Weekly Theme: Drawing Folds

Suggested by Marianne Milzoff  

Sketch by Mel Barranco

Does anyone out there find drawing folds a challenge? Clothing, drapery, curtains, tablecloths - they all have folds. No need to go far to find examples. They are all around us. Folds can take all sorts of forms depending on the softness of the material and the shape of the body. Remember your high school geometry. Folds have shapes, angles, intersections, stiffness, shadows and lights and can be a terrific vehicle for expression of emotion (see the article "Drapery and the Secret History of Painting").

This week we will explore and do studies of these folds. Look to Picasso's soft nuanced drapery or the pure and simple rhythmical lines of Al Hirschfeld's theater illustrations for inspiration.

Enjoy and remember to label your drawings NUS (Not an Urban Sketch) if that applies. 

Thank you to Jennifer Ransom for doing the research on this theme. 

Drapery and the Secret History of Painting Though often taken for granted, drapery binds modern abstract painting by artists such as Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko to Giotto, Rubens and the greats of the past. https://www.christies.com/features/Drapery-and-the-secret-history-of-painting-7152-1.aspx

Need some help? Try this tutorial.

Huge Guide to Drawing Folds in Clothing and Drapery with with Shadows and Light - How to Draw Step by Step Drawing Tutorials Learn how to draw, shade, and highlight drapery and clothing folds. There are many forms that make up a fold and many different types of folds to learn how to draw.
https://www.drawinghowtodraw.com/stepbystepdrawinglessons/2016/04/draw-folds-clothing-drapery-shadows-light/