Lane.Draws

Threadbare Drawing : Veiled

I expect that this series is going to be a bit playful!

Some figures will be completely enveloped by fabric, others not so much.

With this one, because so much of the figure is concealed, I had to handle the exposed portion very carefully.

As a general rule—the less information you have to work with, the more precise it needs to be.

2025-05-22 14:00:10 +0000 UTC View Post

Sargent at the Met /// Technique and Wit

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to see John Singer Sargent’s current exhibit at the Met Museum in NYC with my wife, Kacey, while we were visiting her family in New Jersey.

This show focused on his early works, but I'll also share a few others from later in his career.

I’ve studied Sargent in great depth over the past decade, mostly through books and online images. But on...

More Fun Figures + Reference

As with my previous post, these are relatively quick studies. Roughly 15-20 minutes.

I'm also sharing the earlier stage of each drawing. Whenever possible, I aim for the lines I place to go unaltered through to the finish. It's cause for celebration when that happens! However, my main goal with the initial lines is to plot out the figure on the page. Once the big decisions have been made...

Fun Figure Studies + Reference

A great perk of this platform—compared to social media—is that I can share my reference images alongside the drawings. I think this is a great way to offer insight into the thought process. You can see where I choose to follow the subject and where I decide to depart from it.

As with these drawings, I often redesign the hair of my figures. It’s the most malleable feature, so I see i...

Lighting for Figure Drawing

Whether you're working from a live model or photo reference, the quality of light on your subject can make or break the experience.

Whether you're working from a live model or photo reference, the quality of light on your subject can make or break the experience. Strong, simple lighting is a pleasure to work with, while overly complex lighting can make the process beyond frustrating.

Saturday Study

A fun little figure study for today.

More "Low Resolution" Studies

Using a big charcoal stick (digital or otherwise) is a great way to encourage simplification.

If your motive is to capture the big ideas of a subject—such as mood, gesture, or light/shadow contrast—a "low resolution" approach like this is quite effective.

When we render some...

Threadbare Drawing : Twist

I'm going to have to invent some sort of title structure for these drawings at some point. I'll soon run out of simple descriptions like bend and twist.

I often find more satisfaction in loose drawings like this than in tighter renderings. It’s simply trying to capture an impression—and to do so through interesting mark-making. If I dared to resolve the details furt...

Smooth Newsprint Paper + Alternatives

Newsprint paper is a cheap, disposable packaging material. It’s fragile, flimsy, and reverts to pulp upon slightest contact with water.

And yet—it’s also a delightful surface for figure drawing. (At least for the sort of short-pose style that I enjoy)

More specifically, smooth surface newsprint is something truly special. So much so, ...

Threadbare Drawing : Bend

I’ll be sharing both finished images and works in progress. This one feels finished to me at the moment, but until the book is printed, I’m giving myself permission to make touch-ups as needed.

The current plan is to include a nice variety of loose, quick sketches alongside more tightly rendered images.

Intro to Threadbare /// Pt. 3 : An Idyllic Setting

A sense of place is important for escapism. It allows us, as viewers and creators alike, to be transported out of the ordinary and into something quieter, more blissful, or exotic. A compelling setting doesn’t just frame the work—it invites us to dwell inside it.

In Threadbare, even when the environment isn’t visible in every composition, I want its presenc...

Personal Coaching & Critique : Details Here!

This post is for anyone subscribed to—or interested in—the Coaching & Critique tier.

Here’s how it works:

You send me your artwork along with any questions or topics you'd like me to discuss. I’ll then record a personalized video critique with my feedback.

Videos average around 20-40 minutes.

You’re welcome to send sketch...

My Digital Tools + Patreon Discount Code

I love both traditional and digital tools!

They each have unique strengths and charm. You'll see me using digital a lot here because it's such an effective medium to teach with, due to clarity and ease of recording. (I promise to mix in traditional drawing too!)

It is my love for the look of traditional charcoal drawing that inspired me to try to replicate the look and feel as close...

Shape Design /// Part 3 : Refining a Drawing

In Part 2, I showed how to begin a drawing using the Envelope Technique. In this video, I demonstrate how to carry that process forward to a finished piece.

It’s all about repeating the process of identifying the character of abstract shapes and translating them into your drawing. The shapes simply become smaller and more subtle as you go.

I also touch on other topics such as atmo...

Shape Design /// Part 2 : The Envelope Technique

The start of a figure drawing is often the most intimidating part!

In this video, I demonstrate the Envelope Technique—a method that helps you cut through the complexity of the figure and go straight to the big, abstract shape that contains your subject. From there, it's just a matter of carving out progressively smaller shapes.

I don’t use this exact approach f...

Shape Design /// Part 1 : Seeing Abstract Shapes in the Figure

The fundamentals of shape design are often discussed in the context of character design and illustration. However, I’ve rarely seen them applied directly to figure drawing—and I aim to change that!

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Before you can design with shapes, you first have to see them. In this video, I present several exercises to help train your eye for shape recognition.

But it’s n...

Framing Your Subject

The way you frame your subject is both the simplest and most significant creative decision you can make. It’s also one of the very first choices in any work of art, so it seems like a fitting place to begin.

It helps to start with this question:

What do you want the focus of your composition to be?

If you want to emphasize the whole subject, then include it ...

Intro to Threadbare /// Pt. 2 : Shapes Beyond the Surface

This series will be largely focused on figures composed with rough cuts of fabric. However, it won’t be strictly limited to that. You’ll see figures posed among all sorts of elements.

My broader aim is to create compositions full of dramatic shapes and lively gestures. Rough cuts of fabric are essential because they’re so malleable—able to take on any shape imaginable. I’m espec...

Intro to Threadbare /// Pt. 1 : A New Series of Figure Drawings

The excitement I feel when I spot a striking pose or a captivating gesture is beyond words. There’s something so primordial about it that I can’t fully express—but I’m sure you know it, too. A great gesture is as satisfying as a harmonious musical note: it’s the feeling of something being just right, perfect in that fleeting moment.

2025-04-24 19:19:16 +0000 UTC View Post

Patreon Introduction — Welcome Everyone!

I have two ambitious goals for this Patreon:

• It will serve as the home for my new and on-going series of figure drawings, Threadbare. I'll be sharing my process from rough sketches, to final art, and ultimately to the development of a self-published art book. It's going to be an exciting journey!

• Alongside this personal project, I plan to develop loads of...

  2025-04-24 19:11:56 +0000 UTC View Post