November's "Back To Basics" Chapter Two - Seated & Foreshortened Gestures
Added 2021-11-28 21:04:36 +0000 UTCSome more expressive, others more static, there's always things to notice and practice, whether it's the center line in motion and how to capture the expression of the body in space, or the way the twist of arms or legs accentuates the asymmetry in the musculature, with all those subtle , irregular 's' curves making the body dynamic.
In seated or extremely foreshortened poses, when we can't measure and check the proportions in an easy, from top to bottom way, namely because we can't see the torso, the spine "line" connecting the head to the thorax (rib cage) to the pelvis, it's best to rely on checking proportions by comparing limbs to other body parts.
For example, when the head is tilted back or mostly obscured on the model, we can't use it to reference or check other things in our drawing. But, if we know that the figure is generally measured in "heads" (length of head from top to chin), and we know that generally one head length is equivalent to the forearm (from elbow/elbow crease to wrist bones {radius/ulna}), then we can take the measurement of the forearm and check that on our drawing, as well as comparing it against to other things, such as the lower leg from knee to ankle (which is generally TWO heads length).
Does that make sense? Take notice of these guidelines in your practice and see if they can help you to not get lost in the poses. Enjoy!
Questions are always welcome in the comments below.
See you in December with a seasonal/festive themed shoot!
