Project - Gestural Torso Boxes

954
Course In Progress

Project - Gestural Torso Boxes

954
Course In Progress

Level 1

Imagine the body with the limbs, arms, legs, and neck removed, focusing on the boxy area from the shoulders down to the hips.

The goal is to turn, twist, and lean this box to mimic poses. You can also bloat certain areas to represent the rib cage or hips. This exercise helps to practice intuitively drawing dynamic forms in perspective. Draw these simplified torso boxes from your imagination. Believe it or not, doing this from photos can actually be more challenging because of the anatomy that can be distracting and hard to interpret.

  • Fill multiple pages with these simplified forms.
  • Aim for at least 20 different torso boxes.
  • Experiment with various angles, twists, and poses.
  • If you struggle with certain poses, try them again with slight variations.

Level 2

I've attached some photos for you to work with, that you could find in the downloads tab. You'll notice each photo is numbered. Please label your drawings with the corresponding photo you're drawing to help me and the community give you a critique. Otherwise it would be very difficult to know which box matches each photo.

Draw the same dynamic torso boxes from the photos. Focus on interpreting the overall shape and gesture rather than copying anatomical shapes. The goal is to capture the essence of the pose in a simplified form.

Exaggeration

If you'd like to make it even more challenging, you can exaggerate the pose. Exaggeration can make your poses more dynamic and interesting. To exaggerate effectively imagine a baseline or neutral pose, observe how the actual pose differs from it, and push those differences further. Be careful not to overdo it. Subtle exaggerations often work best, maintaining believability while enhancing the dynamism of the pose.

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Deadline - submit by July 9, 2024 for a chance to be in the critique video!

Newest
Aleksander Steinsbekk
Did some drawings in level 2. All feedback is appreciated.
The guy from BluishDot
Here are some attempts at level 1 and level 2. Critiques are highly appreciated.
Melanie Scearce
These look great. The only one I see differently is this one, I would reverse the S curve to match the curve of the spine since he's hunching over.
Jack H
18d
Here are my attempts. Level 2 are the labelled ones. Weirdly enough, I found level 2 easier than level 1. Maybe it's because I don't really have the visual library to confidently draw the torsos from imagination. My L1 ones look a bit weird, and number 10 on level 2 is a bit confusing to find the center line. Any feedback/critique will be appreciated!
@josephl
24d
Here are my level 1 and 2 attempts after each video. Definitely felt like I improved a little bit, I think I had the most trouble with some of the photo references and then just thinking of new torso poses from imagination that I haven't done was hard too.
Rachel Dawn Owens
You did great!
Zeev
29d
I was feeling to dependent on refs, this exercise was very fun and good to learn reference on a more free way
Biruh Abadi
wow, so cool
Vili
29d
I found a funny way by drawing a box (torso) trying to catch a ball haha it helps me to draw a new posture from imagination (foreshortening, twisting)
Biruh Abadi
very nice.
Vili
1mo
I tried 2 more before the next lesson ! ✌️
Melanie Scearce
You definitely have the right idea! I think the next step is to see how far you can exaggerate relationship of the forms. Push the pinch and stretch of the torso in these poses and you'll add a lot of energy to your boxes.
Scott N
1mo
Level One, before watching demo videos. Great exercise, very challenging. In some cases I ghosted in a 'straight' box and then drew the twisted shape over the top, that helped me to figure out where to place corners etc. On some of the forms, that had a lot of rotation, I had trouble working out the placement of the contour lines as they disappeared and reappeared from view.
Yves Malan
1mo
I can't figure out what's wrong about the drawing that make me feel like the person isn't turning its torso! Thank in advance for the comments
Angiev
1mo
Hi Yves, I gave it a shot. I emphasised with some line width and darker lines where I think the issue is on the torso alon with the perspective try with the legs. You're picture inspired me. Now that I think about it not sure if the perspective in legs is quite right and my head is alittle off. I think I got the angle of his shoulders. I saw that right away in yours.
Vili
1mo
Hi about the reference one, i would have some advices before i do others references i tried first with only one boxe, then i watch the demo, it looks easier with 2 boxes, so i tried Wich one of mine is the "best" for the exercice ? Or some advices/explanations pls 🙏 Thank you all ✌️
Rachel Dawn Owens
These are great! I like how you added some character to the boxes. I love to see some creativity added to these projects. Keep doing that. For the second page with the model, I made these drawovers- Hope it helps. You did awesome! Can’t wait to see more :)
Zeev
1mo
I guess sometimes I kinda more did gestural torsos than gestural boxes, for habit. But it's a nice assignment, to remember to keep in mind the planes changes/perspective of the body.
Melanie Scearce
You nailed it!
@writedrawface
I could really use some guidance on twisting the boxes. No matter what I do I just can't seem to get them right. I marked all the ones I wanted to twist with an X above them. If anyone could provide some feedback I'd really appreciate it. Thank you
Andrea Böhm
I drew the red/black versions before watching Proko's demo, the blue ones I've drawn while watching the demo. I could have definitely pushed the gesture in the red/black versions much more.
Petr
2mo
My lvl 1- nice exercise i enjoy it. Thanks
@sweethouse
Here are my level one torso boxes. I feel like I could maybe be a bit more dynamic with some of my poses, a fun exercise I'd like to try doing with other form shapes!
@madin
2mo
First one is level one, next three were from the references. I feel like i could have exaggerated certain poses more.
ceres
3mo
Level 1 torso boxes! I didn't think I'd enjoy making these so much. Sometimes feel like i pushed it too far, but I'm really trying to train my brain to understand twisting movements better.
Melanie Scearce
Beautiful work!
Niklas Nilsson
Nose Feratu
Some "boxes" were more challenging than others. Again, mixed results. But I liked the exercise.
ALEX FLORENSA
more exercises! (level1)
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Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.
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