Advanced Figure Drawing

This week will be a review of the basics of gesture but with the added emphasis on using shape design to exaggerate/push the gesture of the figure.

• Overview of basic gesture and proportions

• Shape design and rhythms

• Pushing the pose

• Translating 2D shapes to 3D forms

This week is a review of the general construction and anatomy of the figure.  We will use the same design concepts from week one to start the drawings but emphasis will be placed on figure completion and review of anatomy and rendering.

• Construction process from gesture to simple forms, to anatomy

• Rendering with hatching

• line/hatching exercises

This week will continue with long poses but we will focus on designing using light, shadow. 

• Continue again with construction process from gesture, to simple forms, to anatomy

• Designing graphic shadow shapes in relation to the 3D form

• Composing with atmosphere

• line/rendering exercises

This week we will break down styles and approaches of other artists.  This week will set the tone for the rest of the class as students will be encouraged to bring in artists they are interested in studying which will be referenced through the rest of the class.

• How to break down style

• Incorporating style into your own drawing

This week is an overview of drawing heads and hands.  We go over strategies for quicker studies.  Topics from the Master Artist Study week will be incorporated

• Simplified head construction and gesture

• Bracketing

• Simplified hair

• Strategies for different angles

This week we will take the drawing concepts from previous weeks to develop more of a shorthand for drawing the figure in quicker poses.

• Moving from gesture to simplified construction

• Composing/designing the drawing with a focal point

• Rendering strategies and mark making strategies

• Anatomy as Structure

This week will continue with shorter poses but we will be mixing things up with doing more direct drawing (yest without a lay-in!)

• Tracking proportion

• Visualizing forms and perspective

• The structure in mark making

This week we will explore alternative approaches to starting a drawing and finding forms.  We will also touch on drawing from imagination.

• Scribble drawing

• Inventive drawing

This week we will go over technique and concepts for drawing with toned paper.

• Toned paper mid tone

• Saving time with toned paper!