"The lover can see, and the knowledgeable."
—Annie Dillard, "Seeing," Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

19 September 2009

beginning the spinal column


We will be starting work on the spinal column next week. We will do this first by learning the four curves of the spinal column: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral; and how each of these counteract each other, how they are created, what they mean to movement of the body, and how to use the line of the four curves to create the very first line in all your drawings from now on (at least those that have some view of the back and/or side of the figure).

We will start by see and utilizing that long axis quickly, in gesture drawings and then move on to using the spinal column line and curves as the long axis for longer cross contour studies of the torso.

In a few weeks, you will have the spinal column down by memory and it will become a new habit for you to see how the rest of the body's gesture is determinate on it.

This is a great image (left) and excerpt from a forum on the website of The Society of Figurative Arts, which is a great resource. The drawing and text are both right on.


"I have heard many times in forums like these that, I hate school or I am not good in school and all I want to do is art.

Let me tell you that it is all very important. Learn as much as you can about math, (especially geometry) physics, biology, history, literature, English, music, dance, architecture, botany etc. etc. etc.

The more you know the better your art will be.

In dealing with the rib-cage remember that the important thing is its over-all form and as far as the details such as individual ribs note the insertion points the angles and fine the first, fifth and tenth ribs is probably enough for a starting point.

The rendering of detail is not as important as understanding that function creates form. 



Most medical skeletons have spinal columns that do not have as much curvature as in a live person (look at x-rays if you can) most anatomical text drawings are done from these inaccurate skeletons.

So try to make sure you understand the correct curvature/vitality of the spinal column because that vitality will put more life into your drawings."


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