How to Achieve Rhythm in Your Figure Drawing

[@Drawing-Life]

Hi! Thanks for watching! :) hope you enjoy the video, let me know in the comments what are your thoughts on achieving a sense of rhythm in your drawing? I hope this video is helpful to you in your figure drawing practice, thanks again for stopping by! 😊

[@susannyc2]

You so clearly expressed why you’re doing what you’re doing in this video! Really helpful as I try to break away from a lifelong addiction to detail. 😊

[@Drawing-Life]

Hi Susan, oh that's wonderful feedback to hear, I am so glad that I explained it clearly!! Glad this is helpful! I was just saying to someone else here that the gestural approach, ie by not focusing on details, allows for a more selective way of drawing that can balance those times when you want to make a very detailed drawing. Hope that makes sense - detail and expression can both feed into your overall process, one doesn't necessarily have to replace the other. Thank you so much for this thoughtful comment, and for watching! Appreciate your support :)❤

[@Khaotic_Reign]

My art teacher linked me this video because I was having trouble understanding exactly what rhythm is and figure drawing, And this helped a lot and helping me to understand exactly what it is and how to add rhythm to figure drawing… and I got to tell you you are absolutely incredible!👌🏻

[@Drawing-Life]

Wow thank you that is so kind to say!! I'm really glad you found this video and that it made sense to you!! Things like rhythm, and flow or emphasis in a drawing can seem really abstract when you are drawing the figure, especially if you are drawing the live model. But it becomes second nature once you can connect with the drawing / seeing process. So, do life drawing as much as you can, and it will start to make more sense. Always here if you have any questions! 🫶

[@Khaotic_Reign]

@@Drawing-Life you are so very welcome, and thank you so much, I really appreciate that...and I might have to take you up on that offer, cause I really want to get better. Thank you very much!😊

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

Beautiful deft technique and what a wonderful fluid pose!! :-)

[@rosemarybunch6846]

Hi Siobhan! With this video you are giving me answers to my perplexity, from your previous video: why my drawings have no life. I will watch this video several times. I notice that it not only is the line quality to give rhythm, hence life, but also the way you make the light bounce on the figure. I think that it is there that the magic happens and what I am not good at. Yes, I do try to draw from life at a coffee shop, for example, but I am too slow in catching the poses. I don't understand how people can do that. Oh well ... Thank you again for this useful video, like always! 😊

[@Drawing-Life]

Ah yes Roberta! You got it, that's exactly it, so well put! :) thank you for your comment, Line quality is so expressive, and you just need to practice your mark and see how you can make your drawing tool "say" or express your feeling or ideas. It's a fundamental part of the drawing skill set, but often not really taught. I'll definitely make more videos about practical ways to improve line quality, but thank you so much for your questions and support on this channel, it means a lot. Let me know how you get on! :)

[@jeconquy]

very clear as usual and great drawing. Grand!

[@jesusenriquesanzanton58]

Me encanta como dibuja. Gracias por sus leciones!!

[@LucJMVanAssche]

Hi Siobhan. Thanks for sharing. And also for the link. I am learning every day. Very grateful.

[@shiggypop8185]

HI Siobhan, I have just started a figure drawing class once a week - session 3 today, and yes, you're right, there is so much to take in. We have looked at contour, gesture and today the searching line. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed but excited at the same time. I love the combination of gesture and line quality that you talk about here and the result is a simple but expressive and emotive drawing - I love it. I'm going to have a go next time. Thanks.

[@Drawing-Life]

hi! thank you so much for this comment, this is great to hear. That's really exciting to be starting your figure drawing journey - wow amazing times ahed! Enjoy. It sounds like the drawing sessions are taught, so that's good to know, you really need some kind of guide through it all. Hope the videos help you as well, let me know if you have any questions! :)

[@shiggypop8185]

@@Drawing-Life Will do thanks. Also, love your Bladerunner poster.... it;s my all time fave film!!

[@Drawing-Life]

@@shiggypop8185 mine too!! such a great film (let's not mention the reboot ....) I found this poster in a random second hand shop, it's an original double sided, so i was really happy to find it!

[@christianbond1561]

Great demonstration as always- gesture and the shading you do is fantastic- the contour isn’t overly done, when I try this it quickly goes awry, love the channel- thank you

[@Drawing-Life]

Hi Christian! Thank you so much for your comment, and thanks for the support on this channel, that means so much! Glad this one was useful - I think controlling the gesture and shading comes with practice, but definitely keep working on it, because it will "click" , you'll have that breakthrough moment, and you'll find a lot of expression through that, I'm sure of it. Maybe another idea is, to put a time limit on your drawing sessions? i find if I keep working on a drawing, it does also go awry!! So, in a practice or warm up session, stick to a 5, 10 minute drawing, and stop when the timer goes off, so you can't "perfect" it! - just a suggestion! :)

[@jeppisnina]

Thank you! I needed your art and your calm soft voice today

[@Drawing-Life]

ah thank you Nina, that means so much! Thanks for tuning in, and wishing you a further calm and peaceful weekend ❤️

[@peterhodson2791]

Hi Siobhan - I had a go at figure drawing during lockdown. It's been a bit of a stop start journey since then but I enjoy it when I can get a daily practice going. Your videos are brilliant, thank you. The approach you describe resonates with me somehow - maybe it's knowing that we are observing, experiencing and expressing in our own unique way. I'm going to work on my line quality now :-)

[@Drawing-Life]

Hi Peter, that's wonderful to hear - a daily practice is tough to stick to, even a few times or once a week dedicated to drawing takes the pressure off! If you can manage to get to a live figure drawing session that would be great, not sure if you are able to, or if you are currently going to one? I'm so glad this approach resonates - thanks so much for your comment, and thanks for watching :) let me know how you prgress on with your drawing!

