Gesture drawing, a kind of quickly executed sketch often done in the first half hour of a figure drawing class, is often taught as a way for the student to loosen up the hand and get comfortable with the complexity of the figure. The idea goes, if one must execute an entire figure holding a gestural pose in one minute or less, inhibition and detailed rendering are tossed out the window and a shorthand must be developed. The student is forced to deal with the entire figure in a few quick strokes. The resulting drawings are not usually highly valued, but the abilities of seeing a figure quickly and being succinct about drawing its essential gesture are indeed valued.

Outside the confines of a life studio, this exercise is imposed for a different reason. The casual model in a public place is engaged in some activity, perhaps even unaware they are being drawn. Some times they are in motion: sipping coffee, playing music, reading, standing in line. 30 seconds of relative stillness are about all the artist gets, and gesture drawing is necessary to get the figure down before he or she moves or leaves the area.

Recently I was engaged with students at Newport’s Rogers High School, doing some gesture drawing of dancers as they rehearsed a performance for their upcoming Arts Showcase. The art students were drawing their fellow students in dance rehearsal, and the challenge was to see and quickly take notes. Most really got into the spirit of the activity. I am gratified to have been involved; I graduated from this very school 30 years ago, but did not have the same kind of experience until I attended art college.

I made this gesture drawing of the dancers as a demonstration for the students.

"Gesture Drawing 2", graphite, 2008.