Sunday, July 25, 2010

Artist "Nightmare" to Draw...

For an artist, a nightmare to draw is called "foreshortening." Foreshortening is a trick of perspective. When you see a person laying down, and it looks like the largest part of their body is their feet, you are seeing foreshortening. Here is a photo example of that, using the timer function on my camera. My feet are HUGE compared to the rest of me. We all know this is not really how I am built (I hope!).



When a model poses laying down, there is a collective groan from the artists because to most foreshortening is difficult. Not me. I relish the challenge. I was the only artist cheering! It is fun to see how to translate something so out of whack into something that makes sense.

How did I do? Do these look like the curvaceous female model we had at the Bakehouse Art Complex?






All of these are 11 x 14 inches, ink on watercolor paper. 

Smiles,
Angeline Marie of
Angeline Marie's Fine Art

PS: To Rosie Brown, THANK YOU for your compliment on my post. 




4 comments:

Jason L. Eldridge said...

They look spot on to me. The proportions make sense to my eyes and brain. I would say that is successful!

JJ said...

A-M: I am happy to hear that foreshortening is a nightmare even for artists. I tried to learn it years ago to no avail. I bought dozens of books, and none helped. I guess you either have it or you don't. Watch out for Sasquatch!

Talon Dunning said...

Your assessment of foreshortening is correct (it's the creation of the illusion of space through the application of forced perspective on an object or figure), however, I'm not sure about how "nightmarish" it is to "most" artists. I suppose it depends on your level of natural ability and training. Honestly, foreshortening is really basic, entry-level stuff. I myself figured it out on my own, somewhere around junior-high, I believe, although it was covered in my fundamentals perspective class my freshman year in college, since it is, essentially, a matter of basic one-point perspective.

I imagine, Ang, that your class is less of a "class" a more a "pay-by-session figure drawing opportunity" sort of thing, meaning that anyone can show up and draw the model and that there is very little in the way of actual instruction by a learned professor. If that's true, then I'm guessing that most of your classmates are amateurs, beginners and hobbyists, which probably explains why they feel frustrated with this sort of thing. It would probably behoove them to learn the basics of one- and two-point perspective, instead of thinking of it as a figurative problem.

Your pics look great. Keep it up!

Angeline said...

Jason: Thanks!
JJ: Writing is your thing! I would not know where begin, and often copy writing samples. Ok, maybe not copy, but at least try to fill in the blanks with my info.

Talon: Actually, yes, the "class" would be better described as "pay by session figure drawing opportunity" sort of thing. ;)

I honestly do not know in which category most of the group fit: amateurs, beginners or hobbyists. All I can say is that they groaned, and think it as a figurative problem. As for thinking it is one and two point perspective, that must be the way my brain is wired, because I never thought of it that way.

Most of the class tried to draw either only her face or all of her with details. For the short times she posed, I figured (no puns intended) to not even try. It helps that I have had formal studio time with an art instructor (guide) and a model.

LOVE your comment, by the way. THANK YOU!!!!!

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