✏️ Life Drawing

Time, technique and body

‘The paradox of portraiture (…) is that the target is always a moving one. Physiologically, and psychologically, a living being is always in a state of flux. Moods shift, energy levels go up and down, the body itself slowly ages.’ — Martin Gayford

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This is an example of a life drawing session:

• Three quick sketches of the subject in different poses, 2 minutes each.

  • Technique 1: Simple line (pay attention to ‘the mark’)

  • Technique 2: Geometries (synthesize what you see)

  • Technique 3: Shades (avoid line)

• Change pose. Sketch the subject in 5 minutes. Free technique.

• Change pose. Sketch the subject in 10 minutes. Free technique.

• Change pose. Sketch the subject in 15 minutes. Free technique.

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Some Fridays ago I attended a life drawing event at the National Gallery in London. The exercises above are an example of some sketches we did.

Time

There is something that strikes me when I reflect on the drawing session, and it is precisely the building up of time dedicated to each drawing. ‘Keep the energy going! Keep it going!’ - the artist/instructor shouted continuously during the 2-minute sketches at the beginning of the session (have a look at the photo below to have an idea of the room and people. In my memory there was some rock or hardcore music playing).

We started drawing fast and ended up drawing slow.

The speed at which one draws influences:

1. The process of observation - more time means the space to look harder and pay attention to detail, and less time means grasping the essentials.

2. The marks on the drawing - fast pace sketches convey a lot with few energetic lines whilst slow lines build on detail and refinement.

I struggled to draw slowly during the 10-minute drawings, although this is something I am working on. Drawing slowly forces you to look slower, to go deeper into the subject. To look harder.

Sketches at different speeds © Ana Vila

Technique

Testing quickly different techniques is not only an easy way to test styles but most importantly, it is an efficient way to learn to look differently.

How you draw forces you to look at things in a specific way. Changing medium and technique constantly is a great way to observe a subject from a different perspective and extract different information. The exercises above forced us to look quickly and effectively (synthesizing the information through our eyes) at different features in the subject.

• Technique 1: Simple line, we learn to recognise boundaries, edges, and to pay attention to ‘the mark’

• Technique 2: Geometries, a way to synthesize forms and abstract shapes

• Technique 3: Shades, avoiding using lines forces you to see in light and shadow

Shades and geometries © Ana Vila

Body

We all agree - it is very difficult to draw people. However, in life drawing, we are supposed to draw bodies. (Still - same difficulty! But bear with me.)

A body (the flesh) takes away the emotional familiar recognition of that person, it transforms the subject into an object in space. I am reading this book called ‘Drawing on the right side of the brain’ by Betty Edwards, where I am learning a lot about the process of drawing and seeing. It turns out that the more we detach what we are drawing from language (located on the dominant left brain) and the more we associate what we draw with shapes, edges, light and shadow (yes, exactly the exercises above), the more we will be drawing with the right side of the brain, therefore using the full visual power and observational skills of our mind. Following this principle, we will draw more accurately.

It is when you start seeing the body in the space, instead of a person sitting and posing that you’ll be using the right side of the brain, and, according to Edwards, looking at the world as an artist, unlocking your inner creativity.

Body, life drawing at the National Gallery © Ana Vila

Drop-in

Drop-in Fridays at the National Gallery are a great activity if you’re around London. They are free and led by professional artists. It is a fantastic plan for a Friday evening (followed by the best dumplings in town at Xi’Home). Look at the photo below - there’s something in the atmosphere, the energy that a big crowd of people brings when they draw at the same time.

Find your drop-in drawing sessions wherever you live. I do recommend it!

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Happy sketching!

Ana

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Have you been drawing recently? It would be great to hear about it! Leave a comment and share your thoughts :)