GESTURE - WHAT'S THE MOTIVATION?? ジェスチャー = 動機

I am often encouraging my students to "think" about what the character is feeling before putting down the gesture.   As the saying goes, "A drawing that does not convey a state of mind or a thought through action, isn't a very good drawing." 

私はよく、ジェスチャーを描く前にキャラクターの感情を「考えるように」生徒たちに言っています。よく言われることですが、『アクションによって「心の状態」や「考え」を表していないドローイングは、優れたドローイングだとは言えない』のです。

I notice sometimes the more clothing the figure is wearing, the more people focus on the the drapery and the folds and such.  The less the figure is wearing the more artists tend to focus on the anatomy and the musculature of the figure. 

人物が衣服を着れば着るほど、人はドレープやひだに注目しますし、着ているものが少しならば、人物のアナトミー（身体構造）や筋肉に注目します。

I suggest giving equal consideration (if not more) to what is motivating the figures muscles to work in such as way?  What does the clothing say about the character and what they want?  

私はそれと同程度に、筋肉がそのような動きをした理由、身に付けている衣服はキャラクターの何を伝えているのか、キャラクターは何を求めているのかを考えることを勧めています。

Constantin Stanslavsky said, " In every physical action, there is always something psychological and vice versa.  There is no inner experience without external physical expression." 

コンスタンティン・スタニスラフスキーは「身体的な動きはすべて、心理に基づいており、その逆もまた同じことだ。人体の内側で何かが起きれば、外側にも何らかの変化がある」と述べています。

It reminds me of the quote from George Bridgman who said, "The hand is thought of being the slave of action.  But the slave of of action is the master of expression."  I think the same thought can be applied to the human figure. 

その言葉から私は、ジョージ・ブリッジマンの言葉を思い出しました。「手は、アクションに従う。しかし、アクションに従った動きは、表現においては主たる存在となる」。私は、人体すべてに同じ理屈があてはまると思います。

Please consider the photos below of some of my favourite masters:  Rockwell, Michaelangelo, Frazetta and Kahl.  

以下に、私の好きな巨匠たち、ロックウェル、ミケランジェロ、フラゼッタ、カールの作品を掲載しました。

How quickly and easily can you read what the gesture is communicating about the character and what is motivating them? 

キャラクターがどんな性格か、その動きの原動力は何かについて、ジェスチャーから即座に、簡単に読み取ることができます。

TENSION

When doing gesture drawings, always remember that you are drawing an action or at least a state of mind.  Drawing just the contour or replicating what's in front of you is not the path to making a drawing that has life. 

ジェスチャードローイングでは、アクションを描く、あるいはモデルのポーズに込められた心情を描くのだということを忘れないでください。輪郭を取ろうとしたり、目の前にあるものを紙の上に再現しようとしても、生き生きとしたドローイングにはなりません

One aspect of pushing your drawings is to be aware of where the tension is and not being afraid to push it even further at times.  Figures that are evenly balanced and vertical are somewhat dead.  

この点をドローイングで表現するためのカギの1つは、引き合う力を意識すること、それを強調することです。均等にバランスが取れて、棒立ちになっている人物は、生命感がありません。

These quick drawings I made both have the sense that they are pulling away from their gravity centre.  This tension is what creates the illusion of movement when the figure is actually standing still. 

このクイックドローイング2点はどちらも、重心から離れる方向に力が働いています。この引き合う力は、人物がたとえじっと立っているにしても、動きがあるような錯覚を作り出します。

There is a drawing teacher who suggested imagining a rubber band like tension that would snap the figure back into their previous position.

絵の先生の中には、「モデルを直前の位置に引き戻そうとするゴムバンドがあると想像してごらん」という言い方をした人もいます。

Models in life drawing sessions sometimes "straighten" out due to the difficulty of holding long poses.  It's our jobs to push the poses beyond what the model is giving us.   

モデルを前にした写生会では、モデルは真っすぐなポーズをとりがちです。これは、長い間同じポーズをとるのが難しいからです。モデルが私たちに見せてくれる以上のドローイングを描くのは私たちの仕事です。

NOTE:  The blue lines represent the direction the body is pulling away from its center of gravity.  The ball and the arrow represents where the gravity is.

John Buscema 

Samantha Youssef

Andreas Deja

Fred Moore's 14 Points of Animation

"If a drawing looks clumsy, or lacks appeal, or no longer looks like the model, perhaps the animator is trying to show something that should not be shown.  

When Fred (Moore) was giving a talk on drawing Mickey, he was asked,  "How do you draw him looking right down on top of his head?"  Fred responded, "Why would you?"  If the appeal in the design was based on the balance of the ears to the nose and the relationship of the cheeks to the eyes and the head shape, Fred wondered why would you deliberately throw all that away?  

Why would you show a view that did not have much going for it as possible?  

- Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, The Illusion of Life   -  


"What happens is FACT.  TRUTH is what we think about. Write the truth."  - Robert McKee



People often like to cite the 12 Points of Animation as described in the Illusion of Life by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. In this very same tome is their once senior animator, Fred Moore's 14 Points of Animation. 

Each has its own value and speaks for itself. But perhaps #6, 11-14 are the ones I'd like to point out when it comes to drawing.

 Fred Moore's 14 Points of Animation

1. Appeal in drawing

2.  Staging

3. Most interesting way?  (Why would anyone other than your mother like to see it?)

4. Is it the most entertaining way?

6. Are you advancing the character?

7.  is this the simplest statement of the main idea of the scene?

8.  is the story point clear?