[@nidiapearson7409]

I love your videos, just started to watch them not long ago but they are really inspiring. I truly love this kind of drawing. Many thanks!!!

[@Drawing-Life]

Thank you Nidia, that's really wonderful feedback to get, really appreciate it! :)

[@alegraamor1904]

Maravillosa

[@Drawing-Life]

Thank you !! ❤

[@liz-annawaugh8349]

Your videos are great!

[@Drawing-Life]

Ah thank you so much!! Not easy to make videos , but i'm glad if it helps!! Thank you for watching :)

[@adriantenorio6796]

I’m new to your channel. Your work is beautiful! Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I have lots of work and practice to get there but I’ll keep trying.

[@Drawing-Life]

Hi Adrian, thank you so much! That's awesome to hear, I really appreciate that :) So glad you found this channel, let me know how your drawing goes! :)

[@jameshowcroft321]

Awesome demo fantastic drawing , I notice you draw with both hands does that help with the drawing. 🙏👏

[@Drawing-Life]

Hi James, thanks so much for watching ! Yes drawing with your non-dominant hand can help .... but not the way you would expect! It's often a great drawing practice to help you switch into a drawing mode, but the actual marks that you make are very uncontrollable. The natural reaction would be to think that uncontrolled marks are bad, but I find that it helps me a lot. It's not easy to explain, maybe I should make a video about it! I can recommend checking out a book called "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" that will explain the process. Hope this helps! Thank you so much for leaving a comment, really appreciate it 😊

[@jameshowcroft321]

@@Drawing-Life that makes sense . I will read the book thanks . Yeh I had a shoulder replacement ver bad . Slowly slowly back drawing again it taught me to use my left hand for everything for I while so I use it to draw sometimes. I will now use it more . Thanks so much love your work and videos. 👏🙋‍♂️

[@Drawing-Life]

@@jameshowcroft321 Appreciate your support!! Thank you 😊 gosh, sorry to hear about your shoulder - hope you get back to full mobility soon. 💪 Let me know if you get that book and if it makes any sense in your drawing!

[@kimartdrawing]

Very nice

[@kalpanaartwork4230]

Nice 👌 👌 👌

[@LucJMVanAssche]

Hi Siobhan, thank you for sharing. And also the links. I am learning every day a bit more...very grateful.

[@Drawing-Life]

Hi Luc! Ah thanks :) so glad to hear that, thanks for leaving a comment, it's great to hear your feedback. Yeah I forgot to include the link to the pose, so I just added it. Thanks for watching! Let me know if you have any questions

[@LucJMVanAssche]

@@Drawing-Life Yes, just one question. I notice that you rarely draw the shades. Is there a reason for not to? Thanks an kind regards from Antwerp

[@Drawing-Life]

@@LucJMVanAssche no, actually there is no reason at all! Just my way of drawing I guess, I am always using line first. But's its a wonderful way to draw if you can build up shadows slowly and progress the drawing through shading, it give a much more solid feeling to the drawing. Something I must practice more of! :)

[@scottnowlin5842]

Thanks, I like this advice. I see around 4:20 you did some correction with your left hand, nice. I used to try using the non-dominate hand at times. Thoughts on that?

[@Drawing-Life]

Hi Scott! thanks so much for watching and leaving a comment - yes I try to use my non-dominate hand from time to time, but particularly if I'm struggling to draw a difficult detail, I think in this case, at the time you mention, it was just a tricky angle around the shoulder to get right and I switched over to try to draw more faithfully along the contour. This is probably worthy of a video itself, but briefly: as you probably know, the non-dominate hand is more closely linked with the right side of the brain in terms of seeing shapes; whereas the left, analytical side of the brain interprets those shapes as "symbols". So my understanding of the process (and this is my experience too) is that drawing with the non-dominant hand gives you the chance to draw something without imposing on that thing what you "think it should be"! ... for me anyway, that has always meant I can draw better, even though I don't have the same control. It's a complex matter to explain,, but simply put, ... it's a great way to develop your drawing skills! I don't switch over often, just when I know that I can't get something with my right hand, I try with my left hand. Hope this answers your question?

[@scottnowlin5842]

@@Drawing-Life Yes very well, thanks!

[@joejewell5852]

It would really be helpful if we could see the reference photo /model as you draw. As I have a hard time getting rhythm and flow.

[@Drawing-Life]

The reference is not mine so for copyright i can't include in my content. I always leave a link to the pose in the video description

[@w00olf]

What is the GESTURE line of action and how can we find a line of action in any pose

[@Drawing-Life]

The "line of action" is usually from the feet up through the body to the head. How to see it can be as simple as seeing the tilt or direction of the body. I will try to make a video more in depth about how to see the gesture, thanks for the comment!

[@w00olf]

@@Drawing-Life Thank you🌹

[@Drawing-Life]

I made a video for you! :) just published, I hope you find it helpful, let me know! :)

[@w00olf]

@@Drawing-Life 🌺🌺

[@w00olf]

@@Drawing-Life THANK YOU VERY MUCH