PIN UP TRAINING SESSION

Two weeks ago I did a modeling training session with a friend who is interested in life modelling. It was her first experience and we created a vintage posing routine inspired by some Gil Elvgren´s illustrations.
 

She only did poses of 3 minutes. This posing exercise helps her to understand how to create appealing poses and how long she can hold the same position.

I like drawing realistic sketches because it´s an excellent analytical exercise to study gesture and anatomy.

Understanding figure fundamentals is essential to develop a successful CARTOON PIN UP STYLE. 

(WP10)___LIFE IS THE BEST SCHOOL

I know the best of animation is the quality to caricaturize shapes and movements. However, I feel a special attraction for animated techniques with a realistic conception. When I was child a I was fascinated by the animated series "TARZAN, LORD OF THE JUNGLE".

As some sequences were animated with rotoscope technique, the scene of the man of apes running was incredible. Ha, ha I was only a child and very easily impressed.

"FIRE & ICE" directed by Ralph Bakshi was another influential animated piece in my adolescence. The rotoscope technique was the base of all the animation work.

Actually, It´s not my favourite film but I used it to copy some photograms. It´s a great visual reference to study dynamic poses. Director, performers and animators created an interesting interpretation of the Frazetta´s universe.  

Even though, all these animation productions use photo references to work, I prefer to develop the ability to draw the human figure from my mind. From my point of view a great animator has to be able to draw from his mind. 

With this article, I want to emphasize the importance of developing human realistic studies.

This working discipline gives the student the skills needed  to create more convincing and credible human figures and helps to design more appealing interpretations of the reality. A solid knowledge of the visual reference is very useful to learn to caricaturize it.

SUPERGIRL SKETCHES

Yesterday we worked with another cosplay model.

(ANIMATIONFX STUDIO, Alicia, June 4th 2015, Barcelona)

I have drawn different sketches based on this character drawing session.

ELEKTRA SKETCHES

Yesterday we enjoyed a character drawing session with another cosplayer. 

(ANIMATIONFX STUDIO, Hini Tsuburagi, May 15th 2015, Barcelona)

Before our models pose in front of an audience, they normally prepare their posing routines in a private modeling training session. 

This is the moment that I use to draw my quick sketches. 
  

PSYLOCKE SKETCHES

Two weeks ago we did a character drawing session with a cosplay model who played the role of the mutant heroine Psylocke.  

(ANIMATIONFX STUDIO, Alicia, April 30th 2015, Barcelona)

Here are some quick sketches of her posing routine. 

  

(WP9)___TRIBAL HUNTRESS SESSION

Today I organized my first life drawing session for an international game studio.

(KingfoMarket April 24th, 2015)

For this type of events is important to plan your work and study all the details of the session. 

(KingfoMarket April 24th, 2015)

First at all, it is essential to find an attractive topic and design the posing routine of the model.  

(Preliminary session, Sonia April 22th, 2015)

Here is an illustrated posing guide for the model.

NEVER SLEEP AGAIN

Last Thursday we did a fun CHARACTER DRAWING SESSION.

(ANIMATIONFX STUDIO, Alicia, April 16th 2015, Barcelona)

Here are some sketches done in a private session with the model.  

A preliminary work is always necessary to design appealing poses and create an interesting posing routine.

SWORDPLAY GESTURE STUDIES

Yesterday we did a SWORDPLAY DRAWING SESSION with a fencing teacher who normally creates fighting choreographies for drama performances. 

(ANIMATIONFX STUDIO, Valentina, Mar 26th 2015, Barcelona)

She designed a posing routine with different action poses of 1, and 2 minutes.

When I finished these quick sketches, I spent 1 minute more to add some finishing touches.

It helps to visualize better the coloured line when I scan it.

BURLESQUE SKETCHES___01

Last Thursday we did a burlesque drawing session.

(ANIMATIONFX STUDIO, Sonia Mar 12th 2015, Barcelona)

Here are some quick sketches of the model in different poses.

PIN UP STANDING POSES___01

Some months ago I did a private drawing session with a burlesque dance teacher.

(Marina Salvador, Barcelona 2014)

I took some photos which I used to draw these thumbnails.

