@Jesper Axelsson suggested making this type of board, so I gave it a try. Actually, this is the first time I ever put words on what my goal is. As you see, it's still pretty abstract. That is because I am not ready to commit to being a comic artist, a fine artist, or something else. I suspect that when my skill grows, I might have a better idea. When I read the suggestion, I was listening to the Draftsmen episode about Art Parents, on my way home from work. I tried very hard not to include too many dads (and moms) here. Did my best to identify why these particular artists make me happy and amazed whenever I see their work. I'm a very instinctual person so identifying specifics can take quite a while for me to figure out. I chose images that best represent what I feel that each Art Parent does that I like, and tried putting words it.

Hey, I am in the same situation as you, on the same quest and a full-time job in a profession I dream of abandoning every day for the art dream I've had all my life. Found the draftsmen podcast, and it changed my habits for the better. I'm also doing the "DIY Artschool" from Reddit, currently on box 146. Just wanted to say if you want some support, send me and DM. We can help each other out! Peace

First try. The front view is much easier than the back! This video breaks everything down in a really logical way and it's easy to remember what goes where.

This was the most challenging assignment yet. I'm struggling to simplify shapes into boxy shapes when beans and cylinders feel very natural. While I can imagine and draw any box in perspective, as soon as I start to put two boxes in relationship to each other, I think I start to second-guess and get distracted by their spatial relationship. Folded poses and extreme poses with a low horizon level are the hardest. These were my first tries after this video. I used Yoni refs for the poses. What should I do?

The hardest parts are those you can't see but know should be there. Skinny figures are way harder than muscular ones!

Good evening everyone. I always struggle a bit with these kind of exercises. Finding it especially hard to simplify into boxes, rather than round shapes, and seeing/understanding when to "switch" the direction of cross countours to emphasize movement in relation to the bigger shapes, especially when I am paying attention to the horizon line. Any tips om how I can think about it while planning the direction of the shapes? Feel free to draw over my pictures 🙂

I wanted to focus on capturing the gesture in as few lines as possible, and remind myself not all lines have to connect. I learned wearing headphones and listening to music really helps. I think just having a beat pumped into your head keeps you focused.

My attempt at Marshall's 5 line challenge - I did no time limit, but wrote the times next to most of them. I think this was super helpful after trying to learn gesture for the last few weeks and slowly improving with the 30s and 2 min versions. I welcome any feedback! The original pics I took with my phone were really terrible, so I used the auto-leveler on paint.net to improve the contrast. That's why the lighting looks a bit weird.

This is an excellent mix of various issues that helped me to identify my own. I went back after this video and tried to apply the "medicine" to my gesture drawings. The second time, I did air drawing before putting down the curves and tried using simpler longer ones. I feel like my gestures became more healthy (less busy somehow?) and less detailed for the 2 minute poses.

I dont know.. I just started the course.. Is it possible, that this is already to difficult for an absolute beginner? I was trying to draw gestures now 45 minutes and the first one (attached) is the only one, which i can say it looks at least similar like a woman body.. All the others I erased direct.. I understand the concept of the gestures, but I dont know where to start and how to build it.. I watched the video several times, but i dont get it.. :-(

Some understanding of gesture and anatomy has made my artwork 150% more disturbing. Great success.