How Long Does It Take To Learn To Draw With The Shoulder

Drawing From The Shoulder

This topic has 9 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 4 months agone by Pesto126.

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

Author

Posts
February v, 2016 at x:17 am #993780

Anonymous

Yesterday Maureen brought up a very of import yet much neglected point , when talking well-nigh drawing to Batman , she said –
"Ellipses …. 1 of the best means of learning to draw these confidently and with a fair accuracy is to get large sheets of cheap paper, newsprint, some charcoal or pencil and simply practice drawing the shapes at artillery length …. using the shoulder to describe the shape (circle, ellipse) and draw lots, all over the paper…. the arm learns the movement …. then draw on smaller calibration using the forearm for the movement, sliding the hand round the shape. ….. such learning stops one tightening upwardly by using the wrist and losing the menses of the shape. "

This advice applies to all drawing – at classical drawing schools & life classes they insist you draw whilst standing up & that yous draw large .
The reason for this is because information technology forces you to draw from the shoulder & make large smoothen & clean lines – IT Actually DOES Make A DIFFERENCE !
Outlines & the bug of proportion become "magically" easier , our drawings loosen up – good things that nosotros all desire !

However coming back to the reality of most of our home drawing ready ups we have neither a large stable easel nor an countless supply of very large cartoon paper ! and so how tin we adapt this crucially important device into our more than pocket-size drawing prepare ?

Well let's be realistic , we'll exist sitting downwards Simply instead of resting your arms on a table & restricting your arm move sit about a pes abroad from the table & sit back using the dorsum of the chair to support your back.
Now you will need a drawing board – a flat rigid matter , like a shallow drawer taken from it's chest & turned upside downwardly ? or any bit of flat stuff.
At present remainder one end on the tabular array edge & the other in your lap and then that it forms a secure thirty degree angle, become comfy then your arm has free overall movement.

And so at present y'all are in a comfy sitting position which allows you to move your arm freely & draw from the shoulder just there is anther VITAL ingredient to this arroyo – the way y'all grip your pen/pencil.

We are and so used to picking upward a pen to write with that it has get the but fashion we know how to hold a drawing tool.
For detail & textures etc. in P&I the normal writing grip is perfect of class just for establishing the initial broad lines of the drawing , we tin do a lot meliorate.
Sometimes I utilize a very brusque length of pencil nearly an inch long because that forces me to apply a grip suitable for these purposes , I kind of utilize the side of the point instead of than using the point at a 90 degree angle.
I also have a " Kaweco sport " fountain pen which is very short which positively encourages a dissimilar type of grip to the writing grip.

The most stable grip though is to hold the pencil as I've shown in these 2 photos. They are both of the verbal same grip – simply top & underneath views to brand information technology clear.

I exercise urge you to try this method out to found the broad lines of your drawings – I definitely find that I am a noticeably better draughtsperson when I employ it.

Thank you Mike

February 5, 2016 at xi:36 am #1246473

Mike:)

Thanks, Maureen

Forum projects: Plant Parade projects in the Florals/Botanicals forum , WDE in the All Media Fine art Events , Different Strokes in Acrylics forum .

February 5, 2016 at five:48 pm #1246474

Mike, you lot are an crawly voice in this forum. Thanks for all the mentoring you exercise.

Maureen DID have great communication in suggesting to learn to draw from the shoulder. I have tried both grips that you suggested and utilise the first grip well-nigh exclusively for ellipses and curved lines. The second grip… I have never come to grips with!:lol:

For straight lines I utilize a carpenter'south pencil. In college I got a lot of grief and razzing from my professor about this. Yet, I DID get an A in his form! I had e'er used this pencil, because information technology FORCES me to depict from the shoulder. One cannot depict from the wrist when using it. At present the muscle memory is there.

For ellipses, I measure and marker the top, bottom, and sides, and so draw my ellipse inside those marks, trying to keep all quadrants equal. (Run across attached picture) For practice, I draw ii parallel lines and so draw ellipses between them, filling pages while sitting in front of tv, meetings, and sometimes church building. (Shame on me) One other exercise is to hatch between those parallel lines, starting and stopping at each line. Both these practices have been invaluable to me.

