Students in "Drawing and Design" Look for Inspiration Outside the Classroom

Ms. Falzon's Drawing and Design students took advantage of the beautiful weather this week to get outside and work on gesture drawing, a concept they have been learning about in class.

Gesture drawing, which involves capturing a subject’s pose or movement within a very brief period of time, is an important technique for all artists to cultivate.

It helps strengthen the observational skills needed to break down complex forms into simpler base shapes. The brevity of the process counters rigidity within a drawing, while the energy and movement of the lines and marks made on the page breathe life into even stationary objects. There is also a sense of freedom and fearlessness within the process, which means an artist doesn’t have to worry about accuracy or making mistakes.  

While Wednesday was only the second day of practicing this technique, each Drawing and Design student has already made 50 or more of these sketches. As they move onto longer-term pieces, they will be expected to begin each composition with a foundational gesture to build upon.