HOMEWORK 6: GESTURE

Look at the following sketches of animals:

These are examples of quick sketches called "gesture drawings". Gesture drawings are created by making fast, loose, searching lines. The objective is to capture the essential information of the subject quickly and efficiently, and they typically show motion, like a snapshot of an instant in time. The examples above all capture the animals during action, not when they are lying still. Notice how most of them start with circles or ovals for the main body shape? That's a good way to start, then you add the legs, arms, and head. Draw with loose, fluid lines. A gesture drawing can be completed in as little as a few seconds, or it can be sustained for longer periods of time. Many artists do gesture drawings as preliminary sketches to help plan out major works of art. Some artists do gesture drawings as warm-ups for longer drawing sessions, much like an athlete stretches or warms-up before working out. Even though gestures are drawn quickly, try your best to maintain proper proportions -- don't let the size or shapes get wildly out of hand. Draw what you see, and draw it fast.

Your task is to do gesture drawings of the following five animals. Do THREE gestures of each animal. Yes, that means draw the same animal multiple times. Each time you draw should take about two minutes, no more. So your homework should be completed in about 30 minutes or less.

5 animals, 3 times each, 2 minutes each time.

Due Wednesday Feb. 18