2024 Figure Drawing Reflection

Figure drawing with Tommy this year was an extremely valuable experience. I gained a new thinking surrounding not just figure drawing but drawing in general. I was able to strengthen my skills with "searching lines" and really loosen up in the whole drawing process. One of the most helpful discussions was thinking about how weight is placed in the figures and how this affects the movement of the hips, shoulders, etc. and learning how to connect these features with the "searching line." The amazing privilege of a live model was being able to see in real time and space how each pose was formed rather than just how it looked.

While the contour lines in the first two figures make them some of my favorites, I could really see an improvement in proportion from days 1-3. I actually found my worst day to be the last, as the longer drawing period made me revert back to some of my old ways, and I lost sight of the figure as a whole, instead spending too much time on small areas.

Overall, I think one of the main things these lessons taught me was to just go for it! Using gesture as a tool for underdrawing really helped to add confidence to the entire drawing process, and it's definitely something I see myself using more in future works.

(days 1 and 2 above, 3 and 4 below)