Project - Rhythms
Project - Rhythms
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Project - Rhythms
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Rachel Dawn Owens
A little mantra that might help some students on this one.: ’Design. Don’t copy.’
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Rhythm Project Assignment Images.zip
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ASSIGNMENTS

It’s time to draw the figure! Use the rhythms method I showed in the previous lesson to draw the poses from the photo references in the downloads tab.

Deadline for submissions to be included in the video critique is 10/6/2023.

  • Capture the gesture of each pose using rhythms.
  • Spend at least 5 minutes on each pose, ideally 1-2 hours per session. Take breaks as needed.
  • Shoot for accurate proportions by eyeballing placement of the rhythms. Have an idea of where the line will end before you execute the line.
  • Use the the template as a starting point, but observe the pose. Remember that each pose might have some of their own unique rhythms that differ from the template I proposed. This will develop your own rhythms over time.
  • Balance loose, energetic lines with more committed singular lines. Don't let it get too messy. Consider what we've learned about line quality.

Level 2

There are a few ways to make this more challenging. Mix and match based on your comfort and experience.

  • Set a timer for 5 minutes to force yourself to draw only the most important rhythms.
  • If that's too easy, go for 3 minutes.
  • Practice developing the overhand grip.
  • Try charcoal pencils (sharpened like a bullet) on newsprint paper.
  • Add another layer of smaller rhythms indicating the muscle masses. You can add some time to the clock.
Hayden Cremer
I really enjoyed trying the overhand method on this project, combined with the charcoal and newsprint, I see why Stan recommends it! I think at times I got too distracted by details on some of the poses but overall i'm happy with how I captured the rhythm on a good portion of them. * I'm also just now realizing that I struggle to spell the word "Rhythm" on half the pages...
Melanie Scearce
Wow, these are excellent! I love the variety of line weights and softness that you used with the charcoal. Nice work 👍
Tofu
1d
Rhythm assignment (level 1) i did a few days ago. I notice i start to chicken scratch when i cannot figure out what's going on, i think it's also because i don't practice using different body types. Aside from chicken scratching i also noticed i end up focusing on contours (which ends up breaking into different segments) when i am unsure of the rhythm or gesture. After watching the critique video, i think i still look too much on contours and can be looser. There were rhythms and lines that were pointed out in the video that i didn't manage to capture too.
@peter_g
6d
I am seeing progress with every new pose that I do which is satisfying. Something that is inexplicable to me is my tendency to do the drawings smaller and smaller. I have started with the mindset to draw a pose per page because of the size that I was going for but instead I found out to be more confident when I drew smaller, I don’t know if that is a problem to be concerned about or not ( perhaps some inner fear of messing the bigger picture?)
Melanie Scearce
Glad to hear that you're feeling good about your progress! I'll share my observations in regards to the small drawings. I've seen students who feel uncomfortable with drawing with fluid, long strokes, using their whole arm, revert to using shorter lines to compensate. It can indicate a lack of confidence in that case. Small lines don't require practice and conditioning to control. There are some artists however who do beautiful work at a small scale, so the fact that you're working small isn't specifically a problem unless you're using your wrist instead of at least your elbow to make your marks, and using a bunch of short, scratchy lines to make up one long line. Issues can arise from working like that, from physical pain in your wrist over time to your drawings ending up looking stiff and lacking dynamism. Take a look at your process and consider specifically how you're making your lines. I hope that's helpful!
Samer Fakiani
I keep getting back to this assignment. I am learning something new with each session. It is a lot of fun trying to figure out different poses. Here is my latest attempt. All feedback is welcomed and appreciated ❤️
Melanie Scearce
These look awesome! They all have really great flow. You definitely have the right idea here. I'd personally like to see a bit more of the smaller rhythms that are specific to the anatomy. You did a great job finding the line of action and those bigger-picture rhythms. Particularly with the legs, I notice that there is room to create more interesting shapes that produce more movement. The ebook (https://www.proko.com/course-lesson/ebook-rhythms) demonstrates a bunch of good shorthands to use for specific parts of the anatomy. It's a great place to start!
@muddysoul
This looks so good. I can't wait to get to that section. I am at the line master study project atm.
Shreyans
9d
I attempted these poses with the overhand grip using charcoal pencil. Sure handling with overhand grip much harder than I expected, but also I'm kinda confused as to why my line quality is so rough and smudgy, also I'm not able to get that light stroke like Proko using the charcoal pencil. Is it just a skill issue or there's something about the material?? Please give some advice.
Aran Piris Lasaga
I'm having a bit of a hard time adjusting to the overhand grip. Should I keep pushing through with this new grip, or maybe mix it with the tripod grip I’m more comfortable with? I don't mind the discomfort if it's going to make me better. However, right now I feel like the overhand grip forces me to focus so much on my technique that I'm losing track of gesture and rhythm. Has anyone else struggled with this starting out?
@pyeon2005
14d
I’ve probably spent more time on this assignment than any of the others. After watching the demo video, I think my drawing has improved, but I’m still not sure if I’m doing it correctly. I’d really appreciate any feedback.
Zach McCoy
12d
Around the 3rd drawing the shapes ans rythms start to look really nice, and on the 4th onward it looks like you're really starting to get it. I think maybe work to complete all your shapes and be a little more intentional with line weight, but your figures are starting to look very inspired. Keep it up!
Darren
16d
3 min each.
Atomosophere
