What is the best way to do sketch studies of subjects who aren't still?

Whenever I try to do that, I take pictures with my camera that immediately prints them out. That’s what I’ve always done.

I have always done quick gesture sketches,then observed and added more details as the opportunity arose.What a colossal pain in the ass that is! XD
If it is something I really want to do,I will photograph my subject and go from there….much more happily,I must say.:)

@lucillelucillelucille and @KatetheGreat That’s good, but I want to be tech-free and self-reliant! I am a stubborn artist. Sometimes I can really nail the gesture drawing, and sometimes I sit there staring at the whirling subject, drooling and with no chance of pencil making contact with paper. I have only had success with cats because they have easy, round bodies. Just another reason to love cats.

I guess I am looking for some sort of miracle technique!

Try just to get action lines down; the curve of the back, the arc of the arm. Then you can fill out the torso and limbs later with elongated rectangles or spiral strokes. I’ve done this kind of sketch with 30 second poses..

@janbb Nice. That is usually how I start it out…also, I have taken to scribbling the form like this .

Perfect – that’s the idea!

My art teacher used to get us to do 30 second sketches. She’d give us a stack of sketch paper & make us sketch for 90 minutes. It’s just practice. Sketching is just getting the slightest of movement & motion. Capturing the essence of the subject really.

@ninjaapantz Great idea! However, I don’t think I can make myself sit still and do anything for 90 minutes…except maybe watch a movie.

I don’t think all of us sat, some stood other were on the floor. That’s what’s wonderful about art, you do it the way you want :)

@ninjaapantz And all too often, I do it while watching movies, lol!

I would suggest take life drawing courses or go to life drawing sessions in your community. Take out a newsprint pad and some conte and draw like you’ve never drawn before. It’ll really help you and you’ll get better at gestural drawings.
After that, for example, if you want to go to a ballet and draw the dancers, you can put it quick line of actions and do a quick gesture since you’ll be able to draw poses fast enough due to those unhealthy life drawing sessions. Also, life drawing sessions help because you’ll begin to understand anatomy and you’ll be able to see and a draw a person from different perspective. You’ll understand it well enough that you won’t even need a model. On your own time you will be able to draw the figure without even looking at a model.

I know its difficult, but it takes time and a lot of patience. Also, I wouldn’t recommend drawing from magazines, books or photographs because your drawings will seem flat. There’s a difference with drawing by life than there are with photographs. I don’t know what it is. But generally, drawings done by life have more movement or life to them.
Also, drawing by life forces you to draw faster.

@angermanagement I have taken many classes, but I don’t feel the need to do so anymore. I just practice. I am just trying to pick up pointers that anyone may have that i might not have thought of. :)

then I would suggest, practice by memory. Start with still objects. Memorize an object by looking at it for a min and then draw it, and as your memory gets better then try it with things that move. You might be able to jot down things quicker by using your memory.
just a suggestion.