Elements of Drawing

Elements of Drawing - Drawing From the Life
2 hard to find portfolios of techniques and methods of drawing the human figure by Professor Edward Stiefel of Switzerland.

From the Introduction:
"The qualification needed for drawing from the life are: artistic sensibility as to the human figure and intense interest in the rhythm of its movements. The remarks accompanying these 12 plates are intended to suggest to the beginner the most elimentary conceptions and methods, so that he may be enabled to develop an individual use of them. The beginner should consider the superimposed red lines as the most important elements. They should be drawn first of all when the plates are being copied, then, more proficiency having been obtained, it is only necessary for the imagination to seek them out when working from the living model. In these plates the red verticals (A) and the red horizontals (B) are of primary importance. In every case these two lines meet in the heel of that foot on which the weight of the body rests."

The first, Folder No. 51 The Human Body has 12 plates. The original is an oversized portfolio so the ebook has scans of the entire page on individual pages, and where the drawing was particularly detailed a second page of a full sized detail.

Plate 1. Front view of a standing female figure with superimposed red lines.

Plate 2. Rear view of a standing female figure with superimposed red lines.

Plate 3. A seated female figure with superimposed red lines, and an illustration of the skeletal structure.

Plate 4. A female figure in motion, and a diagram of the same figure as solid forms with superimposed red lines.

Plate 5. A prone female figure with superimposed red lines.

Plate 6. A reclining female figure with superimposed red lines.

Plate 7. Various figures drawn as outlines. One has red lines of the musculature.

Plate 8. A bending male figure with superimposed red lines showing musculature.

Plate 9. Front view of a standing male figure with superimposed red lines.

Plate 10. Rear view of a standing male figure with superimposed red lines.

Plate 11. A composition showing the use of circles, squares and triangles to determine form.

Plate 12. A child figure drawn with lithographic crayon showing the sum of the lessons.

The second, Folder No. 57 Parts of The Human Body has 12 plates. Each shows a specific element of the body from various views. Often he uses different techniques for the various views to show how the drawing is developed.

Figure Drawing Ebooks