A few of my own gestures, all 5 minutes. Criticism very welcome, sorry that they’re pale. I have to admit, rhythms is something that mostly goes over my head right now—seeing lines of motion that aren’t actually visible is a challenge I haven’t grappled with before, and I worry that I’m still trying too hard to translate those rhythms into outlines instead of using them more organically. When I try to push my sketches more towards what I’m feeling rather than literally seeing, my shapes get very wiry and sometimes stiff. I’ll keep working steadily until I can at least partially understand this concept.
Zach McCoy
25d
I did a couple more today while watching Stan's demos, but then did a couple more on my own in the last image and I'm starting to get it a little more. My line weight needs more work and my line quality needs to be more consistent, but I'm starting to see and translate more rhythm in my gesture. Progress!
Zach McCoy
12d
Trying to work these in more consistently, because I know it's something I need to continue to improve on. Here are some more I've done
Zach McCoy
27d
Wow, I definitely know that I'm starting to understand things better, but I have such a long way to go. It seems so important to leave indications as you go in a language that you can very intuitively move between, and I'm certainly not there yet. The first couple took longer than 10 minutes(!!) so I stopped resetting the timer after those because it just felt like it was taunting me... I did 6 in just over an hour, but I did feel like towards the end I was moving a little quicker (probably closer to 7 minutes?) The last one I switched to a red colored pencil and I feel like things may have started to click just a bit, which was nice. I think I tend to go dark too fast with graphite, and it makes my drawings messy, where with colored pencils I subvert whatever hardwiring I'm trying to undo with graphite. Comments and suggestions very welcome, thanks for your time!
K. Williams
I have more of these, but I don't really want to share them. To be honest, I've been getting frustrated because I intellectually understand the concepts, but can't get my hand to produce something I like.
Chuck Ludwig Reina
Don't beat yourself up over it. We all start there! It's a little counter intuitive but try getting even looser, even messier. Just have fun with the pencil. If you have fun drawing, and don't beat yourself up for it not being "perfect" you will grow so fast and suddenly you WILL be drawing what you have in your mind. Cheers!
R081n
28d
Hi! What you are experiencing is cognitive dissonance, in a nutshell your brain got the theory but your hand isn't able to keep up. Just keep practicing and eventually it will click :)
Patryk Makosz
a bit of my work
Paul
1mo
Well, this was fun to do. Proportions and really looking at what do I actually see is still a challenge. Also automatically focus on the contour which keeps me away from other lines (and therefore rythems). Although certainly not perfect I am quite happy with how they turned out and I start to notice that i am actually improving. Now im gonna watch how Proko tackles these photos and I think that I will learn a lot more just by watching how Proko draws these. I did most of these with tripod grip but some with overhand grip which, in my opinion, turned out the best.
Samer Fakiani
Here is my results after a full week of daily practice 💪. this assignment become way more enjoyable now. I will give it few more days and then move on to the next one. Any feedback that you could give me would be highly appreciated ❤️ p.s. should i attempt the level two assigment even if i have xero anatomy knowledge or should i skip it? Many thanks!
Estel
2mo
I'm not good at gesture/rhythm drawing, although after watching the videos I think I am starting to get it: I focus too much on outlines and not one dynamic movements. I will keep on doing these exercises.
Chuck Ludwig Reina
Nice work Estel. One thing I find helps is really focusing on drawing through the form. So If I'm drawing a leg for example, I will continue to sweep the line up to find where it has some rhythm with another part of the body. This helps me stay in the flow and give continuity to my drawings. Again, good stuff!
Dylan Bragg
Here's my work over the past couple of days:
Benjamin Gustafsson
Two more from today!
Estel
2mo
These are fantastic!!
Patrick Bosworth
Beautiful rhythms! Great work!
Benjamin Gustafsson
From today's sessions. Will continue practising
@kotka
2mo
I think you really caught the right rhytms! Bra jobbat ju :)
Samer Fakiani
Hello everyone, I watched the lesson video 3 times and the project video about 4 times by now :') . Every time I try to actually do the assignment, it comes out weird and disfigured with no clear rhythm. I find it hard to really observe and make confident decisions while also trying to keep good line quality and interesting shapes. Eventually, I allowed myself to be chaotic and messy. The results (photos below) are nowhere near as clean or interesting as what I’m seeing in the comments, but they’re still way better than my previous attempts. I’m wondering how it’s going for all of you and what your process is for tackling this one. Any feedback is appreciated <3 .
Patrick Bosworth
Nice work, Samer! I really love what you did with the second pose. The simplification of the limbs and the connection between the torso and pelvis feel very rhythmic and fluid. Remember, rhythms are just a tool for exploring connections in the body, they’re not meant to be a finished drawing. That’s why the second pose works so well, the forms feel connected and unified. Even though both poses are built on a similar idea, the first feels stiffer because the rhythms are more separated and static. In the second pose, your limbs flow together with longer, cleaner curves. In the first, there are more stops, starts, and directional changes, which breaks up that sense of flow. A good example is the weight-bearing leg. In the first pose, it reads as three separate parts: the foot, lower leg, and thigh. In the second, you simplified the entire leg into two graceful connected curves, which creates a much stronger gesture. Try to think more like the second pose moving forward. Look for ways to connect separate body parts into one clear, simplified idea first. That strong underlying rhythm will help everything stay unified when you start layering more complexity on top. It’s really difficult to observe and confidently translate what you see into an appealing design, but you’re absolutely heading in the right direction. Keep at it!
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