Bargue Plates, anyone?

sergio

I did use the technique many years ago. I think it did increase my patience but my great improvement acurred after finishing six month of human figure drawing with real models (about 40 sessions) and limited time ( 10 seconds to 1 hour).

amberwingart

@sergio I was just thinking today that I really need to start practicing life drawing. I tried doing plein air drawing the other day for the first time and it looked like a kindergartener's drawing. It's amazing what a huge difference it is to draw from life than it is to draw from a photograph. I'm pretty okay at figure drawing from a photograph (not excellent, but not beginner-looking), but when I've tried to draw the figure from life, it looks like I just started drawing. Life drawing definitely makes a huge difference...Unfortunately we live in a tiny rural town (4,000 people), so we don't have figure drawing classes here :/...So I have to just draw from photographs or from nature.

sergio

@amberwingart

I really think if you are good at figure drawing from pictures, you'll be good drawing from life. For me, the problem is a psychological one. It's normal to feel a bit worried the first times. The trick is to remember even masters did fail innumerable times. To fail and correct is one of the main ways of learning. You must give you the right to do mistakes. Practice will increase your skills without a doubt.

If you don't have the opportunity to fallow figure drawing classes, try using controled time slideshow on screen and draw in a sketch book. Use small timer for warming up (5-20 seconds) and then change to large sessions (5 minutes or more). Small timer will help to get confidence and, better, to recollect the essentials. Also, try to sketch a lot from life drawing.

I think it,s not obligatory to draw from real life to get a great level of drawing. When I was an "in the making" illustrator I used to draw people from TV shows, including sports.

Unfortunately I have had to forget my dreams 20 year ago, so I'm trying to awake them. I'll be glad sharing my process here.

ShereeNorthrup

I hadn't heard of the Bargue Plates. Thanks for sharing about them.They sound like a great resource. You could try looking at animal and human anatomy and draw the bones and muscles as well. I have found that learning the structure beneath the skin really helps with accuracy. Someone once told me "don't frost the cake before you bake it". Meaning don't add your details and spending time rendering before you base drawing is strong.

I think your on the right track. Keep up the good work Im excited to see more of your work!

Leontine

@amberwingart I used to do so in art-school. Its an awesome but difficult way to to improve.

Leontine

@amberwingart Please post some of your work! Nice!

Thanks for the link!

amberwingart

@sergio Thank you for the suggestions! I'd love to hear more about your process - and drawing from tv shows is a really good idea...I hadn't thought about that, but it'll force me to really focus on the most important parts... I can also draw our cat and dog kids from life :).

amberwingart

@ShereeNorthrup Thank you! I definitely need to work more on my anatomy - that's a weak point for me. I've been using http://artists.pixelovely.com/practice-tools/animal-drawing/ for sketch reference for both animals & humans (it's an awesome tool, if you haven't used it before, btw!), but I definitely need to get down to a natural history museum so that I can see the anatomy in 3D.

amberwingart

@Leontine It's so much more difficult than it looks, isn't it?? It's getting me to draw consistently every day though, so just that alone will probably help a lot (I'm hoping! lol)

amberwingart

@Renduin No problem - I'd love to hear what you think after you've done a few!

amberwingart

@Leontine I just saw your request for me to post some of my Bargue Plate drawings. It's embarrassing since I'm pretty bad right now, but I'll post what I've got so far when I wake up (its 2am here & I'm just going to bed)!

Leontine

@amberwingart Hope to see some when your up to it! have a good night sleep now, you deserve it! over here its just morning!

amberwingart

This post is deleted!

Leontine

for anybody who wants to now moer about this:
http://www.learning-to-see.co.uk/bargue-drawings