Sense of the Kinesthetic
This course is an introduction to an approach to figure drawing which emphasizes strength of the gesture and the use of simple volumetric forms to construct the figure, and a focus on performance. Disney animation legends techniques will be presented in order to illustrate the development of the art form at the Disney studio, and students will also see the value of applying the Animation Principles to sketching the figure.
Throughout the course, students will learn to have a sense of the kinesthetic and performance aspects of the figure pose. By the end of the course students will have a body of loose, dynamic figure sketches that demonstrate the understanding of the principles of exaggeration, performance, and solid drawing.
Throughout the course, students will learn to have a sense of the kinesthetic and performance aspects of the figure pose. By the end of the course students will have a body of loose, dynamic figure sketches that demonstrate the understanding of the principles of exaggeration, performance, and solid drawing.
Registration Now Open
Registration Period
Jan 30, 2025 -
Apr 21, 2025
Course Start
Apr 18, 2025
Course Format
LIVE (recorded)
Skills Level
Intermediate
Duration
8 weeks
Q&A
Once a week
Feedback
Individual recordings
Lecture Type
LIVE (recorded)
Assignment
Deadlines each week
PREREQUISITES
Some previous experience with sketching the human figure, and of the figure's general structure and proportions are recommended.
MATERIALS
General drawing software (such as Photoshop, ClipStudio, etc.) or basic traditional drawing materials.
The more you know, the better.
Week #1
Introduction to Dynamic Figure Sketching
Overview of the course content by week | Introducing the 12 Animation Principles and some of the key animators who developed them | Thinking about sketching the figure through the lens of the Animation Principles | Dynamic figure sketching: loose gesture combined with solid structure using the volumetric forms | Practice sketching loose gestures and the volumetric forms (boxes, spheres, cylinders)
Week #2
Solid Drawing: Creating the Illusion of Three-Dimensionality
Introduction to applying the volumetric forms to begin giving the figure three-dimensional believability | Combining volumetric forms to create perspective and rounded volume simultaneously in the figure | Examples of use of the volumetric forms in animation drawing | Using secondary forms to describe and connect the volumetric forms
Week #3
The Importance of Exaggerating the Gesture
The Gesture and Animation (Things I Learned From Walt Stanchfield): Introduction to Walt Stanchfield and his role and importance to the development and training of Disney artists | Thinking of verbs and adverbs as we sketch the gesture (instead of nouns) | Developing the ‘kinesthetic sense’ – learning to feel the pose in our own body as a complement to our intellectual analysis of it
Week #4
Connecting Action and Structure Through Design
(Things I Learned From Marc Davis and Milt Kahl): Introduction to Marc Davis: his role and importance to Disney animation and Imagineering | Introduction to Milt Kahl: his role and importance to Disney Animation | Applying Squash and Stretch – using straight against squash to get interesting and dynamic design to our figure sketches | Adding Appeal to our sketches; defining appeal; the importance of corners to creating appealing design
Week #5
Advanced Gesture and Storytelling
(Things I Learned From Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston): Introduction to Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston: their role as two of Disney’s ‘Nine Old Men’ as well as authors of the seminal animation reference book ‘Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life’ | The importance of relating to and empathizing with your ‘character’ when sketching the figure | Staging: the importance of creating a clear, ‘readable’ silhouette with your figure sketches
Week #6
The Costumed Figure
Thinking About and Sketching Drapery In a Loose, Dynamic Way That Helps to Tell the Story of the Pose: Simplifying drapery; looking for and recognizing organizing patterns in drapery folds | Follow-Through and Arcs: seeing the ‘gesture’ of drapery action and to creating drapery design that creates interest and exaggeration to enhance the story of the pose | Props: their role in creating interaction and believability of the pose
Week #7
Getting Out of the Way and Being Interested In What You're Sketching
Getting Out of the Way and Being Interested In What You’re Sketching (Things I Learned From Walt Stanchfield): Walt Stanchfield’s idea about the importance of being interested in the pose you are sketching and asking questions in order to determine and find the ‘essence’ of the performance within the pose | Walt Stanchfield’s idea about the importance of ‘getting out of the way’…focusing on the process of sketching instead on being worried about the ‘product’ of your efforts
Week #8
Master Studies and Final Sketches
Things I Learned From Heinrich Kley: The German Master Artist Disney Artists Have Studied Since the 1930’s: Introduction to Walt Disney’s implementation of the artist training program at his studio in the 1930’s and its history up through the 1990’s | Introduction to Heinrich Kley and the important impact the study of his work had on Disney animation | Introduction to Heinrich Kley’s sketches and analysis of the Animation Principles they demonstrate
STUDENT GALLERY
Bringing out the best in talent
LECTURES BY
Mike Wiesmeier
Course Start: Apr 18, 2025
Mike Wiesmeier has been working in the animation industry since 1991. Mike’s production work has included interactive, commercial, games, and feature animation projects, including six features at Walt Disney Feature Animation, work as a supervisor on a traditionally animated feature film in Barcelona, Spain, and most recently on a AAA game, interactive theme park ride, and Netflix series projects in Montréal.
Mike’s teaching career began while working at Walt Disney Feature Animation. In the years since he has taught animation, life drawing, animal drawing, and figure sculpture at institutions worldwide including The Art Institutes of California, The Getty Center museum, The Huntington Library, Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Syn Studio École d’Art in Montréal, and Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, Italy.
Instructor's Gallery
GET ONE YEAR ACCESS AND TRANSFORM YOUR ARTISTIC JOURNEY
Take your CGMA learning further with CGMA+, a companion add-on featuring
over 70 new, stand-alone workshops—more than 250 hours of content you
won’t find in your core CGMA program. You’ll learn from multiple
instructors, each with a unique style, so you can see how different
artists approach the same subject in various ways. This additional
material builds on what you’re already studying, broadening your
perspective and helping you look at topics from fresh angles. It’s a
straightforward way to strengthen your studies and boost your skills.
PRICING SCHEDULE
Even though our courses are the most affordable for the quality of education, these finance options allow you to focus on your goals instead of the barriers that keep you from reaching them.
3x Payments
$233
2x Payments
$349.50
Full payment
$699
Spring TERM REGISTRATION
Now Open
Jan 30, 2025 -
Apr 21, 2025
COURSE BEGINS on Apr 18, 2025
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