How To Warm-Up For Gesture Drawing - Part 01

Warming up for gesture drawing is as important as stretching before running a track meet in the Animation and Entertainment Industry. These videos (Part 01 and Part 02) discuss why it's so important to warm-up and show you detailed sketches and practices along the way. With the picture-in-picture view you can see how I select and make my choices and interpretations.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Mark
• McDonnell
• Cre8tivemark
• Cre8tivmarks
• Cre8tivemarks.com
• markmcdonnell.blogspot.com
• Character
• Design
• Development
• Animation
• Book
• Gesture
• Drawing
• Tutorial
• Background
• Graphic
• Video
• Game
• Gaming
• Prop
• Tinkerbell
• Disney
• The
• Walt
• Company
• Pixar
• Blue
• Sky
• Studios
• Artist
• Dreamworks
• Princess
• and
• the
• Frog
• Warner
• Brothers
• WB
• Toon

[AIMANALI]

i am new at this so please pardon the silly question. Can you tell me why the board is at an angle...why not just a paper on a desk ? please anyone

[Cre8tivemark]

@AIMANALI,

This is not a silly question by any means. The reason the board is at an angle is to alleviate distortion. When you are drawing it's best to have your Cintiq, light table or board at an angle to make sure your at a relaxed angle for your shoulder and hand to work (and to save your neck from getting sore) but also for our eyes to see the whole image slightly at a distance so we don't get a disproportionate image(s).

I hope that makes sense.

Best,

MAC

[Cre8tivemark]

Creamytarte,

I have read Preston's book, and I do own one in my house. I did use it quite a bit in the beginning of my career and it was very helpful. My only slightly negative comment is that does feel like an older sense of design, however it's the ideas and the words that are the most important and can be applied to any sense of design. If you are interested, I have published a book: The Art and Feel of Making It Real. It is very helpful and can be found on Amazon if need be.

MAC

[Cre8tivemark]

Garrettr11,

Be committed, have a plan - know what you're interested in acquiring and have the passion to see it through. If it's what you would like to do, make sure you dive in and give it your all.

[Cre8tivemark]

Thank you for all the kind comments guys.

Jingematz,

I do draw everyday . . . the amount is different but it's important to not loose the feel of the pen/pencil/stylus with a day off.

HDibbles,

My biggest influence is a variety of things that came along at the right time I suppose. I do really enjoy Frank Frazetta, Marcelo Vignali, Mort Drucker, Hans Bacher and many many more artists. The blogging world is pretty amazing and such a great way to get to see many different artists work.

[semillion29]

How old were you when you started drawing?

[Cre8tivemark]

Semillion29,

I drew as a kid but it was not until I graduated from college that I really decided to take it seriously and really pursue it as a goal and a vocation.

[bigballsracoon]

I love drawing, is like eating all the reality you see and vomiting into your own interpretation. Your own way to express the things u see

[Leefuuxx]

I really like what you said,

"You're not trying to copy what is infront of you but take in it and interpret it."

None of my art teachers/professors have ever told me this before, and maybe I won't see this as much of a headache from now on. :) Thank you.

[Irudiar]

xD Hit the nail on the head. I have to tell myself not to get hung up on the small details.

[AlexandoriaART]

Dude.. what you just did in 10 seconds, i couldn't do in 30 minutes o.o

I need to learn this!

[msciolny]

love it

[kgsaigon1]

I like pirates, i like this video!

[Joshb81959]

I recently bought Force: Character Design from Life Drawing by Michael D. Mattesi.. I havent read a whole lot of it yet, but I did skim it.. and when I saw this video.. I knew I had seen that pirate somewhere. :p

[ghostie7790]

Wow. i just watched "John Tucker must die" on FX, and then i click this video and he says "John Tucker modeling as a pirate". LOL. Love my life.

[LastRqss]

im taking gestures from dance videos. is that considered gesture drawing or is that more general movement. like maybe something an animtor should be studying and not a character designer?

[AIMANALI]

@Cre8tivemark lastly is it advisable to place ANY part of my hand on the paper at anytime during drawing (actual drawing) ? i notice that you do not, it seems.