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| (Capturing the swagger/body language of the big men who play the game.) |
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| (Ticket stubs collected over the years.) |
The game of football is one of my favorite activities to quick sketch.
Whether flag, Pop Warner, high school, college or pro, the bodies in motion are a sketchers dream.
Professional football is especially challenging and rewarding. Twenty-two bodies, coaches, a chains crew, photographers, radio and television crews, reporters, referees and more in motion simultaneously.
My eyes are on the football or anticipating where the ball might be going or who even has it...oops, the ball is fumbled and a mad unscheduled tussle for possession of it ensues...and on and on the game plays out presenting an endless array of possibilities to sketch.
What subjects do I choose to sketch in a 60 minute game?
A few of things I think about before I put pen to paper: solid drawing, is the sketch in proportion and anatomically correct for body type; silhouette value, being mindful that the negative shapes are just as important as the positive shapes, can the sketch be easily 'read', can you tell what is going on, what action is taking place and most importantly, is capturing the body language of the athletes and participants by answering the question, what is the body communicating?
Quickly in a few lines, my goal is to produce a sketch that is infused with an intangible element, making the sketch fun to look at... eye candy is what I call it.
Analyzing the sketch below: Proportion says "I'm a big man", Silhouette says "I'm even bigger spread out", Negative space between the legs says "I'm walking with a positive gait, long stride with elbows back meaning my chest is thrust forward and "I am definitely a force to be dealt with on the field of play"...did I capture that?...you be the judge:- )
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The restraints of writing a book (deadlines, page count, editing etc.) caused me to condense the information and images so I'm addressing some additional things here. My blog is more personal and I get to elaborate more:-).
The personal touch...
If you have a personal interest in an experience, it is easier to relate yourself to it. A writer for example can 'connect' to the piano player that is being written about if the writer plays the instrument. Even more in depth can the article be if there is a personal relationship between the writer and the person being written about. Having played the game of football adds to my passion in capturing the actions and activities in pen line. An added bonus are the inroads that others have contributed to my sketching adventures.
One of the 'others' who have contributed to my appreciation of the game is my life long friend Wayne Nunnely. We grew up in Monrovia CA, played for the Monrovia High Wildcats on Friday nights and then, some years later, the Owls of Citrus Junior college. We also both received scholarships to represent the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Rebels on Saturdays.
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| (Wayne and me in high school) |
(At times my descriptions of action and players will get detailed. The reason is that some readers of this blog are international (France, Canada, Germany, Nigeria, Singapore, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Netherlands, Russia, China, Japan, Ukraine, Switzerland, India, Australia, Egypt and more) where the terminology of American football is not well known. Even here in America up until the 1800's the words block and tackle were used to describe (farming) equipment:-)
Chronicling a day of sketching professional football...
My game day would start with an early drive to San Diego, accompanied by wife LaVonne , a friend or my son-in-law, Johann. And then a stop at 'will call' to pick up tickets Wayne had left and a note to meet him at "gate F-1" after the game.
Observation is a must before quick sketching...
Being an early bird gives me the time to observe the fans, stadium workers, referees, players warming up and any others pregame festivities such as...
Photographers getting ready for their best shot of the game (below)...
...Navy jets flew over Qualcomm Stadium followed by a guy entering the stadium with his own set of wings and a cameraman to record it all...
Ready for some action...
After the kickoff, the action centers around the quarterback. In this most coveted position, whether warming up or in action, I observed that their individual throwing motions are unique...over the top, straight on or slightly side arm.
One of the great running backs in NFL and Charger history was LaDainian Tomlinson #21, I got to watch and sketch him in action many seasons...he signed (left) one of the sketches:- )
The receivers...
They catch the ball and can display the balance of a ballerino (male ballet dancer) and the tenacity of a wrestler. When the ball is thrown, if it is within reach or not, he makes a supreme effort to make the catch...
...over the shoulder...
... high in the air as he can leap...
Linemen in action...
All the action of the quarterback, receivers and running backs are made possible by the linemen who do the 'heavy lifting', the blocking and tackling.
The action starts with the center (below) hiking the ball and then a flurry of activity ensues.
Defense verses Offense - One player against another... Who is the best player this down? series of downs? And eventually who scores the most points by the end of the game.
...defensive signals, verbally or by hand (below)...
The head coach with a small army of assistants plan each play with live pieces on a 100 yard x 53 yard chess board called a field...each armed with the game plan on paper and headphones to be in contact with others of the staff located at the top of the stadium.
The player's body language says, "What did I do ref?" (above). There are a number of situations that could bring about this gesture but the flag gives context and reason to the pose.
Coach asking for an explanation of the referees call.
Not only is the referee responsible to throw the flag for infractions of the rules (a player who has never broken a rule in his playing career) but is also called upon to restore order to the controlled chaos that happens each snap of the ball (below right).
And last but not least, The Fan, for whom the game is played.
There is as much action to sketch in the stands as there is on the field. Some prefer to watch the game nonchalantly or give a pleasant 'high five' for a positive play(above).
Others get more involved with their team, especially after a imbibing a little alcohol :-)
Body language will let you know whether their team scored, made a first down or they disagree with the referees call.
Look for silhouette and the extreme thrusting hand/arms in the air in triumph.
This fan (above) gives us body language, silhouette, hand gestures and direction, all we need to enjoy the game of quick sketching.
Until next time...
