Sketching the figure on your own can be frustrating

 Without guidance it's common to fall into one of these pitfalls:

• not knowing where to start or what to look for in the figure pose
• thinking...'if my figure drawings are just more anatomically accurate, they will be more dynamic'
• getting stuck in 'construction-mode' where your figures look rigid and lifeless

And a lot of the instruction out there is counter-productive to drawing the figure dynamically

You may have had one of these experiences:

• Many drawing teachers encourage copying the figure, emphasizing creating 'perfect' drawings, instead of encouraging your artistic voice
• Many figure drawing courses emphasize formulaic or overly- structured approaches that feel mechanical, and that can fail to even mention the importance of the gesture
• Or, you might have even experienced a teacher who was quick to point out your mistakes, instead of guiding you toward improvement with encouragement

In classes at the Walt Disney animation studio,  I learned figure drawing from Glenn Vilppu and Walt Stanchfield, two of the greatest figure drawing teachers of all time

Since working at Disney Animation I have taken the figure drawing wisdom I learned from my teachers and distilled that knowledge into 7 Dynamic Figure Sketching Principles...

The 7 figure sketching principles that will take your figure drawings from static to dynamic

Discover the tools to help you break out of static 'copying' of the figure pose, and toward telling your story and expressing your artistic voice

Sign-up for Static to Dynamic to discover how to...

Let go of the need to try to copy the human figure

Instead of trying to literally reproduce what you see, you'll learn how to use the 7 Principles to go for the action and design of the pose

Make dynamic figure study sketches and learn from Renaissance masterpieces

This mini-course takes part of it's inspiration from the great Renaissance masterworks found in Florence, Italy. In each lesson I demonstrate the sketching principles on-site in Florence. It's like a virtual trip to the most beautiful city in the world! 

Enjoy sketching loosely

By learning to 'let go' of some of the control of the process, you'll access your natural ability to show the action of the figure pose

Become the 'director' of every figure sketch you make

When you learn to let go of trying to reproduce what you see, you'll revel in the freedom to make artistic choices as you discover the pose...the freedom has always been yours and that you will now use

What's inside Static to Dynamic?

 this mini-course is packed with practical, actionable figure sketching instruction

Through this experience you'll gain the tools you need to:

• know what to look for in the figure pose...each of the 7 Principles is a milestone on your journey toward sketching the figure dynamically, and guides you to see critical aspects of the figure pose:
  • the simplicity within the pose
  • the asymmetries within the pose
  • the dynamic rhythms within the pose
  • the overall angle/direction of the pose
  • the specific action or 'verb' of the pose
  • the appealing design within the pose
  • the tension, effort, and work being done in the pose
• develop your 'kinesthetic' sense of the pose...feeling the pose in your own body, which makes it more specific and personal.
• draw the action of the pose instead of body parts...by specifically naming the verb of the pose.
• use the 7 Principles to help you get really interested in the figure pose you're sketching, which in turn will help you let go of some of the control of how the 'product' will turn out.
• use the 7 Principles to become what legendary Disney teacher Walt Stanchfield called, the 'director' of your sketch.
• understand the important relationship between the action and the design of the pose.
• gain an appreciation for the great figure drawings of the Florentine Renaissance masters, by making sketch-over studies.

Think of the mini-course as 'Disney Classical Drawing Technique Meets the Renaissance'

The inspiration and resource for the instruction in this mini-course is the figure drawing education I received while working at the Disney Animation Studio, as well as our location for the sketching demos...Florence, Italy, whose timeless, beautiful figure art will be our sketching subjects.

Seven Figure Sketching Principles...Eight Figure Statues

We will learn how to apply each of the seven Dynamic Figure Sketching Principles at a unique Florence location...and then return to one of those locations to see how to apply all 7 Principles together.

