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GATHERINGS186

Catching the Moment

On A BITTERLY COLD November day, I took refuge in a church and reason for happening. Identify the principal character and
in Venice, and there met this sullen custodian. He and his draw him or her first. Place the person carefully. For example,
simpering assistant would not allow me in, forcing me to if they are being haughty, elevate them in the pictorial space;
remain at the back and look at them, rather than the works if they are being devious, you might place them lower down.
of art they guarded. Here I have recreated my drawing in Be aware that their placement on the page is part of the
steps to show you how to set about capturing such a scene. narrative. Here the custodian projects fastidious ownership
of his desk and pamphlets by pushing from behind the
When your attention has been caught, and you decide to center of the space and challenging our entry to his image.
draw the moment, start by focusing on its action, emotion,

ACTION AND DETAIL

When drawing people, focus on action, not outline, and let every
detail speak by its size, placement, and involvement in the story. For
example, decide how faces and bodies contort; furniture leans, pulls,
or pushes; and clothing or bags hang, flap, or bulge.