Remember that gesture is not the contour, so don't just copy the outlines. Look for the movement and energy throughout the shapes. Use your whole arm and use the looser sketch line that we learned about.

Level 2 - Draw from Memory or Imagination

Start with the level 1 project and after 5 to 10 poses, turn the page, put away all the reference photos and do more drawings from imagination or from memory.

You can try to invent your own poses and design those shapes to be dynamic. Or you can try to remember the poses you already drew and use those as inspiration. Try to push and design with a focus on drawing dynamic shapes. It doesn't matter how accurate you get to the original photo, it's more about designing the shapes to look dynamic and interesting.

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Deadline for submissions to be included in the video critique is next Thursday (8/24/23)

* Because of the large amount of reference images, it would help a lot of you include the reference you used for each drawing. I'm more likely to select your submission for the critique. Thank you!

Alison Shelton

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I found this challenging and fun. I can see growth before and after the demo. I definitely need more practice. I’lol keep trying these types of drawings. One thing I notice is that I always push too hard. I have a hard time making light marks. I keep trying and failing at that. Any suggestions?

Alison Shelton

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I have been doing Inktober this month to encourage me to draw even more. Ink drawings are difficult but fun. After doing all the sea lions lately I decided to do a sea lion for Inktober. Also, I’m from California, one of the easiest ways to tell the difference between seals and sea lions is that sea lions have ears. I’ll attach a couple infographics for anyone who is interested.

@na_talie

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Here are my attempts. Critique is very welcome, thank you! :) Level 1:

Melanie Scearce

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You're doing great! You're finding good gesture in these seals. My advice would be just to keep pushing your shapes. You might want to add a little bit of weight to your seals so you have more to work with. Focus on where the weight is resting and where there is movement/energy flowing. Look for areas where there is stretching counterbalanced by pinching on the other side and really emphasize that. I did a couple examples below where I pushed what you already had just a bit more. Take it too far, and then reel it back. Have fun exploring :)

@na_talie

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Level 2: The first one is simply drawn from memory, the other two are meant to be dancing ;)

Mal

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10d

I absolutely love seals! I think they may be my second favorite animal with cats being first, so I really enjoyed this assignment! After taking the picture, I should have drawn the seals and sea lions darker. The drawings in color are the ones done without reference.

Grant

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12d

Here is my submission. I really struggled with trying to decided how to design the shapes so that the eye would follow the line of action that I saw but it’s very difficult for me to wrap my head around the concept. I think after I watch the demonstration video I will have a better understanding of design and what to look for in a subject.

Alison Shelton

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I love how you captured the whimsical nature of the animals.

Chuck Ludwig Reina

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10d

Looks good! You seem to be getting the idea, even if it is only subconsciously. And yeah, the concept is a little alien at first until you realize you see it and feel it all the time, even if you don't notice. So the trick is to start to pay attention to what your eyes are doing as they look at a shape. I sometimes like to wave my hand in the air, as if im feeling the shape moving. It seems woo woo and crazy but I swear it works.

@yearly7777

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15d

I have sealed the deal. Had a lot of fun in this one. Although after watching the demo and critiques I have noticed that my first attempt was lacking structure

C. A. Corbell

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20d

Seals! It was really interesting drawing these, focused on the gesture curve and the energy I wanted to emphasize. I think it loosened me up a lot from worrying about drawing the subject, because I wasn't trying to reproduce it but to interpret it.

Alison Shelton

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The one relaxing on the rock is my favorite. It’s so cute and expressive.

C. A. Corbell

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19d

Watching the demo now, and one thing I noticed I did differently from Stan's first example is that I always started these with a center gesture line going through where I wanted to put my shape, whereas he started (at least on the first one) drawing the outline (even though he said to focus on the gesture not the outline). I erased my gesture lines in the posts I've shared but they really helped me stay focused on the gesture and energy of each figure rather than focusing on the outlines. One 'rule' I did break is erasing - I will try another set without erasing. The problem I have is curve accuracy even when trying to draw with my shoulder - something I'm working on with exercises, but often the first curve I put down even after ghosting it is just wrong and it takes some practice (and erasing) to get it right. In the next set I'll leave the trail of mistakes.

Flo

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20d

I realy had fun with these assignment. Some seals are better than others a few are follow alongs to the demo.

@bezet

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21d

Level 1. I drew these before watching the demo.

Austin Uhrich

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22d

A couple of gesture drawings use the seal references

Alice Charlington

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29d

My attempts at some seals

@silver847

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1mo

I think I did well on this. I really tried to keep those pinch points in mind as well as looking for asymmetries. I also wanted to push shapes when I could without losing the idea.

@wegneran

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29d

aww i love seals!!!! Fantastic!!!

Daniel Divinus

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1mo

Sample of my seals.

@wegneran

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29d

THESE SEALS ARE ADORABLE

@ironfern

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1mo

Hello this is my submission for the assignment. I studied 8 seals and drew a couple from imagination. I got into the composition I made from the seals so I added couple of jumping fish the seals were looking at. I'd appreciate any feedback! Thank you!

Rachel Dawn Owens

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29d

Looks like you’re getting some pretty dynamic shapes. There’s energy to these drawings. Slow down and stretch out your marks. This can give your drawings even more energy and intention. It gets easier with practice. Keep it up!

Henry

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1mo

The focus was not to waste too much time on each drawing. And thinking more about Energy. The concept is so foreign to me in drawing so more practice. I welcome all feedback. Thank you!

@lynnare

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1mo

Can’t wait to watch the demo and see what I actually was meant to do :D

@brimarie

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1mo

Great job- they look very dynamic to me!

Evander

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1mo

gave this one a shot. I honestly had no idea what I was doing while drawing from imagination (left page).

KYMI

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1mo

i try my best

Rachel Dawn Owens

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1mo

He’s so cute!

@chrisdzy

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1mo

Experimenting with ideas traditionally with this one was eating my paper fast so I loaded up procreate instead. Awesome project! Got a bit carried away, sue me XD