I finished the Body In Motion Sketchbook project. As much as I struggled at times, even feeling a little lag about halfway through it, it was done and over before I realized it. And that feeling, that it was over so quick, is what ultimately helped me decide on the next sketchbook topic. Which I’ll get to in a moment.
My goal with the Body in Motion sketchbook was to get better at figure drawing. I wanted to improve my ability to see the forms and shapes and to get them on paper. I also wanted to get to where I could convey the pose and the motion with fewer lines and shading. I’m not sure I am where I want to be with that yet. I do think I achieved the first goal. Though, I wasn’t so sure about that as I was approaching the end of the sketchbook. I felt like I still needed work and practice.
Yes, I was getting the forms and shapes in, but I was still having to make fairly significant changes to the rough in before it was right. I often had something too short, or too long. Once I became aware of the tendency of doing that, I tried to be more conscious of it and correct it as early in the process as I could. So, I did get some better. Just not to the extent that I felt like I had learned my lessons well enough.
As I progressed through the project, I ended up making fresh attempts at poses that were similar to ones I had done earlier in the project, and I was much improved. So, I did learn. I learned more than I realized. How do I know?
Well, as I have started on the next sketchbook project, my learning curve feels a little less steep.
Which brings me to the next sketchbook project. It is just People. A variety of people, though mostly from personal photos or old family photos that I have inherited. Oh. I should probably offer a warning to anyone whose picture I might have, you could be a subject of one of my drawings, for better or worse. Most of the photos are twenty years old or more, much more. And that can offer its own challenge. But I’ll get to that when I am a little farther along in that project.
For now, I want to share a few more examples of the Body In Motion project. The reference book included photos of men and women doing various things and it was really interesting, and helpful to be able to really see the differences in the male and female form. Aside from the obvious, differences that is. Particularly noticing the differences from the back side, it was easier to see. And in profile somewhat. The difference in the pelvis area and the hips is important from all angles. I noticed that for women, even the models that appeared quite skinny, the lower abdominal area is slightly rounded were that doesn’t happen with men, unless they have some weight and even then, it is higher up than on women.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the pictures. As with the previous sketchbooks, I will get a gallery post up soon. I’ll even try to get it up before I’m halfway through the new sketchbook.
A note about this post. I wrote this a few weeks ago when I was only a few days into the new sketchbook project. I set it aside so I could review it before posting. In that time, I’ve run into some snags that have made things more of a challenge for drawing and typing. As a result, I am quite behind on posting this as well as the gallery of the Body In Motion sketches. I will share the story of my snags at another time. Until then, enjoy this bit, and I will work on the gallery post.
