The Legs have to jobs: To support the weight above them. And propel the whole body forward in an instant like the bow propels the arrow.
This create some real challenge for the artist trying to draw them. I'll show you how overcome, I promise.
Using the reference provided, practice the various strategies I've outlined in the lesson.
Have fun!
Steve
2024-05-10 20:44:50 +0000 UTC View Post
Building the fluid gesture into each solid structure is the best way I know to draw any living form. And few things embody both as well and our legs.
Suggested Homework:
Using the methods offered above and the reference portfolio below, practice drawing well constructed legs that still flow beautifully from hip to toe.
Have fun!
2024-04-30 21:43:36 +0000 UTC View Post
No homework this week except consider more carefully your dreams:
What are they?
Why do you have them?
And where exactly do your true talents lie?
Come to think of it, this may be the most important homework you can do this lifetime!
Have fun.
2024-04-19 18:23:16 +0000 UTC View Post
In this lesson, I break down the basic around constructing a solid arm by not being confused or overwhelmed by that devilishly difficult Shoulder Girdle.
Suggested Homework:
From imagination or from the reference provided practice drawing simple, beautiful arms on the torso.
2024-04-13 16:56:31 +0000 UTC View Post
In this special training, I explain the ins and out of both the commercial and fine art fields.
And how to create a portfolio that attracts, not just interest, but interest from the right people.
Suggested homework:
Begin researching the galleries, entertainment and gaming studios, or in whatever industry you're interested in, by using some of the strategies I outlined above.
Good luck!
2024-04-08 17:15:09 +0000 UTC View Post
In this one, I explain how all the Laws Of Light along with the idea of Symmetry can be used to create more solid Structure.
2024-04-08 17:03:49 +0000 UTC View Post
Of course, linear perspective does a wonderful job of creating the idea of depth.
But create the feeling or even the illusion of depth happens by strategic use of shape, value, and overlap, along with few a few other tricks of the trade.
Suggested Homework:
Using the reference portfolio provided, practice the various strategies I outline to bring a more powerful sense of depth to you work.
Have fun!
2024-04-08 14:31:42 +0000 UTC View Post
Often, the process of rendering to completion (however that's defined) means adding detail. Detail can outright destroy a silhouette, confusing light from shadow or foreground from background.
Using the reference provided, practice the various strategies I've outlined in the lesson.
Have fun!
Steve
2024-03-18 18:01:52 +0000 UTC View Post
Most of us think of a gradation as a smooth blend of light value to dark value, or warm color to cool.
But a gradation can be between extremes within any craft idea: like organic to architectural, simple to complicated, and so on.
Suggested Homework:
Most of us think of a gradation as a smooth blend of light value to dark value, or warm color to cool.
But a gradation can be between extremes within any craft idea: like organic to architectural, simple to complicated, and so on.
Suggested Homework:
Using the provided Reference, practice the various tonal composition strategies as discussed.
2024-03-09 18:24:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Contrapposto means 'opposing positions".
Two ideas the master artist will pay very close attention to is symmetry and asymmetry. Asymmetrical positions, contours, lighting, etc will add drama to your work.
Contrapposto focuses on how the leaning, facing, and/or the tilting positions of two or more forms can be oriented into different, asymmetrical positions one to the other.
Suggested Homework:
Using the reference provided p...
2024-03-09 18:12:44 +0000 UTC View Post
Since I missed posting new trainings over a couple weeks, I thought I'd share a lesson from a new course I'm in the process of recording.
I hope you enjoy it.
Suggested Homework:
Using the images provided, try out the 1) 2 sides of the form, 2) Shape of shadow on the form 3) give the shadow a value and then 4) experiment adding gradation(s).
Have fun!
Steve
2024-02-15 21:53:57 +0000 UTC View Post
There a just few, but critical strategies for building deep perspective into your figures.
In this lesson, I show the most powerful.
Suggested Homework:
Using, especially, the strategies of Contour and Closure, practice build getting each part of the figure to break that picture plane.
Have Fun!
2024-02-15 21:05:43 +0000 UTC View Post
Each of our favorite artists, epecially artist that stand the test of time, has wonderful lessons to teach us.
By far the best I know to learn them is one or two simple lessons (of what I like to call "filters") at a time.
Suggested Homework:
Using the images provided, study the dynamic (at for the history of art, the ground breaking) poses Michelangelo arranges. Other lessons are his wonder sense of architecture and connection. 2024-02-13 20:07:27 +0000 UTC View Post
There is a process we can build into our art practice that allows us to break past plateau after plateau with no true limit to what we can achieve.
And it's not easy. But, actually, it is pretty simple.
