So far we've talked about actors as art school models and dancers as art school models...that leaves only one more category that needs to be covered....
...FUNNY models.
If you're an artist and you're interested in comedy just imagine the giant strides you could make if you had funny models to work from: models who get it, someone who isn't offended if you exaggerate some anatomical flaw.
A good teacher will bring props to class that might heighten the effect: glasses, funny wigs, fake buck teeth, etc.
It would be fun to team up two draped models who have opposite personalities. An overbearing Marie Dressler-type (above) would make a great foil for a Mr. Meek-type (like me, above).
Grouches make great comedy models because they're good at reacting to things. They do great slow burns when someone does something stupid in front of them, and when they finally yell it's massive.
Hero types are fun to draw.
They could stuff their shirts with towels to get a funny physique.
Legs are always funny...even mens' legs...if they're wearing the right pants.
With baggy pants models you could tell a funny story using only leg poses....no part of the model's upper body would be visible.
Skinny legs would also work.
So would sexy legs.
The male model every cartoonist would like to have drawn was Eric Campbell (above), the villain in Chaplin's best shorts.
Sigh! The Campbells of the world are probably hard to find....or are they?
This (above) is what Campbell looked like when he was offscreen... a real nice guy, not at all like the bad guy he played in the films. Maybe you know a nice guy who can be converted into a good villain model.
A draped two model session, male and female, offer great posing possibilities.
They make for great romantic scenarios, too.
Just make sure they're different heights.
Haw! Here's a sketch idea for two models: the guy stumbles on a coin-operated robotic love machine and decides to try it. No, no, no...nothing obscene happens...but the girl's hands caress his head, play with his tie, squirt him with cologne, empty his wallet, etc.
I've already mentioned this but it bears repeating: nothing I've suggested is meant to displace classical figure drawing. The picture above makes an eloquent argument for the classical approach. I just think cartoonists would benefit from both types of drawing session.
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BTW: here's a fascinating animated short about art models. Many, many thanks to Kelly Toons for the link!!!!!!!!!
When I shared the link on my Facebook page, a friend of mine commented with more information. His name is Pete Emslie, and he was an animation professor at Sheridan College in Canada, where the short was produced. He confirmed that the subject of the short, Ed, really is like that; off-stage, he is quiet, unassuming, kind of small. But on stage he is vibrant, active, and full of zest. A well-loved figure at the school.
I'm sure you are familiar with Stephen Silver? I was lucky enough to take a single life-drawing class that he taught, at the International Society of Caricature Artists annual convention. He had a "Hooters girl" as a model, in costume. One thing he did that I LOVED, was had us create a turnaround. The model held a pose for about three minutes, then did a quarter turn and held it again. I believe we drew the same pose from four angles. This let us create a character model to work from. Immediately afterwards, he did another fun exercise. He had the model hold a pose for three minutes while we just looked at her. Then she broke the pose and THEN we started drawing the pose from memory, using our character model as a reference.
Silver is big on using costumed models and props, and encouraging students to break from reality. Make the model male instead of female, change the position of limbs if you prefer them a different way, you don't have to be a slave to what you see. I found it very freeing and inspirational. Here's an example of his life-drawing work from costumed models: http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1425/1421/1600/posespage.jpg He has a few books out on life-drawing as it related to character design, you'd probably enjoy them.
Unknown: WoW! Thanks for the background info, and thanks to Pete, too. Silver's method of looking for three minutes then drawing the model sounds wonderful. I can't wait to try it! I'll look up the Silver life drawing post you linked to.
Kelly: I checked out the link and it was fun! My own style comes from a different branch of cartooning but I'd jump at the chance to take the class you took.
I'd love to host a life drawing class so I could try out the ideas I wrote about here. I worry that such a class might be too gimmicky, so I'd have to be on my guard.
4 comments:
Glad you liked the link, Eddie.
When I shared the link on my Facebook page, a friend of mine commented with more information. His name is Pete Emslie, and he was an animation professor at Sheridan College in Canada, where the short was produced. He confirmed that the subject of the short, Ed, really is like that; off-stage, he is quiet, unassuming, kind of small. But on stage he is vibrant, active, and full of zest. A well-loved figure at the school.
I'm sure you are familiar with Stephen Silver? I was lucky enough to take a single life-drawing class that he taught, at the International Society of Caricature Artists annual convention. He had a "Hooters girl" as a model, in costume. One thing he did that I LOVED, was had us create a turnaround. The model held a pose for about three minutes, then did a quarter turn and held it again. I believe we drew the same pose from four angles. This let us create a character model to work from. Immediately afterwards, he did another fun exercise. He had the model hold a pose for three minutes while we just looked at her. Then she broke the pose and THEN we started drawing the pose from memory, using our character model as a reference.
Silver is big on using costumed models and props, and encouraging students to break from reality. Make the model male instead of female, change the position of limbs if you prefer them a different way, you don't have to be a slave to what you see. I found it very freeing and inspirational. Here's an example of his life-drawing work from costumed models: http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1425/1421/1600/posespage.jpg He has a few books out on life-drawing as it related to character design, you'd probably enjoy them.
Unknown: WoW! Thanks for the background info, and thanks to Pete, too. Silver's method of looking for three minutes then drawing the model sounds wonderful. I can't wait to try it! I'll look up the Silver life drawing post you linked to.
I don't know why I am now listed as Unknown, the above comment was by myself aka Kelly Toon.
Here is a better link to Silver's live work http://www.silvertoons.com/portfolio-life
I would love to take a life drawing class hosted by yourself, Eddie! It sounds like it would be a blast.
Kelly: I checked out the link and it was fun! My own style comes from a different branch of cartooning but I'd jump at the chance to take the class you took.
I'd love to host a life drawing class so I could try out the ideas I wrote about here. I worry that such a class might be too gimmicky, so I'd have to be on my guard.
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