Throughout this week we have been looking further at the musculature of our manikins.  Professor Fichter went over some of the proper placements of the spinal erectors, and what to watch out for in the construction of our musculature.  The manikin was a challenging prospect that has thus far been a rewarding experience, one that will definitely help in my future sculptural, modeling and casting practices.  We were further instructed on how to use our Atlas book, and other resources that assist in the completion of our anatomic model.  One such resource, which I happily purchased was the Visual Body, online resource.  This resource has a plethora of uses for an emerging artist.  In addition to its usefulness to the artist it is also quite interesting to reference for medical purposes.

Toward the end of Tuesday's class we were given an exercises relating to the medial lines on our figure model.  First, we were given fifteen second increments to complete a snapshot of the movement of the medial line, overlapping each line with the previous line and pose.  Next, were exercises lasting one minute, that were useful in developing skill visualizing movement across the body.  Additionally, we were given one half hour to begin a contour line drawing of the figure model.  This was most helpful in my overall understanding of not only composition but scale and attention to the lateral line.

In addition to the lateral line we learned how to begin drawing the ribcage.  We learned of the various bones and cartilage that make up this area of the torso.  We were instructed to find the medial lines, or the central lateral lines as a reference point, then to add an egg shaped to it by locating other reference points.  We spent the first hour and a half doing thirty, and sixty second sketches of the spine and the ribcage.  This was helpful in determining how the spine relates to the movement of the ribcage.  We then worked for one half hour drawing the figure, concentrating on the torso and adding contour lines to the figure.  Finally I applied the abdomen musculature to the manikin.

III (Tres)

This week, Tuesday September 9^th we began by again looking at the human spinal column and how it relates to the whole body.  We see that the movement generated in the body relates to the various musculatures within the spine.  This was greatly useful in our preliminary drawings of the human form.

            We were introduced to our figure model, and were instructed as to our classroom decorum regarding our interactions with the model and our purpose for a live model.  It was very instructional and good to see the level of professionalism in which Professor Fichter conducts her class.  In the first drawings that we were asked to make we divided our paper into quarters and each quarter was again divided.  This helped us find the center point of the model, which is approximately the bottom of the pelvic bone.  We were then asked to make multiple drawings at thirty-second increments, where the model moved giving varied perspectives to the form.  This was exceptionally challenging and frustrating as there was limited time to gather visual information.  The true difficulty of this process was the transference of this information to the page. 

            Upon the completion of this series of timed drawings the time increased to one minute.  The addition of thirty extra seconds made a great difference in ones overall ability to gather information about the line, and form.  The process then repeated as before.  Following the minute the time increased to ten minutes and again to twenty, then back down to ten seconds.  The practice and process of this exercise was helpful to develop ones memory of the form.  Perhaps the most helpful component of these exercises was the instruction to draw the figure using lines that follow the central sections of the muscle groups.

 The class was issued manikins to use as guides in developing the musculature of the human figure.  Before any application of clay, we were asked to remove previous clay.  This process was interesting and informative, as was the recording of the various vertebrae on our manikins.  Professor Fichter discussed with the class how the Atlas worked and how we should proceed through it in order to successfully apply clay to our manikins.  The final part of Thursday’s class we learned the correct terminology of the human form, relating to direction.  For example:  Anterior (Front), Posterior (Rear), Superior (Top), Inferior (Bottom), Lateral (to the outside), and Medial (to the middle).

           

Vita Tractus Duos

This past week in Life drawing we began to look further at the impact of the contour line.  Similarly, we noted how gesture can be developed using varied pressure and speed.  This has helped me better understand how to create the feeling of movement.  This feeling of movement really is useful in tricking the mind into seeing something that is not actually occurring.

Particularly helpful was, drawing the sea shell form, and the early sketches of the human spine.  In drawing these preliminary drawings, we first needed to learn about the various sections of the spine:  Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar and Sacral.  These regions were discussed as a means to find various landmarks for us as artists to follow, in order to accurately draw the human form.  Additionally we learned how many vertebrae are in each of these sections, the purpose for these sections, and how it connects to the larger part of the body.  Our professor had us practice drawing the spine from various angles and times in order to develop our senses to the movement and importance of the spine to our drawing of human form.  Initially this was frustrating because, the time was so limited that I thought my drawing wouldn't even look like a spine, however I was pleasantly surprised to see that the exercise focused my eye to the important information, rather than the whole form.

It was interesting to note how much the spine widens from top to bottom, and how truly severe the curve of it is.  Finally, I learned a great deal about the movement that can be generated in a drawing by close attention to the detail of the spine.  It is apparent that the rest of the body follows the movement of the spine, therefore solidifying its importance in the world of Life Drawing.

Darren M. Hosé

Vita Tractus

Thus far in Life Drawing, we went through our syllabus, materials list, how to hone the charcoal to a desired tip, and how to adjust the easel to be at a point of optimum comfort.  In addition to the basic introduction, we have been looking at blind contour line drawing and various ways to hold the charcoal.  We have learned how to sharpen our pencils so as to create thick or thin line, as well as how to add weight to the line via added pressure.  Each student was allowed time to practice some of this technique as, Professor Fichter issued each of us a shell in which we began to draw rough blind contour lines of the form.  This was challenging as one typically has the use of visual landmarks to assist their form.  I found that my awareness of the shape was relatively sound, however my line weight was not nearly as varied as I had hoped.

It was interesting to see the many different ways that, other students chose to represent the form using a continuous contour line drawing.  I found this practice helpful in training hand-eye coordination.  My findings regarding this practice was, that the use of a thicker piece of charcoal yielded better results, however there was not as great of variable in line width and pressure.  I found the peer critique a useful tool assisting my development as an artist.  This input will greatly help to better interpret and challenge my understand of the visual language of line.

It is my goal in this class to further my ability to use line, in order to add another dimension to my work.  Through the drawing of the human form I will be able to better understand the musculature of the figure.  I can already see that there is much to learn in regards to line and form.  Ultimately what I have learned thus far is a bit of a repeat to previous drawing courses, however I am quite certain that I will learn a great deal, and look forward to the coming weeks to explore areas for personal growth.