a bit of a bend in it (where shoulder meets arm). But fundamentally I knew where I should draw it because in my mind’s eye, I was seeing it as a line emerging from the face at an angle which I could easily replicate on the page.
Don sketch detail
Now quickly move to the other shoulder. Play the game with yourself: Where does the line of that shoulder emerge from the other side of the head-egg? At the same level as the first shoulder line? Above it? Below it?
And what angle does it form? Does it slant up or down as it comes out of the egg? Draw it.
Next, look at the outside line of the arm at the farthest left side of the pose. What angle does that form with its shoulder line? Draw it.
Here you may notice that I first sketched a straight line to help me get the angle accurately. I then drew a second line, more bowed, to follow the curve of Don’s shirt sleeve.
Things are really getting interesting now because you have so many reference lines built up! From now on, you have a bunch of options for lines nearby to determine where each new one should be placed.
Next I moved to the line of the front of Don’s shirt. First of all, ask yourself where the top of Don’s shirt front should begin. Where is the top of that line in relation to the head oval, for example? You can easily figure that out by imagining a plumb line dropped from the farthest-right point of the head-egg. You can see that I first sketched in that “plumb line” exactly vertically. But then I realized it shouldn’t be straight up and down. It’s tilted.
So back to my game: How could I quickly determine the proper tilt for Don’s shirt front? I noticed that it’s the same as that of the face profile plane. So I drew that line parallel to the face plane.
As you draw, you may choose other reference points than the ones I chose. That’s great! The important thing is that you are finding relationships in lines that have come before which make sense to you as guides for each new line you draw.
Don Duga sketch detail
We’ve now reached a moment that’s always a lift to me: a negative space enclosed by the model’s body. In this case, it’s a triangle. (Can you find it in the sketch to the right?) To me, a triangle is always easier to size up than a line because a triangle has volume. A line is a wispy thing floating in emptiness, but a triangle has dimension!
(By the way, the order I’m following here is not preordained. As you practice on your own with other models, you should move through shapes and lines as you notice their relationships to what you’ve already drawn. Try to cover the entire body very quickly using basic shapes. Only after that should you go back to add as much detail as you have time for before you model shifts position.)
Probably the easiest way to generate the triangle bounded by Don’s shirt, arm, and thigh is to first sketch the bottom edge of the arm. Play the game with yourself: At its left end, where on Don’s already-drawn shirt front does this line emerge? Does it slant up or down? What’s the rough angle of the slant? At its right end, roughly how far from the upper edge of the sleeve should the lower line end (= how thick is Don’s wrist)? Another way to check your drawing’s accuracy is: If you envision the entire arm as a not-quite-complete cone lying on its side, what should its overall shape be? How thick is the cone at its widest end, and how narrow at the other end?
Finally, complete the triangle by drawing the edge formed by the top of Don’s thigh. Focus on the broad sweep of the long part of this line, ignoring for the time being the fact that folds in his pant leg create a dip in the line close to his shirt front. Play the game with yourself: Where on Don’s shirt front does this line emerge on the left, how much does it slant, and where does it intersect with the bottom edge of Don’s sleeve?
Don Duga sketch detail
Last, check your accuracy by looking at the overall volume of your triangle. Does it have the same rough size as the negative space bounded by Don’s arm, thigh, and shirt? If not, check to see which of your angles or line-lengths is wrong and correct it.
Now let’s get the other side of Don’s torso marked. I drew a quick curved line. I used the shoulder on the left as one measure, and also checked whether I had placed this line so it divided the arm–torso space accurately. Would you use these same reference points? What would help you draw this line accurately?
We’ve now formed a solid foundation of technique needed to achieve the first overall mapping of Don’s pose. We’ll continue to apply this technique to complete the rough sketch in my next post, Learn to Draw by Playing the Angle-Abstraction Game: Lesson 2.
After activating the bonus code, it will no longer be valid. Melbet offers a wide variety of welcome rewards, as well as bonuses for loyal players. However, you have a tremendous opportunity to get more. Use the promo code when signing up at Melbet to get 100% on a deposit for sports betting, 50-200% deposit bonus for playing casino, as well as a free bet, free spins, check below coupon code for Melbet and use when making a subsequent deposit to your account to receive the reload Melbet promo code and get 130% welcome offer of up to 130 EURO! Read about the offers’ requirements in the Sports and Casino section.
Melbet promo code Dominica
The welcome offer is one of the largest that is available so it is important that you follow all the necessary steps to ensure you don’t miss out on it. There are several steps that need to be taken before the welcome offer can be received and any withdrawals be made. Melbet Promo Code in India – The bonus sees your initial deposit with MelBet be 100% matched up to a maximum of $130 (€100). Once it has been received, there are wagering requirements of 5x that need to be fulfilled before a withdrawal can be made. If you read our MelBet bonus page, then all the information you need is there to be read.
Melbet promo code Panama
To begin our article about Melbet let’s take a look at the design and colour scheme of the website. The Melbet website has been created using mainly blue and white as the base colours and that makes everything clear and easy to understand. What is the Melbet Promo Code? is fantastic and offers new customers at Melbet a 100% bonus up to €/$130 (or currency equivalent). That means you can make a first deposit of up to €/$130 and you will receive the same amount back in free bets. You will then be automatically entitled to the Melbet 100% bonus up to €/$130, which is a great way to start betting at the website.
promo code for hbet
The welcome offer is one of the largest that is available so it is important that you follow all the necessary steps to ensure you don’t miss out on it. There are several steps that need to be taken before the welcome offer can be received and any withdrawals be made. Melbet Promo Code in India – The bonus sees your initial deposit with MelBet be 100% matched up to a maximum of $130 (€100). Once it has been received, there are wagering requirements of 5x that need to be fulfilled before a withdrawal can be made. If you read our MelBet bonus page, then all the information you need is there to be read.
promo code Melbet
Всякому начинающему гитаристу очень важно систематически практиковаться на гитаре. Для этого существуют особые сайты с подборами аккордов. Просто введите в поиск Яндекса запрос типа аккорды на песню лесник — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
Melbet welcomes new players with a variety of bonuses. To register an account at Melbet, a player needs to be aged 18 years and above.While there exist tons of bonuses including periodic ones, these are the popular bonuses you can claim via our Melbet Promo Code to access all the 40+ selections made available to players. Melbet sportsbook offers a diverse range of sports selections to players which is the standout factor. The betting opportunities have been numerous and aside from the sports markets, players can also enjoy highly competitive odds with minimal betting margins.
Melbet promo code Fiji
After activating the bonus code, it will no longer be valid. Melbet offers a wide variety of welcome rewards, as well as bonuses for loyal players. However, you have a tremendous opportunity to get more. Use the promo code when signing up at Melbet to get 100% on a deposit for sports betting, 50-200% deposit bonus for playing casino, as well as a free bet, free spins, check below coupon code for Melbet and use when making a subsequent deposit to your account to receive the reload Melbet promo code and get 130% welcome offer of up to 130 EURO! Read about the offers’ requirements in the Sports and Casino section.
Melbet promo code Nauru
To begin our article about Melbet let’s take a look at the design and colour scheme of the website. The Melbet website has been created using mainly blue and white as the base colours and that makes everything clear and easy to understand. What is the Melbet Promo Code? is fantastic and offers new customers at Melbet a 100% bonus up to €/$130 (or currency equivalent). That means you can make a first deposit of up to €/$130 and you will receive the same amount back in free bets. You will then be automatically entitled to the Melbet 100% bonus up to €/$130, which is a great way to start betting at the website.
Melbet promo code Belize
Players in India can use this code when opening your account to get a bonus of up to ?10,400 or $/€130, you can receive the Melbet bonus, of up to the value $130 – start in your online sports betting. Melbet Promo Code India unlocking a 130$ bonus (or equivalent in your local currency) and show prospective bettors how you can register at Melbet and avail a generous bonus up to ?13000 — If you are a player based in India, you have the option of claiming a great welcome bonus up to 13000 INR.
promo code Melbet
Всякому начинающему гитаристу очень важно постоянно упражняться на гитаре. Для этих целей есть специальные сайты с подборами аккордов. Просто введите в поиск Яндекса запрос типа под шум и взрыв гранат текст аккорды — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
The list, content, and terms of bonuses here change from time to time, and each one requires a valid code to activate. To keep you from making a mistake, here’s a list of Melbet Promo Code India 2023 has an attractive sports welcome package for all new Indian members. You’ll receive 100% up to 8000 INR when you register an account with the operator. Please note that you’ll need to deposit a minimum of ?75 to avail of this sports welcome bonus. We have an exclusive Melbet promo code for all new customers who love betting on sport events.
promo code for Melbet
Всякому начинающему гитаристу очень важно регулярно практиковаться на гитаре. Для этого есть особые сайты с подборами аккордов. Просто введите в поиск Google запрос типа простые песни на гитаре аккорды и бой — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
Всякому начинающему гитаристу крайне важно систематически практиковаться на гитаре. Для этих целей есть особые онлайн-ресурсы с разборами песен. Стоит вбить в поиск Яндекса запрос типа аккорды цоя белый снег — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
noroxin online
The user needs to be a new registrant and shouldn’t have done any deposits before that deposit. If you are satisfied with the requirements then you are obviously free from the Melbet Promo Code for Indian give you access to the bookmaker’s bonus program. Melbet is for players who like to bet on different sports, love to try out new things and enjoy regular promotions that give them more cash to play with. There is a huge variety of different promotions here on Melbet and that’s never a bad thing! Signup on Melbet is easy – in less than a minute, you can have a Melbet account up and running!
promo code Melbet of the day
Its truly one of the most facilitative article I get ever read
Каждому начинающему гитаристу важно систематически упражняться на гитаре. Для этих целей существуют специализированные ресурсы с подборами аккордов. Просто введите в поиск Яндекса запрос типа когда твоя девушка больна текст аккорды — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
The welcome offer is one of the largest that is available so it is important that you follow all the necessary steps to ensure you don’t miss out on it. There are several steps that need to be taken before the welcome offer can be received and any withdrawals be made. Melbet Promo Code in India – The bonus sees your initial deposit with MelBet be 100% matched up to a maximum of $130 (€100). Once it has been received, there are wagering requirements of 5x that need to be fulfilled before a withdrawal can be made. If you read our MelBet bonus page, then all the information you need is there to be read.
