Drawing Drapery from Head to Toe

Cliff Young

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9780486455914
• eBook ISBN: 9780486136271
• Topic: Art
• Subtopic: Art Techniques

Packed with indispensable information on a vital aspect of drawing, this time-honored manual offers expert guidance on how to draw shirts, pants, skirts, gloves, hats, coats, and undergarments on the human figure. Step by simple step, artists will discover how these garments fit and drape the body at rest and in action. Abundant with detailed illustrations, photographs, and diagrams, Drawing Drapery from Head to Toe familiarizes readers with the properties of cloth and how it moves; it also examines the origins of folds in relation to the figure, the effects of pull and crush, action folds, creasing, and more. The result: a keen development of the essential techniques for creating realistic, masterfully rendered drawings of the clothed figure.
One of few books on the subject of drawing drapery, this volume was written by a noted artist and instructor. Easy to follow, full of fascinating advice, and highly enjoyable to read, it is sure to become a well-thumbed guide.

FROM CLOTH . . .

Drapery is cloth. You must know what cloth is. Cloth is made of threads woven together as shown in the illustration to the left. The threads may be of wool, cotton, silk, etc.

The length-wise threads, as shown in red, are called the WARP. The threads which are woven back and forth by the shuttle in the making of fabrics are known as the WOOF. These are the black threads shown in the illustrations to the left.

When cloth is torn the threads of the WARP or the WOOF are broken. See the illustration to the left. It is impossible to tear cloth diagonally. When a change in direction occurs in a tear, it is always at right angles to the WARP or WOOF.

If it is necessary to have cloth of irregular shapes, the cloth must be cut to shape with a pair of scissors. The illustration above shows a paper pattern laid on cloth as a guide to cutting. These facts are known to all, but it is well to recall them to mind in order that you may know the nature of the material with which clothing is made.

. . . TO CLOTHES

This figure is clothed in cylinders. A cylinder covers each arm—another covers the body and legs. The cylinders shown cover, but do not fit the figure.

Compare this diagram with your own clothes. Your sleeves are cylindrical—also the body of your jacket, coat, or shirt. Trousers and skirts carry out this cylindrical scheme.

DRAPERY

Clothes are simply pieces of cloth sewn together to make a covering for the nude figure. Study the force of gravity (downward pull) on one piece of cloth under many conditions. By doing this you may better understand the cause of the folds which seem to give so much trouble when drawing the clothed figure.

If you will take a piece of cloth a yard square and make various drawing of it, as shown by the drawings on the following pages, you will learn the cause and formation of folds which add interest to an otherwise plain piece of material.

DRAPERY IN ACTION

A CLOTH LAID FLAT ON THE FLOOR AND PULLED FROM ONE CORNER WILL CAUSE FOLDS TO RADIATE FROM THIS POINT OF PULL.

WHEN THE CLOTH IS PULLED AT TWO CORNERS AT THE SAME TIME FOLDS WILL RADIATE FROM BOTH POINTS OF PULL. TRY IT AND SEE.

THE INFLUENCE OF . . .

THIS CLOTH HANGING ON THE WALL FROM TWO CORNERS HAS FOLDS RADIATING FROM EACH POINT OF PULL (TACK WHICH SUPPORTS CLOTH). GRAVITY, EXERTING A DOWNWARD PULL ON THE ENTIRE CLOTH, SEEMS TO INCREASE THE ‘PULL’ AT EACH UPPER CORNER.

THIS IS THE SAME CLOTH SEEN FROM THE SIDE

THIS TIME THE TACKS SUPPORTING ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• From Cloth to Clothes