Author: Unknown
•8:21 AM
By Helen Baker


When it comes to drawing and sketching, there are several different mediums which can be used. One of which is drawing human figures in pencil. Whether sketching an acquaintance, colleague, friend or art model, it is important to pay attention to detail. Whether attending class, posing as an art model, or simply sketching for fun, drawing is one area of study which many people find challenging and enjoyable.

The proper term for this type sketching is called figure drawing. When a live model is being used, the correct term is life drawing. One reason being that the artist is then drawing from observation. Whereas, drawing of the human form can refer to a number of different shapes, sizes and postures and many different types of mediums.

As life drawing has become quite popular, there are a now a number of courses offered at colleges and universities. For those not interested in attending college, or older artists, there are also a number of local, regional, national and international museums which offer classes and workshops. Whereas, there are also classes at these schools and museums which focus on figure drawing from objects, photographs, skeletons and other materials.

There are many different approaches an artist can take when working with the human form. Whether working from skeletons, photographs or live models, the artist also has a choice of different mediums from pen and ink to pencil and crayon. Photography is often accepted as a viable option though many dismiss using this aspect due to the lack of artistic and editing capabilities.

While light, dark and shadow play an important role in photography, the same goes for life and figure drawing. Artists often use light and shadow against the surface and curves of the body when sketching a live model. Whereas, others use light and shadow to create shapes and other figures within a primary drawing.

When it comes to pencil, most artists prefer to use different orientations of graphite. Depending on the intensity and shadowing required, there are a number of different formulations of light and dark tones available. One nice difference between graphite and charcoal or ink is that pencil can be erased and manipulated to make changes. Whereas, if an artist makes a mistake using crayon, charcoal or ink, the piece must often be recreated from the beginning.

Some artists prefer to draw in pencil then retrace with ink. While this is a valid artistic process, it does eliminate the ability to correct mistakes. Whereas, many 17th and 18th century artists liked to start with a colored tone then add shade in black while portraying any highlights in white using either crayon or ink. Whereas, others would be found using more vibrant colors when it came to artists like Matisse, Monet and others.

As artists have been drawing the human figure since prehistoric time, it has remained a viable and popular art form for centuries. However, it has only been since the late 19th century that women were admitted into figure and life drawing classes. In fact, a number of historical documents show that nude models for aspiring female artists were largely unavailable at the time. As such, women have come along way in the art world as well as the world at large.




About the Author:



|
This entry was posted on 8:21 AM and is filed under . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

0 nhận xét: