Unit 7
Skeletons
total points: 175
Skeletons
So you might be wondering why an artist would spend time learning about the skeletal system, or about anotomy in general. Well, think about it. If you wanted to eventually draw faces or human figures, wouldn't it help to have a good understanding of the underlying structures that form them? YES! This is actually a pretty traditional step in learning to draw and paint. Leonardo da Vinici, the man who painted the Mona Lisa, and who is considered one of the greatest artists of all time, was very much involved in the study of human anatomy. He was the first to dissect and draw the human body in so much detail.
Step 1. Background Info
Watch this video on Leonardo da Vinci. (Yes, Leo DiCaprio is named after this Leo). No notes are necessary.
Below: The world's most famous painting? Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci
Step 2. Brush Up On Your Vocabulary
Let's make sure you know what you are drawing. Look over this labeled diagram. Did you know some of the names of the bones already? You don't need to take any notes, but you may need to refer back to this later.
Step 3. Skeletal Proportions (30 points)
In art, body proportion is the study of the relation of human body parts to each other and to the whole. That sounds confusing, but what it means is that we want to figure out how big or small our body parts are compared to other body parts. This will help us draw the figure corectly, or in PROPORTION. There are some general rules of proportion that we can follow, but please remember that everyone is different. These rules are just a guide!
Rules of body proportion:
Some of these rules you may have already heard of. For example, did you know that if you hold out your arms as far as you can, that the distance between your finger tips is the same as your height? Has anyone ever told you that your hand is the same size as your face? Hopefully, when you hold your hand up to your face to check, they don't smack you in the face with your own hand!
Let's explore some of these relationships a bit further by drawing the skeleton in proportion. This will be a simplified sketch. We will then add detail on top of that. The videos will explain everything...
Leonardo Da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man" (censored for your young eyes) is a drawing that explores body proportions.
1.
Let's set up your paper. Grab a ruler then watch the video.
2.
Let's add the skeleton. We are going to draw it IN PROPORTION, but also very LIGHTLY and using simple shapes. Remember, we are still just sketching.
3.
Now let's go back over our skeleton and add detail. You can use my skeletons to draw from, or you can find an image online. Just remember, don't draw from a drawing! Make sure you are looking at a photo of a real skeleton or a model of one (a model is probably better and less creepy). You can erase the simple shapes as you slowly replace them with more accurate shapes. As usual, add value and texture throughout. Your final skeletons should look
something like the examples in the following slide show.
Close Up:
*CHECK IN!!! - Done with Step 3? Great! Now come show me for points!!*
Step 4. Dia De Los Muertos Portrait (115 points)
For this assignment, you will choose a person who has passed away, someone who has had a positive influence on the world, and you will draw their portrait as a Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) skeleton, with a tattoo flash style. You will be using larger sized, tan paper, and the final images will be colored in using oil pastel. We have a lot to learn in this step, so let's start with a little background on the Day of the Dead...
1. Watch my PowerPoint
presentation:
2. Watch this little video for some
more background info:
3. Time to choose the person you want to do your portrait on. But here's the thing...every year I am regularly disappointed by the low number of students who choose to do their portrait of influential women. Usually, those who do choose women will choose someone like Marylin Monroe (someone famous for her beauty---even though she did a lot of humanitarian work/anti-racism work). I suppose this is a reflection of how society and history have the habit of under-valuing women. Let's change this!
I'm going to have you sign up for your person, because I don't want repeats. (The first year I did this, I got 300 Michael Jacksons) I'm going to require half the class (at least) to choose an important WOMAN. Check with me about your choice, then enter your name on the following google doc to claim your person! Remember that you will need a quote from this person, and you will need to justify why you chose them, so start searching for someone important to you NOW.
Click Here
for Ideas:
Here's a list of people to avoid:
Google Doc
Sign up Sheet:
4. So now that you know who you are drawing, let's do some thumbnail sketches. I want you to try at least four different poses or combinations of symbols, flowers and banner placement. Remember that we don't want a mug shot, so having them face straight-out isn't the best position. Try to draw them at an angle, with their head turned.
REMEMBER!
Your drawings will have:
-Your person as a skeleton in a 3/4 pose
-Clothing/features of your person (Don't
forget those eyebrows!)
-Day of the Dead skull decoration (Do a
"day of the dead make-up" search online
for tons of ideas!)
-At least two symbols to represent your
person.
-Flowers-Roses are great, but you can
choose something else if it makes more
sense for your person, like Australian
wild flowers for a portrait of Steve Irwin.
-A composition where all these elements
overlap. You want everything in your
drawing to touch...no weird floating
flowers! (Adding a background color can
help bring things together).
-A banner with a quote from your person.
(You can't just write their name on the
banner!)
A Word About SYMBOLS...
What would be good symbols for a singer? A microphone, a gold record, music notes....
Try to pick objects that represent why the person is important.
Examples: A podium, scientific equipment, flags, peace signs, paint brushes, books, etc.
If you are having trouble coming up with something, ASK ME!
A quick how-to for drawing banners:
A quick how-to for drawing simple roses:
5. Show me your thumbnails and symbols. Once you get my OK, you will draw a rough draft on a page in your sketchbook. This will have a bit more detail than the thumbnail. Really figure things out, but don't bother with adding value or perfect detail yet.
A great video of a skull being drawn:
6. Switch to your final, large, tan paper. Sketch your image with a pencil, nice and big. Fill up the space. Then go over all your lines in black sharpie.
A word about the TEXT
Using a fancy font for your quote is a really nice touch. I suggest finding text example online, or typing your quote into microsoft word, and changing the font until you find one you like.
Interesting Search options for fonts:
Caligraphy
Block
Tattoo Flash
Vintage
Circus
7. Once your drawing is fully outlined, it will be time to start coloring it in using oil pastels. This is a new medium for us, so let's practice using it first. Watch the video, and try the techniques in your sketchbook. This is worth 20 points, so come show me when you are done. Then you can start working on your portrait. Remember that we still need to see value and texture, so plan for that.
Remember, shadows don't have to be black...think green, purple, and blue!
**Mini Check in!! Show me when you are done with step 7**
Don't forget all your shadows and highlights!
Click on the Slideshow below for more student examples:
*CHECK IN!!! - Done with Step 4? Great! Now come show me for points!!*
----You are now ready for STUDY DRAWING 6: You can choose from any of the prompts on the list now. Remember that I expect full value & texture in all your work from now on----
Take some time to work on this and turn it in at your own time.
You have reached the end of Unit 7