Lesson Goals/Objectives

Goals
Students will gain an understanding of the importance of
gesture drawing in planning and executing successful
drawings.

Objectives
Students will be able to use line and the other elements
and principles of design to communicate ideas as
they complete a series of 5 gesture drawings as a
formative assessment.
Students will be able to demonstrate competence in the
use of ideas, materials, techniques, and processes in
the creation of works of visual art as they complete a
series of 5 gesture drawings in graphite and charcoal as
a formative assessment.

SC State Standards: High School Level 3

Standard 1: The student will demonstrate competence in the use of ideas, materials,
techniques, and processes in the creation of works of visual art.
VAH3-1.4 Apply materials, techniques, and processes with skill, confidence, and
sensitivity sufficient to make his or her intentions observable in the artwork that he or
she creates.
VAH3-1.5 Use a variety of art materials, tools, and equipment in a skillful, safe, and
responsible manner.
Standard 2: The student will use composition and the elements and principles of design
to communicate ideas.

National
Grades
9 and
12 principles of design and
VAH3-2.2 Create works
of visualStandards:
art that use the
elements
other
compositional
strategies.
Standard
1: Understanding
and applying media, techniques, and processes
Proficient: Students apply media, techniques, and processes with sufficient skill,
confidence, and sensitivity that their intentions are carried out in their artworks
Students conceive and create works of visual art that demonstrate an understanding of
how the communication of their ideas relates to the media, techniques, and processes
they use.
Advanced: Students communicate ideas regularly at a high level of effectiveness in at
least one visual arts medium. Students initiate, define, and solve challenging visual arts

What is a gesture
drawing?
A drawing that
is done quickly
to express the
essential feeling
and form of an
object/figure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-cl=85
114404&x-yt-ts=1422579428&feature=player
_embedded&v=
0W2Skl5Ftc8

Use your hands to

describe the
movement of lines
in this drawing

n Singer Sargeant, The Dance, 1907

from: jhttp://drawsketch.about.com/od/drawinglessonsandti
aldrawing.htm
/15/15

Gesture drawings
show form and
movement, as
your eye follows a
shape.
They do NOT
always look
realistic
You arent trying to
represent the
figure exactly, but
to draw the
essential feeling of
the figure.

from: jhttp://drawsketch.about.com/od/drawinglessonsandti
aldrawing.htm
/15/15

Michelangelo, Gestural Studie

Just like any

other line, a
gesture line
can express
feeling

Rembrandt
Figure Studies
(c. 1638)

Image from:
http://www.metmuseum.or
g/toah/works-of-art/
26.72.156
Accessed: 9/15/14

Certain
lines create
shadows
that
suggest
form and
space
Rembrandt
Sketch of a
man leaning
over a table
(c.1628-1629)
Image from: http:http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/publications/online_research_catalogues/search_results.aspx?
searchText=&catalogueOnly=true&catparentPageId=28968&output=bibliography/!!/OR/!!/5806/!//!/Catalogue%20of%20Drawings%20by%20Rembrandt
%20and%20his%20School%20in%20the%20British%20Museum/!//!!//!!!/&catalogueName=Catalogue%20of%20Drawings%20by%20Rembrandt%20and
%20his%20School%20in%20the%20British%20Museum&catalogueSection=Catalogue%20of%20Drawings%20by%20Rembrandt%20and%20his%20School
%20in%20the%20British%20Museum&sortBy=catNumber

Rembrandt
Three men being
Image from: http:http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/publications/online_research_catalogues/search_results.aspx?
searchText=&catalogueOnly=true&catparentPageId=28968&output=bibliography/!!/OR/!!/5806/!//!/Catalogue%20of%20Drawings%20by%20Rembrandt
beheaded c.1640
%20and%20his%20School%20in%20the%20British%20Museum/!//!!//!!!/&catalogueName=Catalogue%20of%20Drawings%20by%20Rembrandt%20and
%20his%20School%20in%20the%20British%20Museum&catalogueSection=Catalogue%20of%20Drawings%20by%20Rembrandt%20and%20his%20School
%20in%20the%20British%20Museum&sortBy=catNumber

Every gesture drawing should

begin with a Line of Action

A Line of Action is the imaginary line that runs

through the entire figure, suggesting movement

ge/Info from: http://www.art.net/~rebecca/LifeDrStick1.html

essed: 1/15/15

After the Line of Action is established, draw

the basic shapes of the figure.
Upside
Down
Eggs for
Head and
Ribcage

Keep
arms
and legs
as
simple
lines

Trapezoid
Box
Shape for
Hips

Image from: http://www.learn-to-draw-and-paint.com/how-to-draw-peop

Accessed:

After the structure of the figure is established, you can add contours and details

Pay attention to the tilt of the shoulders and hips

Image from: http://www.learn-to-draw-and-paint.com/how-to-draw-peop

Accessed:

Why should we make

gesture drawings?
Gestures are an ESSENTIAL
foundation to any good
drawing.
They allows the artist to
practice establishing
correct of proportion,

Gesture Drawing:
ROUND 2