Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Drawing Human Figures In Pencil, Charcoal And Ink

By Helen Baker


When it comes to drawing and sketching, there are several different mediums which can be used. One of which is drawing human figures in pencil. Whether sketching an acquaintance, colleague, friend or art model, it is important to pay attention to detail. Whether attending class, posing as an art model, or simply sketching for fun, drawing is one area of study which many people find challenging and enjoyable.

The proper term for this type sketching is called figure drawing. When a live model is being used, the correct term is life drawing. One reason being that the artist is then drawing from observation. Whereas, drawing of the human form can refer to a number of different shapes, sizes and postures and many different types of mediums.

Life and figure drawing are the two most difficult aspects in this genre. While this is the case, the plethora of art classes in drawing, sketching and other areas now being offered at museums, colleges and universities is on the rise. As a result, there are now more artists working with these different mediums than in quite some time.

Different artists take different approaches when drawing the human form. For example, some may draw from photographs while others may use skeletal models. Whereas, some artist may draw solely from inspiration and memory. While this is case, most denounce drawing from photographs due to past comes which have often fallen flat in comparison to other mediums.

As with other areas of the art world, light and dark play an integral role in some aspects. Using light and dark when participating in life drawing can have majestic effects when used against body surfaces. Many artist also use this process to create various shadows in and among various artwork. One of the most popular areas of the art world in which this technique is used is in photography.

While some artists prefer to work with crayons, charcoal or black, white and colored ink, many artists prefer to use a graphite pencil. Being that graphite is most commonly used in figure drawing, pencils are often sold in various formulations of intensity. These formulations range from very soft to very hard with medium soft and medium hard formations also available. Like charcoal, pencil drawings can be manipulated and erased.

Some artists prefer to draw in pencil then retrace with ink. While this is a valid artistic process, it does eliminate the ability to correct mistakes. Whereas, many 17th and 18th century artists liked to start with a colored tone then add shade in black while portraying any highlights in white using either crayon or ink. Whereas, others would be found using more vibrant colors when it came to artists like Matisse, Monet and others.

As artists have been drawing the human figure since prehistoric time, it has remained a viable and popular art form for centuries. However, it has only been since the late 19th century that women were admitted into figure and life drawing classes. In fact, a number of historical documents show that nude models for aspiring female artists were largely unavailable at the time. As such, women have come along way in the art world as well as the world at large.




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