Progress Shot 01

Adding the next muscle.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Canson Mi–Teintes paper, 55 x 37cm

Progress Shot 07

The three examples finished.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Fabriano Accademia paper, 55 x 37cm

Progress Shot 06

A bit of fine tuning on the third example.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Fabriano Accademia paper, 55 x 37cm

Progress Shot 05

Started the third example.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Fabriano Accademia paper, 55 x 37cm

Progress Shot 04

Second example done.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Fabriano Accademia paper, 55 x 37cm

Progress Shot 03

I continue with the second example..

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Fabriano Accademia paper, 55 x 37cm

Progress Shot 02

The first of the three is done.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Fabriano Accademia paper, 55 x 37cm

Progress Shot 01

Starting a new sheet of examples.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Fabriano Accademia paper, 55 x 37cm

Progress Shot 06

Ok, so here is the summary of the muscles on this sheet.

1/ Vastus Medialis
Action: Extends leg at knee joint.

2/ Adductor Longus
Action: Adducts and contributes to flex thigh at hip joint.

3/ Adductor Magnus
Action: Adducts, flexes and laterally rotates thigh at hip joint. Hamstring part medially rotates and extends thigh.

4/ Psoas Major
Action: Flexes and rotates the thigh laterally at hip joint.

5/ Illiacus
Action – Flexes and rotates laterally the thigh at hip joint, stabilises the hip joint.

The muscles on this sheet actively affecting the shape of the leg on the surface are: Vastus Medialis, and as part of the adductor group, Adductor Magnus and Adductor Longus.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Fabriano Accademia paper, 55 x 37cm

Progress Shot 05

Adding a bit of detail to make the light describe the muscle shapes.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Fabriano Accademia paper, 55 x 37cm

Progress Shot 04

Now off to an example.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Fabriano Accademia paper, 55 x 37cm

Progress Shot 03

The third view of the new muscles.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Fabriano Accademia paper, 55 x 37cm

Progress Shot 02

Here come the next few muscles.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Fabriano Accademia paper, 55 x 37cm

Progress Shot 01

Here come the next few muscles.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Fabriano Accademia paper, 55 x 37cm

Progress Shot 11

The anatomical detail we learn and then use in art work is a language. And as such, it is ruled by the intention of expression. The image we want to communicate will determine which parts of the anatomical knowledge will make ti into the image or sculpture.
The basic principle is: the more detail is shown, the more the muscles are tensed and the more effort the model appears to be making. On the sheet below, drawing Nr 4 has the most relaxed muscles. The legs are relatively at ease. You can see how the shape of the legs gets simplified when the muscles are not tensed.
Another important aspect of drawing the muscles is their grouping. There are always several muscles in the same area that perform the same, or very similar task. The Adductor Minimus and Adductor Magnus are not the only 2 adductor muscles the body has in this area. But because they all perform the very similar function, they all tense at the very similar moment which then allows us to draw the adductor group instead of each separate adductor muscle, as you can see in all the drawings below.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Canson Mi–Teintes paper, 38 x 55cm

Progress Shot 10

A bot more detail tomorrow and this sheet of legs will be done.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Canson Mi–Teintes paper, 38 x 55cm

Progress Shot 09

The set of legs done, onto the fourth.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Canson Mi–Teintes paper, 38 x 55cm

Progress Shot 08

A bit more detail added to the third figure.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Canson Mi–Teintes paper, 38 x 55cm

Adding the third figure…

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Canson Mi–Teintes paper, 38 x 55cm

Progress Shot 06

A bit more work on the second pair of legs adding light.

Graphite and White Chalk on prepared Canson Mi–Teintes paper, 38 x 55cm