Stiff Figures - Help!

[Nomadik]

Hello!
I have a question. When I draw, half the time my figures look stiff and robotic, rather than fluid and full of action and life. Does anyone have any helpful tips? If you want to see some of my art it is at my website below:
Thanks,
Jesse
Nomadik's Art Studio (http://www.vengei.com/nomadik)

[MichaelRH]

Hi Nomadik:
Visited your website..great design, but I was not able to use some of the buttons..Will have to go back and look further.
Just an observation here..I've noted in life-drawing classes, that often, first term students tend to draw "stiff" figures. I found that doing the quick gestural drawings..where the model takes VERY brief poses..forces one to find lines of movement/action much quicker. It also helped me to think "curves", rather than angles...although when constructing the figure...angles aid in determining proportion. I would just try to loosen up as much as possible..and do lots of quick drawings..even if they will be very simple sketches, with not a lot of "finish". The "Stiffness" usually appears when we are not looking at the over-all movement or pose...when we concentrate on developing a figure piece by piece-(section by section). Hope these suggestions will help you..(Can't say enought for life-drawing courses).

[This message has been edited by MichaelRH (edited May 03, 2000).]

[rodin]

i suffered from the same problem, as i am sure we all have. i think that there are 3 THINGS that will help alot-
1)draw quick poses like the guy above suggested, it works
2)try drawing with the other hand. it will force you to not think stiff
3)try alot of blind (or almost blind) contour drawings/ where you hardly look at the drawing until its done.

these ideas may seem lame, but i swear they work. good luck!

------------------
rodiN

[s mckee]

I also agree on the 'quick sketch' method, making 3 votes - which constitutes a quorum at WetCanvas and makes the advice legally binding.

Get a huge pad of newsprint and a really soft pencil and get someone to pose for you. Whip off a few pages of 6 second studies. Don't even think of continuing into the 7th second. After a few pages of these, move on to a few pages of 30 second poses and then a few more pages of 1 minute poses. Do this exercise a few times a week and your figures should become significantly less stiff.

[Sandi]

Nods in agreement with all the above.
Vine charcoal is a great tool, on Newsprint too. Don't even bother ripping off the sheets, just wipe off the excess charcoal with an arm sweep, and start in on the next pose. At the end of your session, your pages will be absolute scribble rubbish, and critique resistant. I use up 3 sheets in a 6 hour session. Its' so important to not judge your efforts..but to FEEL & enjoy the journey. Here are a few different techniques..
Continuous line Blind contour
Draw Negative spaces only.
Cross contours.(concaves and convex's)
Gestures
Slow as an ant
Fast as a jet
Darks only
Lights only
relationship circles

hope this helps.