Static To Dynamic has 10 action-packed lesson modules, including over 2 hours of figure sketching demos

Module 1:                           Mike, thesketchEXPERIENCE, and Florence

• Introduction to your instructor, Mike
• Introduction to thesketchEXPERIENCE and your transformative journey toward increased sketching confidence.                                                                
• Introduction to Florence, Italy - our amazing setting for this mini-course

Module 2:                           Your Journey From Static to Dynamic Figure Sketching

• The Four Paths to your increased sketching confidence and enjoyment
• Introduction and overview of the 7 Dynamic Figure Sketching principles, and the important elements of each of the lessons
• The benefits of sketching the figure from sculpture

Module 3:                             The First Step Away From Static Drawing: Using Principle 1 To Look For the Simple Arcs and Straights Of the Pose

• The Location: The Loggia dei Lanzi, The Statue: 'The Abduction of the Sabine Women', The Sculptor: Giambologna
• The Principle: Looking For the Simplicity of the Pose: Big Arcs and Straights
• Sketching Demo: Putting Principle 1 Into Practice
• Principle 1 Take-Home Points and Practice Tips

Module 4:                       Create Contrast and Movement In Your Figure Sketch: Using Principle 2 To Push the Asymmetry Within the Pose

• The Location: The Bargello Museum, The Statue: 'Venus', The Sculptor: Bartolomeo Ammannati
• The Principle: Looking For and Pushing the Asymmetry Within the Pose
• Sketching Demo: Putting Principle 2 Into Practice
• Principle 2 Take-Home Points and Practice Tips

Module 5:                      Putting the 'Life' Back Into Life Drawing: Using Principle 3 To Get the Side-to-Side Rhythms of the Pose

• The Location: The Neptune Fountain in Piazza Signoria, The Statue: 'The Laughing Satyrs', The Sculptor: Bartolomeo Ammannati
• The Principle: Looking For the Side-To-Side Rhythms Within the Pose
• Sketching Demo: Putting Principle 3 Into Practice
• Principle 3 Take-Home Points and Practice Tips

Module 6:                                 It Just Takes A Little Push: Using Principle 4 To Exaggerate the Overall Direction of the Pose

• The Location: The Uffizi Museum Corridor, The Statue: 'Galileo Galilei', The Sculptor: Aristodemo Costoli
• The Principle: Pushing the Overall Direction of the Pose
• Sketching Demo: Putting Principle 4 Into Practice
• Principle 4 Take-Home Points and Practice Tips

Module 7:                             The Name of the Game Is Naming the Action: Using Principle 5 To Get Specific About the Pose By Naming the Verb and Adverb

• The Location: The Galleria Palatina of Palazzo Pitti, The Statue: 'Boy With Panther', Unknown Roman Sculptor
• The Principle: Thinking of the Verb and Adverb of the Pose
• Sketching Demo: Putting Principle 5 Into Practice
• Principle 5 Take-Home Points and Practice Tips

Module 8:                          The Other Important 'Hat' We Wear When We Sketch the Figure: Using Principle 6 to Design Your Sketch For Maximum Appeal

• The Location: The Church of Santa Croce, The Statue: 'The Tomb of Machiavelli', The Sculptor: Innocenzo Spinazzi
• The Principle: Designing Your Sketch With Straights and Curves
• Sketching Demo: Putting Principle 6 Into Practice
• Principle 6 Take-Home Points and Practice Tips

Module 9:              Connecting Action To Design: Using Principle 7 To Ask the Question, "Where Is the Work Being Done?"

• The Location: Mercato del Porcellino, The Statue: 'Michele di Lando', The Sculptor: Ippazio Bortone
• The Principle: Looking for the Straights That Show Tension and Where the Work Is Being Done
• Sketching Demo: Putting Principle 7 Into Practice
• Principle 7 Take-Home Points and Practice Tips

Module 10:               Becoming the 'Director' of Your Sketch: Creating Dynamic and Appealing Figures Using All 7 Principles

• The Location: The Ammannati Courtyard of Palazzo Pitti, The Statue: 'Hercules and Antaeus', Unknown Roman Sculptor
• The Principle: Thinking About and Using All 7 Principles At the Same Time
• Sketching Demo: Putting The 7 Principles Into Practice
• Using All 7 Principles Take-Home Points and Practice Tips
• How the 7 Sketching Principles Interact and Overlap With Each Other
• Learning From the Great Artists of the Past: The Master Artist Sketch-Over Study
  

Worksheets, One-Pages, and Slides Included with Every Lesson

In addition to the 10action-packed module lesson videos and accompanying lesson slides, I've also included one-pages and worksheets with specific action steps to put the 7 Dynamic Sketching Principles into action!

