Why are we drawing Why are we drawing hands?hands?

List three possible reasons List three possible reasons that you can think of for that you can think of for

drawing hands.drawing hands.

Response check…Response check…

Did you think of any of these reasons or Did you think of any of these reasons or ideas?ideas?

to practice - hands are complex forms to practice - hands are complex forms Even artists have difficulty drawing hands Even artists have difficulty drawing hands

and often do hand studies in preparation and often do hand studies in preparation for larger finished worksfor larger finished works

For reviewing and strengthening For reviewing and strengthening observational drawing skillsobservational drawing skills

Some famous handsSome famous handsSee if you recognize the artistSee if you recognize the artist

Do you know this artist?Do you know this artist?

M. C. EscherM. C. Escher

Maurits Cornelis EscherMaurits Cornelis Escher (17 June 1898 – 27 (17 June 1898 – 27 March 1972), usually referred to as March 1972), usually referred to as M.C. EscherM.C. Escher (IPA: ['ɛsjər]).(IPA: ['ɛsjər]).

He was a Dutch graphic artist. He is known for He was a Dutch graphic artist. He is known for his often mathematically-inspired woodcuts, his often mathematically-inspired woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints.lithographs, and mezzotints.

These feature impossible constructions, These feature impossible constructions, explorations of infinity, architecture, and explorations of infinity, architecture, and tessellations. tessellations.

M. C. EscherM. C. Escher

Hand with Reflecting Hand with Reflecting Mirror, 1935Mirror, 1935

A self-portrait on a A self-portrait on a spherical surfacespherical surface

Notice the tonal changes Notice the tonal changes in this work.in this work.

Although the background Although the background is reflected in the sphere, is reflected in the sphere, there seems to be no there seems to be no foreground… why?foreground… why?

What about this artist?What about this artist?

Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci

April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519 He was an Italian polymath, being a He was an Italian polymath, being a

scientist, mathematician, engineer, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician and writer. architect, botanist, musician and writer.

polymathpolymath

(Greek, (Greek, polymathēspolymathēs, πολυμαθής, "having , πολυμαθής, "having learned much")learned much")

This is a person whose knowledge is not This is a person whose knowledge is not restricted to one subject area. In less restricted to one subject area. In less formal terms, a polymath may simply refer formal terms, a polymath may simply refer to someone who is very knowledgeable.to someone who is very knowledgeable.

Most ancient scientists were polymaths by Most ancient scientists were polymaths by today’s standards. today’s standards.

Was this sculpture a possible Was this sculpture a possible inspiration for da Vinci’s work?inspiration for da Vinci’s work?

Andrea del Verrocchio, Andrea del Verrocchio, Lady with a Bunch of FlowersLady with a Bunch of Flowers, c. 1475, marble, Museo , c. 1475, marble, Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence Nazionale del Bargello, Florence

More da Vinci work and sketches More da Vinci work and sketches with similar poseswith similar poses

A page from one of his NotebooksA page from one of his Notebooks

Leonardo da Vinci was Leonardo da Vinci was interested in the study of interested in the study of human anatomyhuman anatomy

Da Vinci's Notebooks Da Vinci's Notebooks contain thoughts, ideas, contain thoughts, ideas, and tips.and tips.

The Notebooks are over The Notebooks are over 1,500 pages filled with all 1,500 pages filled with all sorts of information. It's a sorts of information. It's a fascinating glimpse into fascinating glimpse into the mind of one of the mind of one of history's great figures. history's great figures.

Do you know this artist?Do you know this artist?

Albrecht DürerAlbrecht Dürer

Born May 21, 1471, Imperial Free City of Born May 21, 1471, Imperial Free City of Nürnberg [Germany]Nürnberg [Germany]

Died April 6, 1528, NürnbergDied April 6, 1528, Nürnberg German painter, printmaker, draughtsman and German painter, printmaker, draughtsman and

art theorist, generally regarded as the greatest art theorist, generally regarded as the greatest German Renaissance artist.German Renaissance artist.

The artist’s self-portrait, frankly idealized into a The artist’s self-portrait, frankly idealized into a Christlike image, may have been meant by the Christlike image, may have been meant by the artist to remind viewers that an artist's creative artist to remind viewers that an artist's creative spirit is God-given.spirit is God-given.

Who is the artist? Who is the artist?

