ABSTRACT
I was preparing a paper on using cylinders for the parts of the body, when I came across a book, How to Draw the Human Figure, from the Famous Artists School. Lo and behold, they recommend the very same method as a means of studying the figure. They also stress the importance of seeing to learn to draw well, and to first feel the gesture before attempting to draw it. They also strongly advise assuming a new mood with each change of pose, bringing a freshness and spontaneity to each and every sketch. To carry the idea further, it would help to quickly assume the pose yourself, to feel it, and to experience it, in order to jettison yourself into the proper frame of mind. Further into the book I find other points that were brought up in our classes such as gesture drawing is more than just copying the action of the figure. It has, especially for us, to do with capturing the inner meaning, the essence of the pose – what is happening at that moment. With and through that first impression sketch, a good final drawing is assured.