Bonus 1:                          Loosen Your Hand and Your Mind: Additional Tips To Help You Create Dynamic Figure Sketches

• Loose Sketching Tip 1: Move Your Hand Back On Your Pencil Or Pen
• Loose Sketching Tip 2: Sketch Quickly
• Loose Sketching Tip 3: Sketch Lightly
• Using Media That Helps To Stay Loose As You Sketch

Bonus 2:                               Dynamic Dark and Light: Ideas and Strategies For Making Your Figure Sketches Even More Dynamic

• Using Light and Dark to Give the Figure a Sense of Form
• Using Light and Dark to Create a Sense of Place For the Figure
• Using Light and Dark To Ground the Figure
• Using Light and Dark To Create a Sense of Depth with 'Atmospheric Perspective'
• Using Light and Dark To Create a Sense of Drama
• How Using Light and Dark in Our Figure Sketches Positively Affects All of the Paths Toward Greater Sketching Confidence

Bonus 3:                               Unleash YOUR Sketchbook Habit: Breaking Through The Barriers To Carrying and Using A Sketchbook Everywhere You Go

• Breaking Through the Barriers To Carrying A Sketchbook Everywhere You Go Expands Your Sketching Possibilities
• Keeping It Simple To Make It Convenient: Suggestions For Combinations of Materials
• 'Breaking the Ice' with Your Sketchbook: Some Strategies
• Taming Your Inner Critic: Adjusting Your Mindset About Your Sketches
• Overcoming Sketching 'Stage Fright': Strategies For Sketching Confidently In Public

You're seconds away from jumping in and starting...

When you sign-up for Static To Dynamic today, you'll get instant lifetime access to the entire mini-course, worksheets, one-pages, and bonuses!

Here's what you're getting with the Static To Dynamic mini-course:

• All 10 Static To Dynamic lesson modules with over three hours of instruction, including over two hours of figure sketching demos done on-site by Mike in beautiful Florence, Italy ($500 value)
• All Static To Dynamic worksheets, one-pages, and slides ($100 value)
• Bonus 1: Loosen Your Hand And Your Mind: Additional Tips To Help You Create Dynamic Figure Sketches ($100 value)
• Bonus 2: Dynamic Dark and Light: Ideas and Strategies For Making Your Figure Sketches Even More Dynamic ($100 value) 
• Bonus 3: Unleash Your Sketchbook Habit: Breaking Through the Barriers To Carrying and Using A Sketchbook                                 Everywhere You Go ($100 value) 

Total Value For All of This Amazing Instruction = $900

If all this did was...

if all this did was give you a clear path out of the trap of trying to copy the figure pose, would it be worth it?                                                   if all this did was give you a clear path toward being the designer and director of your figure sketches, would it be worth it?                       if all this did was bring you back to a sense of joy in sketching the human figure, would it be worth it?                                                              if all this did was help you get in touch with your kinesthetic sense of the figure pose, would it be worth it?

Three options to choose from...

I'm putting my money where my mouth is...

I'm fully convinced that Static To Dynamic is exactly what you need to go from sketching the figure statically to dynamically, and increase your sketching confidence overall.

But I'm willing to guarantee that you will get exactly what you need from this mini-course to bring life to your figure sketches.

This is why I'm backing your purchase with a 60-day, no-questions asked, money back guarantee.

Go through the course, watch the lessons, download the worksheets, and do the sketching exercises, and if you don't love it, simply ask for a refund within the first 60 days and I'll give you your money back. 100%.

I truly want you to have success in sketching the figure dynamically and in increasing your overall sketching confidence and enjoyment, and if this mini-course doesn't deliver that for you, I'd rather you to put your money into something that does!

I want you to sign-up knowing there is absolutely no risk to you.

Three options to choose from...

Imagine yourself one year from today if you jump in now...

-You've made the transformation from statically copying the figure pose to dynamically sketching your interpretation of the pose.

-You're feeling confident and at ease sketching the human figure.

-You're making creative choices as you sketch the figure...you are now fully the director and author of every sketch you make.

-Your figure sketches are full of life and appealing design.

-You're sketching loosely and have developed your kinesthetic sense...that understanding of the figure pose that you feel in your own body.

-You're less concerned about what others think about your figure drawings...you're doing it for YOU!

-You sketch confidently in public, even sharing your passion with total strangers who are fascinated and inspired by your courage to sketch.

-You're living the sketching lifestyle...carrying and using your sketchbook everywhere you go...and having a blast!

This is all possible for you and it starts with signing-up for Static To Dynamic.

Don't wait - the dynamic figure sketching future you deserve starts today. Sign-up now and take the first step from static to dynamic. -Mike