Figure Drawing and Painting

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Figure Drawing and Painting

• Proportions and accuracy are critical
• Ability to capture the pose or gesture of the
  pose
• Figure should hint at who the person is through
  expressive gestures

Submitted by Jeanne Bjork, Pewaukee High School,
Pewaukee, WI
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Standard Proportions

• Heads are used instead of inches.
• The human figure is an average of 7 heads high.
• The width from shoulder to shoulder is 3 heads
  width.
• The distance from the hip to the toes is 4 heads.
  
• The distance from the top of the head to the
  bottom of the chest is 2 heads.

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• The distance from the wrist to the end of the
  outstretched fingers of the hand is 1 head.
• The length from top to bottom of the buttocks is
  1 head.
• The distance from the elbow to the end of
  outstretched fingers is 2 heads.
• All these "ideal" measurements vary from model to
  model.

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Historical Views of the Figure

• Leonardo Da Vincis Vitruvian Man
• Vitruvius was an architect and said
• See hand out for measures used

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Michelangelos Figure

• Anatomically correct
• Detailed
• Musculature is emphasized
• Idealized, but realistic

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Salvador Dali

• Dali, Figure At Window
• Emphasis on total scene not just figure
• Moody lighting
• Landscape combined with figure
• Gestural
• Lack of face adds interest and makes you wonder
  who, what, where, when

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Edgar Degas

• Dancers similar to the Dali in approach

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Norman Rockwell

• Triple Self Portrait
• Pose alludes to his profession
• Humor is his trademark
• Ode to other famous self portraits

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Diego Rivera

• Stylized figure, color emphasis and shape

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Alice Neel

• Unusual color, super real in the depiction,
  almost grotesque, not 3-d flattened

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Pablo Picasso

• Simple line to depict the form
• Emphasis on form, real yet abstract
• Not about the person more about the pose and
  composition

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Phillip Pearlstein

• Very realistic, interesting interaction of
  figures on page, emphasis on composition

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Your Assignment

• Develop a self portrait that includes a view of
  you in full figure
• Try to pick a pose that is unique to you and gets
  at who you are or what your personality is
• This could be lifesize
• Media is your choice
• Must be realistic