Suggested Homework:
Practice the filter ideas in the lesson using the images provided.
In this continuing series of understanding the simple, yet elegant creative choise that make the masters masterful, we look at Gustave Klimt.
If you are more of a fan of more traditional realism, keep this in mind:
If we truly understand the creative choices of an artist, we can use their stratgey to very different result.
For example, both Klimt and Rubens used the leaning position of their figure in a non-ordinary way compared to most realists in history.
...
2024-01-13 01:22:36 +0000 UTC View Post
This training is part of a whole series of lessons on the powerful and personal choices of style history's great artists made. And how elegantly simple they almost always are.
Suggested homework:
1. Practice the drawing the heads as simple yet characteristic eggs.
2. Try to make each stroke of shadow or shape move down the longest possible axis
3. With the greatest possible confidence to those stroke.
Have fun!
2024-01-13 00:09:48 +0000 UTC View Post
Every great master is doing a few things really well and also in uniquely their own way. In this lesson, I'm breaking down a few thing Rubens does that makes him both brilliant and instantly recognizable. Suggested Homework: Using the reference provided, target a few unique filters from the art provided and sketch out the result. And then try pushing those filters even farther or calming them down to see if you like them better or have you...
2023-12-31 15:31:34 +0000 UTC View Post
In this training, I show you how to analysize a few of the key ideas (or filters) that Rembrandt uses that makes him instantly recognizable.
If we learn to cherry-pick the best craft and creative ideas from the best in the world, there's really no limit to where we can take our art.
Suggested Homework:
Using the reference provided, begin learning to see and practice with the deceptively simple ideas that Rembrandt and these other greats are using to no...
2023-12-26 20:53:08 +0000 UTC View Post
You can use whatever medium you're most comfortable with.
I'm using:
Strathmore 400 Series Bristol paper
AlphaColor black charcoal stick
Conté sticks HB or B
Kneaded eraser and hard white eraser
A paper Stump
My simple 3 step process is :
1. Draw 2 Sides of the Form
2. Draw the Shape of the Shadow on the form
3. Give the Shadow Shape a dark Value
And repeat.
Suggested Hom...
2023-12-20 00:46:39 +0000 UTC View Post
In this lesson, I show you how to measure Ringing True as precisely as possible.
And explaining. why give yourself permission to be not so great is the very best way to become great.
Suggested Homework:
Using the image portfolio provided, distilling down the 2-4 simple ideas that are the essence what you're looking at.
2023-12-13 00:01:05 +0000 UTC View Post
In this lesson, I show you how to use Curves and Corners to structure a drawing in perspective.
With the intuitive definition of perspective as the 3 positions in space:
1. Leaning
2. Facing
3. Tilting
Suggested Homework:
Use the reference provided to structure the various positioned feet. As you gain confidence, you can move into any part of the figure.
If you find the feet too challenging (because th...
2023-12-03 14:21:59 +0000 UTC View Post
In this lesson, I begin your training on drawing feet by explaining some broader principles that can be applied to anything.
Suggested Homework:
Practice drawing a basic foot (or anything body part for that matter) by using the techniques of Curves and Corners.
Enjoy!
2023-11-18 16:10:32 +0000 UTC View Post
There are certain training patterns the best practice to become the best. In this lesson, I show you what that are.
Here's a portfolio of images to try out some chunking down techniques.
Enjoy!
In this training, we talk about how to dial in your process so there's no limits to where you can take your art.
Have fun!
2023-10-24 15:43:53 +0000 UTC View Post
In this lesson, we explore the basic structure of Ears.
Suggested Homework:
Using the reference provided, work constructing the big simple form of the ears AND its correct placement on head.
Have fun!
I finish our exploration of the mouth with a lesson on how to draw the pillowy forms of the lips.
Suggested Homework:
This is Part 2 of my two part training on the relationship between foreground and background in composition.
Enjoy!
Suggested Homework:
Try the lesson I've shared using the reference I've provided below.
2023-09-26 15:22:37 +0000 UTC View Post
Drawing a single figure is a massive challenge. But creating a full composition with figure and ground, and light and shadow ups the ante considerably.
In this first of a two part training, I breakdown some of the basics around those challenges.
Suggested Homework:
Using the artwork provided, analyise the masterworks based on the ideas I trained you on.
Have fun!
2023-09-26 15:13:43 +0000 UTC View Post
I answer questions from the attendees. And we talk about everything from painting wet over dry to how to rebuild momentum in our art practice after the practice has fallen off.
No homework in this one. But I did give you a few images in case you're inspired to practice on something that seem valuabel to you.
Have Fun!