Kat’s Drawing Tutorial: Gesture Drawing PART 4 of 4- abstraction. #artschool

In this 4 part tutorial, we move through analysis of form, to drawing details to abstraction through gesture drawing.

See Part 1: INTRODUCTION

See Part 2: GEOMETRIC SHAPES

See Part 3: ADDING DETAILS

Now we move to finding the image and abstract it through gestures. What I mean by that is- you find the form in marks you have made. You are limiting your decisions.

STEP 1:

On a blank piece of paper, doodle random lines. Random, but with some thought! Think opposites. Do hard and soft lines. Straight, zigzag, curvy. Staccato, continuous. Shapes, scribbles. Just fill the page without thinking about WHAT you are going to do in Step 2. Change hands. Left hand. Right hand. Turn the paper.

STEP 2:

Find the image in the marks you have made. This goes back to part 2 of this tutorial where you are looking for simple shapes.

We’ll start with a photo. (Let’s use the same one we used in Parts 1-3).

Now look for geometrics that emulate the actual form. Use only the lines you have! That’s it! YOU ARE LIMITED! This will force you to change the way you approach form! Do you see lines that somewhat liken the eyes? The mouth? The cheek? etc.

See how I am allowing the existing line to shape the form. E.G. I’m thinking eye but it’s an UNUSUAL eye!

STEP 3:

Start adding details and shading and finalizing the form. Blacken out areas. Add lines if you need to, but just minimal. Use the eraser to draw out light. You will end up with a Picasso-esque image!