Datasheet
■ Gesture, Form, and Proportion 9
Once your figure is established you can manipulate proportions to change the percep-
tion of the character. See Figure 1.13 for examples of how subtle changes to the figure’s
proportion can alter the character. Notice how simply lengthening the arms or enlarging the
size of the head can vastly affect the perception of the character.
Figure 1.13 Proportion and character versions
From Basic Forms to Complex Shapes
How do we apply the tenets of gesture, form, and proportion to sculpting? First we will
establish the figure gesture within a set of proportions, in this case eight heads. Then we
move on to each part of the body, each time readdressing the gesture, forms, and propor-
tions of the figure in relation to the whole.
By carefully considering each as we progress through the character sculpture, we can
ensure that we stay on track and sculpt with direction, not mindlessly moving digital clay in
the hopes it will “look right.”
In this section we will look at some of the approaches we will take in developing this
character sculpture. We will look at each part of the figure, from the most basic aspects
down to the more complex, sequentially creating a more and more realized form. By
establishing the most basic shapes first, we will make the final figure all the more realistic,
because the details live on a shape that is solid and feels accurate.
Ultimately I consider gesture the most important aspect of making a sculpture or
drawing feel compelling. Without it, the figure is still and less than lifelike. Gesture is fol-
lowed closely by form, the effective representation of a shape in space. Bad form creates
anatomy that looks mushy and ill defined. The final tenet, proportion, insures that the fig-
ure looks realistic within a generally acceptable set of rules for its relative size. If you have
good gesture and form but proportion is tweaked, your work will not look wrong but styl-
ized. To create the sense of a shorter figure you may adjust the proportions of the head and
hands to the body, for instance. If the gesture and form are correct, proportion is a visual
guide to the size and sometimes the character of the figure.
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