What if your body was made of roiling waters, agitated riffles, and gentle currents?
What if every contour, every edge of a shadow, every lock of hair was drawn with a river in mind?
What if the next figure you draw, you added a little MORE to the process than just what you see?
Enjoy!
❤️
Composition is about connecting what seems separate to a greater whole…
To a greater community!
Here’s the beautiful truth…
I believe, Art is not mainly about crafting any “thing”, it’s about demonstrating a more well-composed life.
There is a reason why the first artists were the shamans.
The real power comes when you begin to act consciously – what I call seeing life with an artist's eye...
It can start small…
Thank th...
2022-10-26 16:14:32 +0000 UTC View Post
Art, as you've probably heard me sy many times, is not mainly about simple how-to craftsmanship...
It's much more about understanding Art's connective strategies and how they reflect and -- sometimes -- teach us about life.
When you approach Art with a deeper understanding about Art, it can sometimes show you (connect you) to your creativity and even you purpose.
Suggested Homework--
Look at the masterworks provided and try to see the c...
2022-10-24 18:31:16 +0000 UTC View Post
The Gesture of the Composition.
Just like a Realistic figure drawing has a Structure (the matter) and a Gesture (the energy)...
So do most classically based Composition.
The most famous examples of all the figures in a "structured" arrangement would be most of the Remaissance Madonna and Child paintings.
In those, the two of three figures are grouped in a Trianglular design.
(take a look for yourself!)
This beautiful Solomon J Solomon I've chosen is a great...
2022-10-24 18:17:25 +0000 UTC View Post
FIGURE DRAWING PRO TIP!
Are your figures too posed?
Too static?
If you want to put those bodies in motion, imagine each body's Triangle of Support...
If you stand still, you'll probably notice that your feet are, more or less, as wide as your shoulders.
The wider the feet are, the more stabile your stance is.
Now imagine drawing three lines from foot to foot to head and back to the...
2022-10-20 15:22:51 +0000 UTC View Post
A wonderful TEDTalk that had a real impact on me. I hope it does for you as well!
As you watch this one, keep in mind current studies show that our creativity peaks at about 4-5 years. Once we reach school age, it drops dramatically...
Imagination is the beginning of creation.
George Bernard Shaw wrote that.
We create our world one decision at a time.
Every one of us has goals.
Those that succeed have goals.
Those that fail have goals.
Every one of us have moments to celebrate and moments that nearly tear our hearts out.
Our only control — our only real power — is how we choose to act in each moment.
And not just act, but act on the things that matter in a way t...
2022-10-15 16:10:47 +0000 UTC View Post
What beautiful idea is going to fuel the marks you make today?
Have fun!
2022-10-09 14:43:53 +0000 UTC View Post
Artists are folks with beautiful ideas about the world...
Artists don't draw an arm. They draw their idea. So the real path to leveling up is getting very clear about your ideas...
The good news is, it's not very hard. We just need to build in the habit of working that way.
So with that in mind, here's your suggested homework:
From your imagination or from the reference provided, draw Simple, Yet Characteristic Structure instead of the the body pa...
2022-10-07 16:26:30 +0000 UTC View Post
After getting some control of the big simple structures of the head, we want to study and become fluent in the smaller but still critical structures:
1. The Forehead
2. The Cheekbones
3. And Jaw and Chin
... all tying back into the greater structure of the skull.
Getting control of the architecture of the head like this sets you up for success when you tackle the features.
Use the reference provided and when in doubt, simplify. If you ...
2022-10-03 20:13:18 +0000 UTC View Post
Your Suggested Homework---
Warm up sketching a body part that you're relatively confident in...
Then choose a challenge. Don't try to render the details. Try to list to distill it down to a bare few essential elements. And do and redo that distilling process over several sketches...
Again, each sketch is not trying to add more. It's trying to add clarity to those very few choices.
Our job as artists is to show clarity for folks who ofte...
2022-09-23 18:34:29 +0000 UTC View Post
Your Suggested Homework--
Pick a simple body part, or if you're early in your journey, a SINGLE SIMPLE SHAPE like a Cylinder.
Draw your choice AS SIMPLY AS YOU CAN...
Then redraw it at least 3 times. Each time trying to make that simple thing MORE CHARACTERISTIC OF WHAT I SEE or what I imagine...
For example, each time I draw that model's thigh more characteristically tapered, or curved, or better positioned, or proportion.
We're train...
2022-09-21 17:43:28 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's Your Suggested Homework--
Practice 5-10 minutes most days drawing each Structure you see in the Body with a LONG AXIS CURVE including the CORE SHADOW EDGE.
THE GOAL...
EVEN AS we draw the Structure, we are also drawing the Gestures...
EVEN AS we draw the Gestures, we are at the same time building the Structures.
On the rare instances where you don't see a Curve, I tend to add at least a slight one. But...
2022-09-16 17:38:01 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's your Suggested Homework Assignment:
To find the Structure--
Practice drawing out of your head Simple, Yet Characteristic Forms while trying to call out all three Positions (dimensions) by character or by adding construction lines.
To find the Gesture --
Practice making the Long Axis Lines Curved.
(Remember an egg has no curved Gesture because the bulging sides cancel each other out.
Now using the reference provi...
2022-09-12 21:39:36 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's Your Suggested Homework:
Practice from the reference provided and/or out of your head the Idea of Box Logic.