The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (1508–1512)(1508–1512)

MichelangeloMichelangelo

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti SimoniMichelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni March 6, 1475 – February 18, 1564March 6, 1475 – February 18, 1564 Commonly known as Commonly known as MichelangeloMichelangelo He was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, He was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor,

architect, poet, and engineer. architect, poet, and engineer. He is often considered a contender for the title of He is often considered a contender for the title of

the archetypal Renaissance man, along with his the archetypal Renaissance man, along with his rival and fellow Italian Leonardo da Vinci. rival and fellow Italian Leonardo da Vinci.

Do you notice anything awkward in Do you notice anything awkward in these early works of this artist?these early works of this artist?

Check proportion of handsCheck proportion of hands

Vincent van GoghVincent van Gogh

30 March 1853 – 29 July 189030 March 1853 – 29 July 1890 He was a Dutch Post-Impressionist artist.He was a Dutch Post-Impressionist artist. Although van Gogh only sold one painting Although van Gogh only sold one painting

in his lifetime, some of his paintings are in his lifetime, some of his paintings are now among the world's best known, most now among the world's best known, most popular and expensive works of art. popular and expensive works of art.

Post Impressionist?Post Impressionist?

Post-Impressionists extended Impressionism Post-Impressionists extended Impressionism while rejecting its limitationswhile rejecting its limitations

They continued using vivid colors, thick They continued using vivid colors, thick application of paint, distinctive brushstrokes and application of paint, distinctive brushstrokes and real-life subject matterreal-life subject matter

They were more inclined to emphasize They were more inclined to emphasize geometric forms, to distort form for expressive geometric forms, to distort form for expressive effect, and to use unnatural or arbitrary color. effect, and to use unnatural or arbitrary color.

ImpressionismImpressionism

An art movement and style of painting that An art movement and style of painting that started in France during the 1860s.started in France during the 1860s.

Impressionist artists tried to paint candid Impressionist artists tried to paint candid glimpses of their subjects showing the glimpses of their subjects showing the effects of sunlight on things at different effects of sunlight on things at different times of day. times of day.

Van Gogh had trouble drawing hands, Van Gogh had trouble drawing hands, so what did he do about it?so what did he do about it?

Should he have just given up?Should he have just given up?

Have you tried using these Have you tried using these attitudes when tackling something attitudes when tackling something

difficult?difficult? Motivation, driveMotivation, drive DedicationDedication EnthusiasmEnthusiasm Preparing, exercising, trainingPreparing, exercising, training PRESEVERANCEPRESEVERANCE DETERMINATIONDETERMINATION

Van Gogh Museum in AmsterdamVan Gogh Museum in Amsterdam

More Van Gogh hand studiesMore Van Gogh hand studiesMaybe similar to some of yours?Maybe similar to some of yours?

Do you know this African-American Do you know this African-American artist? artist?

Charles WhiteCharles White

African-American Social Realist Painter, African-American Social Realist Painter, 1918-19791918-1979

Social RealismSocial Realism

Social Realism is a type of American Social Realism is a type of American realism which is more overtly political in realism which is more overtly political in content, critical of society, marked by its content, critical of society, marked by its realistic depiction of social problems. realistic depiction of social problems.

The greatest impact of this art movement The greatest impact of this art movement was felt in the first half of the twentieth was felt in the first half of the twentieth century. century.

Preacher, 1952, Ink on cardboard, 21" X 29"Preacher, 1952, Ink on cardboard, 21" X 29"

Whitney Museum of American ArtWhitney Museum of American Art

Charles White – stylized drawingsCharles White – stylized drawings

stylizestylize

To stylize is to alter natural shapes, forms, To stylize is to alter natural shapes, forms, colors, or textures in order to make a colors, or textures in order to make a representation in a preset style or manner.representation in a preset style or manner.

The design of any work tends to result in The design of any work tends to result in its having a style, and its having been its having a style, and its having been freely chosen is one aspect of its appeal.freely chosen is one aspect of its appeal.

SummarySummary

Through the centuries artists have been Through the centuries artists have been interested in drawing the human form.interested in drawing the human form.

Its complexity and close proximity has Its complexity and close proximity has made it an intriguing subject that is readily made it an intriguing subject that is readily available for artists to study.available for artists to study.

After practicing and studying, artists may After practicing and studying, artists may develop they’re own style in drawing develop they’re own style in drawing anatomy.anatomy.