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DRAWING PROPORTION AND OBSERVATION

Observation and genesis of line and freehand drawing Long before he or she understands that milk finds its own level, the infant learns quickly to up-end the bottle. When, a little later, the same child is asked to draw the level of liquid in a tilted glass the result is often ... The instant, by observation or logic, a child realizes liquid finds its own level he or she has learned a principle that will help to understand the world - and how to describe it in terms of drawing. My point here is that descriptive drawing is logical and the result of observation. There are no short-cuts. An understanding of the nature, and structure of the world must be learned. This is does not happen overnight as it is the result of studied observation. At nine or ten I often thought famous people had small heads as the portraits of them showed them as such. I thought it may have been a requirement of fame. (some times I still do). Children often draw adults with huge heads and small stick-like bodies. I suppose after a few hundred grotesque heads were stuck in my pram so would I. Children observe the things most familiar and important to them and often draw them larger and in greater detail - hence the large heads. At adolescence we find the human body observed and drawn in far greater detail and with less emphasis on the head. (I wonder why?) A few artists have deliberately portrayed the human body with tiny heads. By knowing the average proportion of the head to the body I can make a deliberate decision on how I decide to portray an individual. To that purpose I may make a decision as to their character and act accordingly. But I must always remember I am relying on my color, line and form prejudice. The stuff of nightmares. My point here is that the rules of freehand drawing are yet another tool kit used to dissemble and reassemble. In the lesson on perspective you learned how to draw a cube. The other important solids are the cylinder, cone and the sphere. Use the perspective grid and practice these - also practice adding shading and shadows. HOW A LINE CAN AGE

From the moment a baby opens its eyes it begins keying-in shapes, with one of the first being the human face and body. Then it learns to recognise various other shapes in order of their importance. The child also learns to judge how far or how close is a particular object by judging their relationship to each other. Notice how the shapes and curves of male adult lines are repeated in the hand, arm and torso of Adam. [ Lesson Index ] [ Previous Lesson ] [ Next Lesson ]