"An creative person should never be a prisoner of himself, prisoner of style, prisoner of reputation or prisoner of success". ~Henry Matisse

February v, 2016 at xi:50 pm #1246479

Mike, you are an crawly vocalization in this forum. Thanks for all the mentoring you practise.

Maureen DID accept not bad advice in suggesting to acquire to draw from the shoulder. I take tried both grips that y'all suggested and use the first grip almost exclusively for ellipses and curved lines. The second grip… I have never come up to grips with!:lol:

For straight lines I utilise a carpenter'southward pencil. In college I got a lot of grief and razzing from my professor almost this. However, I DID get an A in his class! I had always used this pencil, considering it FORCES me to draw from the shoulder. I cannot depict from the wrist when using it. Now the muscle memory is there.

For ellipses, I measure out and mark the peak, bottom, and sides, and so draw my ellipse within those marks, trying to keep all quadrants equal. (Meet fastened picture) For practise, I draw ii parallel lines and and so draw ellipses between them, filling pages while sitting in front of tv, meetings, and sometimes church. (Shame on me) One other practise is to hatch between those parallel lines, starting and stopping at each line. Both these practices have been invaluable to me.

Direct lines freehand with a pen… I've tried using forearm/shoulder for this purpose but haven't got the hang of it yet. *Short* direct lines with a pen… very doable. *Long* directly lines… I will either use a ruler (just I'g beginning to lean away from this) or I will do the same matter I do for the curt straight lines, stopping at every one.5 inches.. and and then starting once more at that point (if done well, y'all won't come across the difference.) If it's a *very* long line that merely needs to be perfect, and so in that instance I always use a ruler.. why wouldn't I?

Feb 6, 2016 at one:00 am #1246475

If it's a *very* long line that only needs to be perfect, then in that case I e'er use a ruler.. why wouldn't I?[/QUOTE]

While I am definitely not a dominion person, I try to never use a ruler simply considering if there is ane perfect line in the cartoon information technology requires all other lines to be perfect or it sticks out like a sore thumb. That'southward my own aesthetics.

"An artist should never be a prisoner of himself, prisoner of style, prisoner of reputation or prisoner of success". ~Henry Matisse

February half dozen, 2016 at 5:17 am #1246477

Anonymous

Straight lines freehand with a pen… I've tried using forearm/shoulder for this purpose just oasis't got the hang of it withal. *Short* straight lines with a pen… very achievable. *Long* directly lines… I volition either use a ruler (but I'g offset to lean abroad from this) or I will do the same thing I practise for the curt direct lines, stopping at every 1.5 inches.. and and then starting over again at that point (if done well, you won't see the difference.) If it'south a *very* long line that only needs to exist perfect, then in that case I always use a ruler.. why wouldn't I?

Yes Blooming is right you lot cannot get away with ruling a line in pen (unless all lines are to be ruled) it will stick out similar a sore pollex. It looks strong & mechanical & out of character with any hand drawn lines.

If y'all lightly describe a pencil line with a ruler & then go over information technology in pen freehand you would find that line would wait fine.
The technique is to put your pen on the begging of the line & and then force yourself to focus your eyes on a signal on the line 2 or 3 inches AHEAD of where your pen tip is , all the way forth & at a reasonable speed also – this is THE way to do information technology.
It kind of feels a bit strange not looking at the tip of the nib at first but you lot will quickly acquire to trust this very old & well tested method used for millennia .

I also worry about your joining upwards the dashes a long line will definitely exist improve , more natural looking & beautiful if information technology is fabricated in one stroke, whether a curved or directly line.
Once again using a pencil nether drawing if y'all like, look at the line , "draw" information technology a few times in the air hovering your pen a few mm above the surface of the page , get the feel of it & than immediately put your pen bill to touch the folio & brand the line , at a reasonable speed .
Don't be too concerned that the pencil line is exactly replicated , it is more than important that your line is a polish & fluid one – with life.
This "dummy run" technique is another very old one where you establish a curt term memory of your lines' journey earlier making it – get into the habit of using it when drawing direct too without pencil guide lines – it will serve you well.

