Create > Foreshortening Perspective and the Figure

Create > Foreshortening Perspective and the Figure

This project is for after you’ve already learned perspective, drapery, figure drawing and you’ve had lots of experience with a variety of media and have found a few favorites. This is may be one of the best pieces you will make all year, or one of the worst. The compositions are dynamic but if you don’t get the distortions right, it’s an epic fail.

Process:

1. Work work together to take photos for reference.
2. TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES for this drawing.
3. Experiment with different and dynamic points of view (bird’s eye view, ant’s eye view etc.) and positions for the human figure which show extreme foreshortening.
4. Remember the Rule of Thirds > http://goo.gl/PmeaJd > http://goo.gl/g7XVzW
5. Consider the following before you start shooting:
1. Who’s the PHOTOGRAPHER?
2. Who’s holding the light?
3. Who’s modeling?
4. Which job are you doing?
5. If you’re not modeling, I recommend that you take the photos so you can see exactly how it looks.
6. Pick the best image and print it.
7. Do several thumbnail sketches before starting on the large (18”x 24”) paper.
8. It’s NOT easy to draw a foreshortened figure.  Remember: Draw what you see, not what you think it should look like! Work upside down and use a quadrant/grid system to help you. Block in your drawing showing the distortions created by foreshortening.
9. Use the tutorials and examples of how to draw a foreshortened figures here > Pinterest > Foreshortening > http://www.pinterest.com/artbabe3/ap-breadth-foreshortening/
10. Put the figure in an environment (realistic or abstract) which enhances the composition.
11. You may use any medium you wish except graphite.

Critique / Evaluation:

1. Did you effectively create the illusion of foreshortening?
2. Does the figure’s anatomy look accurate; especially the parts which are foreshortened?
3. Did you use an interesting viewpoint?
4. Does the background enhance the composition?

Hands toward the viewer:

The following works focus on foreshortened hands.  The hands coming toward the viewer because the photo was taken from above, looking down at the model, or the model is reaching towards the camera. The hand(s) are huge compared to the rest of the body, but they appear correct because they’re foreshortened and coming toward you.

Some examples of this pose/viewpoint by AP Studio Art Students:

Feet toward the viewer:

These works have mainly feet and legs coming toward the viewer. Sometimes the photo is taken from below, looking up at the model. Or the model kicks toward the camera. The feet are HUGE compared to the rest of the body, but they appear correct because they’re coming toward you. If you’re drawing the soles of the shoes, be VERY specific.

Some examples of this pose/viewpoint by AP Studio Art Students:

These drawings by AP students have BOTH feet and hands coming toward the viewer:

These drawings are focused more on foreshortening of the torso or face: