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Full course
Learn the basics for how to draw a variety of clothing and drapery. Master the 7 basic folds and understand how fabric interacts with the human figure.
$125
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Educator, painter, and art historian. Author of Figure Drawing: Design and Invention and Gesture Drawing: Dynamic Movement and Form.
LESSON NOTES
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I will show you how to organize pipe and diaper folds without getting lost in the details. We start by mapping out the big silhouette of the drapery over the figure's gesture. I explain how to edit the overwhelming visual information in your reference photos so you can focus on clear forms and tension points. You will learn how to design your folds using large, medium, and small shapes to direct the viewer's eye exactly where you want it. I also break down how to use folds to describe the 3D perspective of the body underneath, rather than just copying what you see.
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DOWNLOADS
drawing-the-folds-on-figures.mp4
1 GB
drawing-the-folds-on-figures-transcript-english.txt
41 kB
drawing-the-folds-on-figures-transcript-spanish.txt
44 kB
drawing-the-folds-on-figures-captions-english.srt
56 kB
drawing-the-folds-on-figures-captions-spanish.srt
62 kB
COMMENTS![]()
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Copying every fold from a reference photo ruins the figure underneath.
Map the broad silhouette and locate the tension points first. This lets you design pipe and diaper folds that guide the eye and reveal the true form.
Here are some "maps", read: studies of the references used in this demo. I had 3 goals: Edit what I see for interest, design shapes for appeal, using gravity and form as the guide.
Oh and an uncredited goal was proportion. I can't help but think the photographer was very clever as the model's head fits neatly in som many places as a natural unit.
Awesome lecture as always.
My two cents: The repetition of similar shapes here kinda becomes a motif so we get unity and variety.
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1mo
Love it. Well said.
LOL "My diaper... I'm old but I'm not that old." XD
Has anyone every suggested calling it a hammock fold?
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1mo
Great suggestion! 😂
Here are my notes for the week. I don't have any questions on these two folds right now, but I know I still need to practice them more.
I watched through and attempted a study of my own of the first reference, taking a slightly different approach following the basic framework of the assignment. I feel like my folds are getting too busy but I’m not sure where to pull them back. I also feel like I generally understand the surface contour but I don’t think my lines are conveying that well and I’m not sure how to improve on that.
After letting it sit in my brain for a while, I think the business issue was not following my plan and getting too wrapped up in the reference, which I’m happier with after taking the eraser too it.
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2mo
Great starts