Your staccato line making technique will forestall you from progressing into the whole flow & spirit of a drawing it will concur you back.
Drawing is non a result ie. a series of marks made on a piece of newspaper it is a Live Result ! a dance , of exploration & discovery , of risk taking , of flourishes & quieter passages.
The resulting image from that dance is like the footmarks left in the sand where the dancers pes fell on each footstep.
It matters very much to the finished image HOW you fabricated the mark & what frame of mind & middle y'all were in when you made information technology . IT SHOWS
Mike

February vi, 2016 at 1:01 pm #1246476

I've never tried drawing like that. I've heard people say they cant describe a straight line so I practiced straight lines offset. At piece of work we had grafts and I did about 4 or 5 a day every xxx minutes for about i years and so when I had my first art class she said if you can't draw a straight line use a ruler. Now even thought i of my straight lines are straight some are beginning to get wavy. I'llhave to give it a try. Thanks for the info.

February 6, 2016 at 11:eleven pm #1246480

While I am definitely not a rule person, I try to never use a ruler only because if there is ane perfect line in the drawing information technology requires all other lines to be perfect or information technology sticks out similar a sore pollex. That'south my own aesthetics.

I'm aware of this, though.. it's normally not just 1 line. Usually I'll have a set of lines that demand to be ruled, the tiling on a flooring for example, and that'southward it unremarkably. For me it seems to piece of work well this way. There's a way to utilise ruled lines correctly, trust me.

Feb 6, 2016 at eleven:24 pm #1246481

If you lightly describe a pencil line with a ruler & and then become over it in pen freehand you would find that line would look fine.
[B]The technique is to put your pen on the begging of the line & then force yourself to focus your eyes on a point on the line 2 or 3 inches Ahead of where your pen tip is , all the way along & at a reasonable speed too – this is THE way to do it.[/B]
It kind of feels a bit strange non looking at the tip of the nib at first but you will quickly acquire to trust this very sometime & well tested method used for millennia .

I've been trying to practice information technology this manner, simply in that location is some little glitch somewhere that I tin't identify as all the same. I still remember I'm improving, though.. making 2-3 inch lines then stopping and joining is better than what I used to do, if y'all can believe that! I utilise to just make a crap-load of one-half-centimeter marks and "build" a line with that. Sometimes I still use this when I shouldn't, but in that location are other times when a carefully built-up line is 100% necessary (highly detailed areas, the features of a small human being confront, etc.)

Anyway, sooner or later I'll be transitioning into the method you lot describe or at to the lowest degree some shut culling. It's hard to unlearn these established habits! For me it is, anyway. I took a keyboarding form in high schoolhouse, having always had my own "ii-3" finger method that worked pretty well. I did well in the class and effectively learned to type the right fashion. But a couple months later, I was back with the ol' wrong method once more, which I still use to this day!

February seven, 2016 at three:40 am #1246478

Anonymous

I've been trying to do it this style, merely there is some little glitch somewhere that I can't identify as yet ……………
I took a keyboarding form in high school, having always had my ain "ii-3" finger method that worked pretty well. I did well in the form and effectively learned to type the right way. Merely a couple months after, I was dorsum with the ol' incorrect method again, which I still apply to this day!

Yer well I'thousand sure we tin can all relate with that , we are all creatures of habit for sure.
I'1000 around golfers quite a fleck (although I don't play at all myself) & there is a school of thought universally held that when taking upwardly the sport at whatsoever historic period, it is best to commencement with a professional lesson or two to develop a proficient "swing". "If you don't you lot'll get into bad habits which are difficult to unlearn ".
Ain't that the truth !:lol:

I think though if you can convince yourself, though your own feel, that a certain "swing" produces vastly superior results – so that will give you sufficient motivation to practice it & change your modus operandi .
Mike
Author

Posts