Courses

The human body is our most familiar form. We seek to draw people realistically—to capture their gesture, strength, and grace. This course is about looking at, seeing, and drawing the human figure well. Regardless of your drawing experience, you can learn to draw accurately using charcoal on paper in a proven method. The result will be a solid drawing in itself or an exceptionally useful study for a figure painting. Using a small mirror, we will distinguish between our imagination and what our eyes actually see. This approach will lead to a more objective way of seeing and drawing—a method called sight-size. From the Renaissance to modern studios, this method of comparing lines to the actual subject allows anyone to draw a more realistic image. It opens up the whole world of drawing well. Each class will begin with a brief lecture and demonstration. Students will then work directly with a live model to build up their practical understanding of the sight-size method and progressively create a solid figure drawing.