Action Sketching: Using a photo reference and a mannequin

Posted in Tutorials - 11/13/2019

A new sports practice device named DribbleUp shows real-time ball drills at foot level on a large-screen TV set. By simultaneously seeing and feeling one’s actions, a person using this device can quickly detect, change, and improve behavior.

The same can be said about improving skills by sketching soccer action through the use of reference material (photos or stop-frame video), a mannequin (as described in blogs leading to this one), and various sketching techniques (future articles).

Reference photo of soccer player,

The only way a physical stance, such as seen in the above photo of soccer player Collin Martin, can be accomplished is through power and rapid motion. The only way it can be studied, however, is through still pictures, and then, you only see one side of a view.

Example of a manikin duplicating the action of a soccer player

The photo above shows that I positioned a mannequin in Martin’s pose, right down to the bend of his feet.

The following photos show the play from different angles, all of which were hidden in the initial photograph and probably in any videos of the play taken at that moment.

Example 2 of soccer action

Example 3 of soccer action

Example 4 of soccer action

I’ll use these mannequin photos in my next blog where I will begin to show you various ways to capture what you see and feel through sketching and how sketching leads to more fully formed knowledge on the subject under your hand.

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