Chapter 5 | TWISTERS
In the previous chapters the human figure has always been drawn with a clear outline. In this chapter you will learn a few ways to approach the human figure more like a 3D shape, giving them volume and weight.
TORNADO FIGURES OR TWISTERS
Drawing ‘Twisters’ is an excellent and fun exercise to learn how to approach the human figure more like a 3D shape. All body parts consist of helixes (image) resulting in a lack of the usual outlines and the lack of a clear front, side and back. You can draw helixes smoothly in a continuous movement, if possible without letting go of the paper. It doesn’t have to be tight at all! Due to the way of drawing Twisters seem made of iron wire or whirlwinds. Twisters are very flexible, so you can easily come up with all kinds of poses with them.
Exercise 1: Draw some Twisters in different poses.
Exercise 2: Give a drawn Twister of at least 10 cm. high mass by means of shadow lines. With each line try to follow the curves of the helix lines and do NOT draw an outline. In this example the light comes from the left.
In the next two models, only part of the helix lines/ovals are still visible. The lines over the body show the volume and curves of the arms, legs and torso. They also show whether an arm or leg is moving towards us or away from us.
Exercise 3: Copy one of the two figures. Make sure all the lines follow the curve of the limbs.
With shadow you can further enhance the volume of the model. All shadow stripes/hatching follow the curves of the body. On the light side, the figure remains as open as possible.
Exercise 4: Choose one of the two figures to trace. A little drop shadow will make the figure appear to touch the ground. Make the outline of the body on the light side lighter. Add whatever you like.
EXTRA: Archie the Man of Steel (Ted Kearon, 1952) is a comic book hero from my childhood. Notice how the shading follows the curves of his steel limbs, just like with the figures in this lesson. Have Archie do something that requires super strength.
