Drawing and Design Students Take Gesture Drawing Outdoors

Last week, Ms. Falzon’s Drawing and Design students stepped outside to practice gesture drawing, a skill they’ve been developing in class. The fresh air and our beautiful campus offered an inspiring backdrop as they applied this technique beyond the art studio walls.

Gesture drawing, which captures a subject’s pose or movement within a very brief period of time, is an important technique for all artists to cultivate. This method sharpens observational skills by having students break complex forms into simple shapes, while also encouraging lines that feel energetic and alive. The process also encourages freedom and fearlessness, so artists don’t have to worry about accuracy or mistakes.

While they've only practiced this technique for a short period of time, each Drawing and Design student has already made numerous sketches using gesture drawing. As they move on to longer-term projects, they will be expected to start each composition with a foundational gesture to build upon.