Make your notes come alive with figures in action.

Sheri Kennedy • August 25, 2023

The Art of Applied Visual Thinking


The official newsletter of Applied Visual Thinking SUPERHEROES.  Vol. 4 No. 16  August 25, 2023

Applied Visual Thinking logo with purple road and orange burst

What's something exciting you've seen, learned about or experienced this summer? Gone birding? Whale watching? Taken an online course? Have you tried drawing it?

When I look back at notes I've taken, the ones that I am most compelled to revisit contain figures of some kind and an image that shows some kind of action.


When I look back at notes I've taken, the ones that I am most compelled to revisit contain figures of some kind and an image that shows some kind of action. The idea of drawing a person doing something can seem daunting, I know, but it can be as summer simple as putting on a pair of sunglasses.


Read on to learn how.

a line drawing of a table tennis or ping pong paddle containing the word tiny and a person with their hand outstretched. A white ping pong ball rests on the palm and there are 3 arrows pointing to the ball.

Start with the end in mind.

What action or concept do you need to show? If you were taking a photo, would you need a full-frame close-up or a wide-angle distance shot to best spotlight the idea?

 

When to use a close-up:

  • Zoom in on the person's EXPRESSION to convey an emotion.
  • Call attention to A THING such as a telescope, whiteboard, sign, book, telephone, or product.
  1. Draw the thing first – don't be afraid to make it BIG!
  2. Draw the person around the thing – smaller than the thing.
  • FILL a small space or shape.
  1. Draw the container first – a shape, a corner of a room or whatever abstract outline fills the space (leave a gap or two if you want the person to overlap the outline).
  2. Draw the person in the space – maybe conforming to the space or breaking out of it.

A drawing of a blue, kneeling figure holding a very large, multicolored beach ball over their head. On the beach ball is the word humongous.

When to use a full-body figure from a distance:

  • Indicate that the person is moving or performing an ACTION – running, swimming, jumping, reaching, swinging a tennis racquet.
  • Include more than one person INTERACTING – high fiving, talking/listening, giving/receiving.
  • Take up more space and therefore give it more IMPORTANCE.

A drawing of a tennis match. One figure is preparing to hit the ball, while the other is preparing for the return. There are 4 rows of simple, abstract figures watching the match from grandstands.

When to use a group:

  • Set a larger CONTEXT – whole team, organization, city, world.
  • Include a DIVERSITY of figures or responses.
  • Convey PERSPECTIVE such as foreground to background or small vs. large.

NOW YOU TRY IT!

Find a video or start a class, take some notes and juice 'em up with a figure or two in action. If you have a few more minutes, check out our recent blog post for more ways to Expand your Figure Library.

Adding figures can be simple and fun, and add life to your notes.


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