The document provides instructions for a gesture drawing activity. It will include quick timed drawings to capture movement and poses. Students will practice drawing basic human shapes and proportions to depict figures in motion. The goal is to focus on shape over details and use full arm movements with continuous lines to create expressive gesture drawings. Examples of gesture drawings from art history and prehistory are also provided.

1. Gesture Drawings
Agenda:
1)Explore the SHAPES that make up a human form and how
to draw them.
2)Practice drawing a figure (correct proportions and
shapes.)
1) First with handout of figure
2) Draw mannequin
3)Activity: Gesture Drawing
1) The body in motion
2) We will be doing QUICK, timed drawings that capture
the gesture (movement) of our models.
Next Activity: My Shadow and Me!
Create a full figure selfie and shadow of yourself in
action! 

2. Gesture Drawing
I Can…
Study a pose, and draw what I see
Use basic shapes to draw a figure
Create gesture drawings using
quick, loose gestures
Practice observing and drawing to
improve my skills

3. What is a Gesture Drawing?
A non-verbal communication – can be seen on the
human figure, animals and even objects, a drawing
used to study the human figure
Sometimes called an action drawing: the action a
figure is performing
Limit looking at your paper as much as possible and
use the whole page – DRAW BIG!
Use a continuous line and DO NOT ERASE if you
make a mistake – JUST IGNORE IT!

7. Rembrandt Gesture Drawing, Preacher, 1644

8. Examples of Gesture Drawings from
17,000 B.C.
Lascaux Caves located in France

9. Focus on:
SHAPE! SHAPE! SHAPE!: Focus on the
shape of the model – not the fine details
Use your whole arm when drawing – don’t
grip the pencil too tight
Remember, this is an exercise – have fun
with it!

10. Keep in mind…
We are NOT couch
potatoes…
so do not draw the
model like one!
I am not a potato!

11. We have a torso and a pelvis!
TORSO
PELVIS

12. Gesture Drawing
Start with Basic
Shapes…
Head
Neck
Body
Arms/Hand
Legs/Feet

13. https://vimeo.com/45170280

16. https://vimeo.com/45224763