Drawing People in Motion – in Barcelona
Next week we’ll be heading to Barcelona for the USK symposium. I’ve been busy planning my workshop on the subject of spontaneous drawings of people ‘in the wild’. That is, un-posed, un-official subjects, as opposed to posed models.
In many ways it’s more fun than going to life drawing class. It’s certainly more challenging to capture people in motion – plus we’ll be trying to tell a story at the same time.
The ‘handouts’ are based on these sketches from the FIMA festival (Festival International Montréal en Arts) in Montreal. I was downtown working on a collaborative mural with a bunch of artists from EnMasse and Trio Magnus, among others.
So – just like last year, I’m posting my course notes – in case anyone who can’t make it to BCN is interested. This year I did it up as a PDF that illustrates the sketchbooking process. It views well on an iPad in iBooks – or of course on any PC in Adobe Acrobat (or most web browsers for that matter). Head on over to my new ‘Downloads’ page to get your copy HERE:
There is also a companion video – done at home using sketches from a USK:MTL sketchcrawl in our underground Metro. This was way back in early spring – that’s why everyone is wearing toques and scarves. It’s five minutes of me sketching under the video camera. Seems like the best way to show exactly what we’ll be doing in the workshop.
~m
Citizen Sketcher 
So elegant! You make it look effortless!
Superb Marc! Thanks for posting this.
I am envious of your soon-to-be students in Barcelona, Marc. These sketches are elegant.
Thanks Marc. These pdfs are incredibly helpful. When you say ‘regular ballpens’ for the pen lines, do you an example? Thank you again.
Hey Nigel – just anything that is a ‘gel writer’ or ‘rolling ball tip’. I a model called Uniball Signo – bought a few boxes of 25 and am still going through them years later.
Oh by the way, the reason being, the rolling ball type pen writes quickly and continuously with no skipping. You can zip around and never stop drawing. Not like a fountain pen that might ‘catch’. Tho – if I”m not in such a huge rush (drawing architecture instead of people) I might be tempted to use dip pens – (crowquill) – for the organic line they make. So – I guess i like extremes. Super convenient and smooth vs. and all blotchy, slow, messy and scratchy:)
Brilliant – Thanks!
. Although I have a bottle of ink to use at the moment – trying to save on Plastics – I may go back to markers and uni-pens after.
Well, that’s a legit reason. Dip pens it is then! With wooden handles.
What’s the paper you use on this one?
I really appreciate your Art.
~MaTT
Hey Matt – these are done on a Stillman and Birn Alpha sketchbook.
I am so excited for Barcelona – thank for sharing these!
Thanks, Marc! Much appreciated. Have fun in Barcelona!