I have been working on this drawing for several weeks from a reference photo on the Croquis Café web site. The model’s name is Cwen and I found this pose to be a strong gesture. Although I took some, shall we call it, creative license with the proportions and likeness, this is the first time I’m happy with the details in the hands. I left the details out of the feet (baby steps), and the hands aren’t a complete likeness (I left out fingernails and changed the way she’s gripping the pole with her right hand), but contrary to my previous attempts at fingers and hands, these are the closest.
I also can see that I made her legs too short, and that she looks shorter overall. Also, the head in my drawing isn’t tilted forward as much as in the photo. But, this was an exercise in gesture, form shadow, cast shadow, and some detail work in the hands and face.
Finally, I’m not studying anatomy in any formal way, but I am finding that the more figures I draw, the more I’m becoming familiar with common musculature and the shadows the cast – the ribs in the back, the lines and creases around the knees, the ankles, the arteries and muscles in the neck, cheekbones, etc. As always, far from perfect or ready to show, but it’s nice to feel your eyes are evolving in the way that they see.
The original reference photo from Croquis Café
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