"Simply" draw...
1. The Shape of the Form...
2. The Shape of theShadow on the Form
3. And then play with lots of different Values on lots of different sketched out Forms to start to refine your understanding of how dark a Shadow should be or can be and still feel like a Shadow.
Extra credit:
2022-09-12 21:38:32 +0000 UTC
View Post
Here's You Suggested Homework Assignment:
Practice the Idea of Different Value Different Plane on simple constructed shapes from imagination or reference.
The biggest bang for your buck in terms of showing form is separating Light form Shadow in a 2-Value System.
Practice sketching this down simply all the time. If you can do this in your sleep and make that beginning of the Shadow Edge soft as you do it...
You will have the foundations an incredible tool fo...
2022-09-12 21:37:18 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's your Suggested Homework Assignment:
From the reference I've provided or from your imagination, practice the Three-Step process provided in the training.
Do it, at first, on very simple construction and them ease into more challenging ones.
1. Draw the Shape of Form
2. Draw the Shape of Shadow on the Form
3. Give the Shadow a dark Value and...
4. Squint at what you you've drawn to see if all the Shadows group together against all the Lights...
2022-09-12 21:35:44 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's Your Suggested Homework Assignment:
Ear does real work in explaining the Head's Three-Dimensional Position.
Practice several basis Head constructions, paying special attention to how high the Ear usually goes where you're underneath the Head and how low it goes when you're on top.
Have fun, my friend!
2022-09-12 21:34:30 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's Your Suggested Homework Assignment:
Ear does real work in explaining the Head's Three-Dimensional Position.
As you sketch out several head construction in various positions, notice how a well-placed Ear does a tremendous amount to position the Head.
Take special note of how close the Ear gets the Front of the Face as the Head turns towards a Back View and how close it gets the Back of Head when viewing a 3/4 Front View.
Here's Your Suggested Homework Assignment:
Studyfinds.org is the site I mentioned for all sorts of interesting research on human and social behavior, mental health and far beyond.
Most of the citizens of the world are simply not happy. And in some form or another it has to do with fretting about the past and having little hope for the future.
Art is our safe place if we let it. If we have goals around that and goals that are bigger than ourselves -- Meaning, to some extent, ...
2022-09-12 21:03:43 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's Your Suggested Homework Assignment:
If we really want to have the best chance of achieving our goals and that means we need to build Motivation into our Art Practice...
More joy...
Less fear.
One way is to join a group of like-minded creative folks. It's the reason I started my free Facebook group Steve Huston Draws From Life --
https://www.facebook.com/grou...
2022-09-12 21:02:41 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's your suggested Homework Assignment:
In this assignment, I want you to practice finding the balance between just how Simple you can construct that "thing" and how Characteristic it needs to be...
So that if you had to stop after just a few marks on the page -- at that relatively simple, yet characteristic construction/lay-in -- your drawing would still Ring True...
It would still get the point across -- and clearly.
Do it in a step-by-step way so you can refine y...
2022-09-12 20:59:58 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's Your Suggested Homework Assignment:
If you haven't got one yet, get yourself a mindset journal.
The Rich take two very effective actions --
1. They take quick action in the day to day tasks that are chosen to move them towards their goal.
Along with that, they always do the most important, most effective actions first (in regards to their goal)and move down the list as they have time
2. And they, at the same tim...
2022-09-12 20:57:47 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's Your Suggested Homework Assignment:
Leveraging the creative breakthroughs of the old masters is one of the very best ways to level up at speed.
They made the mistakes and forged the path. Let's use that. And then as we grow in our power to create, we can weave in new more creative choices to move onto our own unique path.
So, pick a pice from wha's provided here -- or Google your own choice...
Choose one skill: say, shapes...
2022-09-12 20:56:39 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's Your Suggested Homework Assignment:
Start a mindset journal! It's a great return on your time investment.
Begin writing down those things you're grateful for. And what you're excited about-- for today and in for near future.
The science behind this is absolutely clear and incredibly productive for energizing yourself for the next part of your day.
Journaling is a form of visualizing. This helps us act now as our present self in for the sake of our future self. 2022-09-12 20:55:17 +0000 UTC View Post
Your Suggested Homework Assignment:
Using the reference provided, find the Beanbag design in the Torso. In this way, you're drawing the Structure and the Gesture -- the character and the connection.
And then with construction lines and center lines or stretching contour lines, begin paying attention to how we move over the forms (Structure) down the forms AND between the forms (Gesture).
Like a good storyteller, we want to no how to more the reader form scene to scan, ...
2022-09-12 20:53:53 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's your suggested homework assignment:
Only play with this once you're very comfortable with our box logo, two-value system of creating light and shadow.
The power of the artist is in large part not what we add in but what we leave out.
When dealing with two light sources, you are adding something in. So ease into that complexity very carefully.
Having said that, Practice from the reference I've provided adding a secondary light to separate one new...
2022-09-12 20:52:37 +0000 UTC View Post
Your Suggested Homework Assignment:
The Path to World Class is paved by both the leveling up both skill sets and you mindsets. I call them Skill Stacks and Mind Stacks.
I'm going to give you all plenty of craft training. But we want to start building in a little creativity and, if we can, wisdom.
So look start looking at your favorite artists and figure out why you like them so much. What are they doing with shape, with value, with what they put in and ...
2022-09-12 20:50:44 +0000 UTC View Post