9. Are the secondary actions working with the main action?

10. Is the presentation best for the medium?

11.  Does it have 2 dimensional clarity?

12.  Does it have 3 dimensional solidity?

13.  Does it have 4 dimensional drawing?  (Drag and follow through)

14.  Are you trying to do something that shouldn't be attempted?  (Like trying to show the top of Mickey's head)

There is another anecdote where the legendary Milt Kahl commented on dealing with "difficult drawings", "Why would you even draw it that way in the first place??" 

In the search of drawing what rings true about a subject....it's not about drawing what is literal about it, but rather, what is "true" about the subject.   "Truth", perhaps to be specific, "emotional truth"  is sometimes better served subjectively. 

GLENN VILPPU : The Drawing Master Returns to Tokyo again!

"Glenn Vilppu was the caliber level of work that we strove for." - Aaron Blaise, Veteran Disney animator/ director, artist. 

www.creaturearteacher.com

He has been teaching drawing in the animation industry for over 40 years. He's been called a legend. His teachings are part of the compilations notes of fellow Disney teacher, Walt Stanchfeld in Drawn to Life.   His original Drawing Manual is one the most coveted instructional art books in the world but sadly is the the most pirated globally. 

His name:  Glenn Vilppu.   

アニメーション業界でドローイングを教えて40年以上。彼はいまやレジェンドと呼ばれている。彼の教えは、同じくディズニーで講師を務めていたウォルト・スタンチフィールドがまとめた「Drawn to Life」にも掲載されている。彼が著した「Drawing Manual」は、アートの指南書として非常に人気を博したが、悲しいことに、世界中に海賊版が出回ることにもなっている。

彼の名は、グレン・ビルプ

He humbly just calls himself an drawing teacher, but Glenn is a master draftsman whose teachings has enabled countless students, artists and professional artist to have the skills and confidence to pursue their dreams.  

グレンは自身を単に「ドローイングの先生だ」と言う。しかし、グレンは巨匠のひとりでもあり、彼の教えによって育てられた生徒、アーティスト、業界のプロは数多く、グレンからの教えによって、技術と自信を持って夢を追いかけている。

Glenn has taught at some of the biggest animation studios in the world, Disney and Dreamworks and has taught globally, from  North America, Europe and Asia.   

グレンは、ディズニー、ドリームワークスをはじめ大手アニメーションスタジオで教えるほか、北米、ヨーロッパ、アジアなど世界各地で授業を行っている。

This coming December will be Glenn Vilppu's 4th seminar with Master Drawing Japan.  Additionally he is coming to Japan to christen the release of his NEW Drawing Manual which has been translated in to Japanese with Born Digital. 

来る12月、グレン・ビルプはMaster Drawing Japan主催のセミナーに来日。これは、4回目のセミナーになる。また新しいバージョンになった「ドローイングマニュアル」は(株)ボーンデジタルによって日本語版も出版されている。その記念の講義も同じく12月に開催の予定だ。

December 2nd and 3rd Glenn will teach a Figure Drawing masterclass from 12PM - 6PM on both days. 

2月2日～3日：フィギュアドローイングマスタークラス：12時-6時（両日とも）

December 4th Glenn will give a demonstration of his drawing techniques followed by a book signing from 6PM - 9PM. 

12月4日：グレン・ビルプ メソッド：6時～9時（講義の後にはサイン会も行われます）

December 9th and 10th Glenn will teach s Composition masterclass from 12PM to 6PM.  

12月9日～10日：構図マスタークラス：12時-6時（両日とも）

Ki CREATIVE STUDIO: BASICS - GESTURE: What's the Big Idea?

MASTER DRAWING JAPAN - Aaron Blaise's SUMO Sized Tokyo Seminar - Summer 2017

Apologies to everyone for not posting this sooner. Those who follow Master Drawing Japan are well aware that this summer, its biggest and most ambitious seminar to date was held.

Aaron Blaise, veteran Disney animator of over 20 years,  film director, illustrator and wildlife artist was our guest in Tokyo for an amazing 13 days!

In partnership with CG World / +ONE Knowledge, Master Drawing Japan invited this animation heavyweight to share his priceless knowledge with the aspiring artists of Tokyo.  During that time Aaron held two seminars on animation, creature design and an additional two intensive masterclasses on character design and human/ animal comparative anatomy.

Well over a hundred students and professionals came in attendance for Aaron's first teaching seminars in Japan.

Aaron covered all the essentials of animation and design.  A very interactive instructor, Aaron designed the lion above with direct guidance from the audience.

And Aaron went on to animate the lion as seen below.

For his next trick...! The Creature Design segment of the seminar , Aaron designed and completely rendered this amazing dragon from start to finish right before everyone's eyes.

Aaron graciously greeted everyone and left a lot of happy faces behind..

But this is only half of the story....

With still two more masterclass seminars to go, Aaron generously offered everyone interested to join him at an open drawing day at Tama Zoo! 

Aaron hailed Tama Zoo as one of the BEST zoo experiences he has ever had.  Coming from an animal illustration master  like Aaron, that's a huge compliment!

The last two days of Aaron's teaching tour ended at the Sokei Academy of Fine Arts with two masterclass seminars on character design and comparative anatomy.  Sokei has been a very generous sponsor of previous seminars for Master Drawing Japan.  Notably with one of Aaron's previous drawing instructors, the venerable Glenn Vilppu. 

It was an amazing experience and unforgettable adventure in art, design and illustration. Thank you Aaron, it was a great honor having you.  (P.S. Have to give s shout to Nick Burch - thank you too Nick! You were the rock that made sure that everything was steady!  You're a great guy!)    Looking forward to seeing you again!  

If you want to see more about Aaron's experience in Tokyo go to his YouTube channel: The Art of Aaron Blaise or look at Master Drawing Japan's blog on the experience!