When I sketch from photo references, I try to simulate the same working conditions of a life drawing session. I use a timer and never spend more than 3 minutes to finish a single pose.

This month, I´m going to design some exercises to teach how to draw the female standing figure. 

STANDING POSES are very useful to understand and memorize the standard proportions of the female body. After you know them, it´s easier to exaggerate the anatomical structure and create better FEMALE CARICATURES.

VINTAGE SWIMWEAR

Last week we did a VINTAGE PIN UP STYLE session and our members had the opportunity to draw a pin up girl in different glamourous poses.

(ANIMATIONFX STUDIO, Ana Feb 20th 2015, Barcelona)

Here are some quick sketches 

(WP8)___ANIMAC 2015

Last weekend The international Animation Festival of Catalonia  ANIMAC was celebrated in Lleida. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the team of organizers because they gave me the opportunity to promote our life drawing group in one of their ELEVATOR PITCH sessions.

As a kind of market, Animac organized this activity with the purpose for schools and companies to be able to present and offer their services to the animation community.

Over three days I was lucky enough to enjoy the screenings, workshops and discussions given by professionals from the industry.

(Mortadelo and BigHero6 lectures by Victor Monigote and Íker J. de los Mozos)

I really liked the talk by Carlos and Jordi Grangel celebrating 25 years of the GRANGEL STUDIO.

(ANIMAC, February 22th-Lleida)

These two international character designers explained their work in different animation productions throughout their long professional career.

PIN UP DRAWING TECHNIQUES

The following weeks, I´m going to prepare the instructional material of a special workshop. I will publish several life sketches and explain useful tips to DRAW PIN UP GIRLS FROM LIFE.   
Most of my samples will be inspired by the great pin up illustrator GIL ELVGREN.

A long time ago, before one of our Wednesday meetings, I had my first private session with a burlesque dance student.

(LIFE DRAWING BCN, Ariadna, April 2th, 2014)

Although she is not a professional performer, she did a great job and I drew some interesting poses. 

All these thumbanils are 3 MINUTES SKETCHES.
 

I spent a few minutes to adding some finishing touches. It helps to visualize the coloured line when I scan them. 

PORTRAIT ILLUSTRATION SESSIONS

Last Sunday we did a PORTRAIT DRAWING CLASS tutored by the instructor Alons Artero. 

(LIFE DRAWING BCN, Edoardo. February 1th, 2015)

He is a catalan painter who studied in the "Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes de Barcelona" and also universities located in Amsterdam, Bruselas and Taiwan. His main expertise is in the human figure. 

Inspired by this session I did some MALE HEAD STUDIES. 

The skull is an important bone structure. It defines the basic shape of the whole head.

I would like to prepare some MASTERCLASS SESSIONS focused on teaching important PORTRAIT ILLUSTRATION TECHNIQUES.

GESTURE DRAWING SESSION

Two weeks ago we did a life drawing session with a graceful model who began her posing routine with attractive GESTURE POSES.

(AnimationFX Studio, January 23th 2015, Barcelona)

She played the role of a nymph and created different poses of 
1 and 2 MINUTES. 

During this time, I normally have time to define some gesture lines and capture the basic shape of the body.

When the model poses for 3 MINUTES, I have enough time to draw the anatomical structure of the body. 

For me, this exercise is more connected with anatomy than with gesture. 

I like to name all the life studies done in less than 2 minutes GESTURE SKETCHES. If I spent more than 3 minutes, I name them ANATOMY SKETCHES.

(WP7)___PIN UP SKETCHES

Since we created our drawing group, we have done several pin up drawing sessions. It´s a fun activity to socialize and create attractive sketches.

(LIFE DRAWING BCN, Evita Mansfield. December 27th, 2013)

Over the following months, we are going to organize more events connected with this topic.

(LIFE DRAWING BCN, La viola Vixen, November 20th, 2013)

A career strategy to become a successful professional is to become an expert in a specific area or subject. 

(Dean Yeagle. Comic-Con San Diego 2010)

As I love drawing gorgeous women, I would like to take this passion and turn it into a SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS. 
In the new future, I´m going to create a portfolio to promote myself as a PIN UP ILLUSTRATOR.