The Expressive Figure: The Expressive Figure 12_9

The Expressive Figure Assignment

Concept: Applying the concept of "Isonomia" to the human body.

Materials:

Materials

Vine or Willow Jumbo Charcoal ( Generals), Graphite lead and holder, ballpoint pen, Crayon, etc
90 lb drawing paper 12" x 19" or similar sketchbook
Faber-Castell Kneaded Eraser

Starting with charcoal or graphite, quickly sketch draw a gestural mannikin of the pose with the emphasis on proportions and action. This should take fifteen seconds or less and be in the spirit of what Michelangelo called "the Flame". Think of it as three helixes wrapping around a central core, like ribbons or strands of flame rising and converging above.

With the template of the mannikin pose as a guide, consider how the volumes of the "peanut", "cylinders, and "ovoid" describe the volumes "in space" and can taper as they move away from us and loom larger the closer they are to us. Be cognizant of this "in and out" spatial occupancy known as the "Z" axis.

Visualize how gravity presses down on the human figure, especially in movement, and how the body compensates for the forces of gravity by "resistance" which is achieved by flexion of muscles. The muscles flex across fulcrums created by adjacent bones and through utilization of a system of three types of levers, is able to sustain the position of the volumes in space.

One way to visualize this is to "plot" the isonomia of the figure by determining which leg is supporting most of the weight. This leg is serving as a conduit for the gravitational force which is dispersed through the leg into the ground and toward the magnetic core of the earth.

This is the "teso" leg or "tense "leg. The balancing leg, known as the "rilassato" or relaxed leg can also serve as a conduit for gravity, although much less than the teso leg. From this simple visualization technique, it is possible to create a visual schema whereupon the artist can compute just how the gravitational forces are being distributed down through the mass of the figure.

Apply Isonomia or by definition, plot how the gravitational vectors are channeled by the figure through the rope, staff, or any prop.

Select at least three poses and show how gravitational vectors are moving through the figure and into the props as they continue their journey towards the magnetic core. Show "Flexion" around those muscles that are doing the most to create "resistance".