Melbet promo code Zambia
Всякому начинающему гитаристу крайне важно систематически упражняться на гитаре. Для этих целей есть особые ресурсы с подборами аккордов. Просто введите в поиск Google запрос типа хочешь сладких аккорды — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
medicine accutane
Каждому начинающему гитаристу очень важно постоянно практиковаться на гитаре. Для этого существуют особые сайты с разборами песен. Просто введите в поиск Google запрос типа до скорой встречи звери текст аккорды — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
buy clomid 50mg online
medication tizanidine 4 mg
Любому начинающему гитаристу крайне важно постоянно упражняться на гитаре. Для этих целей есть особые онлайн-ресурсы с подборами аккордов. Просто введите в поиск Google запрос типа лесник слова аккорды — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
Любому начинающему гитаристу крайне важно постоянно заниматься на гитаре. Для этих целей существуют специализированные ресурсы с подборами аккордов. Просто введите в поиск Google запрос типа гречка люби меня люби аккорды амдм — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
En uygun fiyata 7 gün 24 saatinizi geçirebileceğiniz günün gündüz ve gece vakitlerinde sizin arzunuza göre davranan size bir sırdaş ya da daha ilerisini düşünün bir sex arkadaşı olmasını istiyorsanız onları arayın Telefonda beni boşaltacak numaralar https://gotartwork.com/Profile/seks-hatti1/171940/ chat yapın.
Join Fantasy Leagues And Win Exciting Bonus. 100% Safe And Secure App Melbet India Registration Promo Code is essentially devoid of charges, knowing about such evidential tip affords punters ample chances to wager gainfully. Create an account on 1x Bet. Indeed, we can conclude, Melbet India is the best offer for gambling online. Melbet promotion code India applies. A minimum deposit of 75 INR. You can get a maximum of 100% first deposit bonus of up to 8000 INR and in exclusive offer. Melbet India does not stop there when it comes to promotions availed to you.
promo code for Melbet
zoloft 500mg
buy antabuse online without a prescription
Всякому начинающему гитаристу чрезвычайно важно регулярно упражняться на гитаре. Для этих целей есть специализированные ресурсы с подборами аккордов. Стоит вбить в поиск Google запрос типа аккорды песни день победы — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
fildena 50 online
Всякому начинающему гитаристу важно постоянно практиковаться на гитаре. Для этих целей есть специальные ресурсы с подборами аккордов. Стоит вбить в поиск Google запрос типа прогулки по воде текст песни с аккордами — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
buy nolvadex cheap
pfizer lyrica lyrica abuse lyrica street value
Каждому новичку очень важно систематически практиковаться на гитаре. Для этого есть особые онлайн-ресурсы с подборами аккордов. Стоит вбить в поиск Google запрос типа аккорды песни смелс лайк тин спирит — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
buy diclofenac without prescription
Всякому новичку крайне важно систематически заниматься на гитаре. Для этого есть специальные ресурсы с разборами песен. Стоит вбить в поиск Яндекса запрос типа твой звонок аккорды амдм — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
dating service hotmail south africa dating sim
Каждому новичку чрезвычайно важно постоянно упражняться на гитаре. Для этих целей существуют специализированные ресурсы с разборами песен. Просто введите в поиск Яндекса запрос типа любэ сядем с отцом аккорды — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
colchicine 0.5 mg tablet
Каждому новичку крайне важно регулярно упражняться на гитаре. Для этого есть специализированные сайты с подборами аккордов. Просто введите в поиск Google запрос типа полковник аккорды для гитары — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
Каждому начинающему гитаристу очень важно регулярно упражняться на гитаре. Для этих целей существуют особые сайты с подборами аккордов. Стоит вбить в поиск Яндекса запрос типа чем заменить аккорд в7 на гитаре — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
cheapest terramycin
http://1by.by/stat/kachestvennaya-tkanaya-filtrovaya-setka-po-vygodnym-cenam.html
Каждому начинающему гитаристу чрезвычайно важно регулярно упражняться на гитаре. Для этих целей есть специальные сайты с разборами песен. Стоит вбить в поиск Яндекса запрос типа аккорды песни одуванчики десантники на гитаре — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
bactrim 400mg 80mg
albuterol rx coupon
Каждому новичку чрезвычайно важно регулярно заниматься на гитаре. Для этого существуют особые сайты с подборами аккордов. Стоит вбить в поиск Google запрос типа аккорды на песню виктора цоя пачка сигарет — непременно найдётся то, что поможет вам научиться играть на гитаре.
where to order nolvadex online
noroxin without prescription