Fundamentals of Figure Drawing
Beginner and Intermediate Curriculum
Classes are 8 sessions over 4 weeks. All sessions are 90 minutes.
Session 1: Gesture drawing and proportion
COURSE ORIENTATION: Q&A and materials review
GESTURE DRAWING: Quick and accurate placement
PROPORTIONS: Measuring negative space
CONTOUR DRAWING: Learning how to see
LONG POSE 1: Use what you've learned
LONG POSE 2: Once more, with feeling
Session 2: Volume and structure
VOLUME & STRUCTURE: Spheres, cubes & cylinders
TORSO/FRONT: Figure in seated pose
TORSO/BACK: Figure in contrapposto pose
ARMS: Highlight muscle groups, shoulder to wrist
LEGS: Highlight muscle groups, waist to ankle
FEET: Block method, from the ankle
HANDS: Stick and block method, from the wrist
Session 3: Head and neck
HEAD & NECK: (The Loomis Method) facing forward
HEAD & NECK: Profile view
HEAD & NECK: Tilted up and down
FACES: Keys to creating accurate likenesses
LONG POSE: Head and hands
Session 4: Details of the head
DETAILS OF THE HEAD: Rendering hair
SUGGESTING FACIAL FEATURES: What not to say
STRUCTURE OF THE EYE: Subtlety of indication
MASTERING THE NOSE: Hard line to soft contours
THE MOUTH: Nuances of light, shade and shine
EARS: Front, side and rear views
LONG POSE: Head and torso
Session 5: Light and shadow
LIGHT AND SHADOW: Graduation & sheerness
SHADING TECHNIQUES: Crosshatch, contouring
TRANSITION OF SHADOW EDGES: Sharp to blurred
GESTURE DRAWINGS: Full figures
LONG POSE1: Front view
LONG POSE 2: Rear view
Session 6: Putting it all together
FORESHORTENING: Short poses, arm and hand positions
PERSPECTIVE: Short poses, seated and reclining
CLEAN LINES: Line weight, clarity and elimination
GESTURE DRAWINGS: Final warmup
LONG POSE: Putting it all together
Session 7: Guided figure drawing 1
PRACTICE & ANALYSIS: Guided life drawing session with critique
GESTURE DRAWING: Short, fast muscle-memory warmup
SHORT POSES: 2 minutes each
1st LONG POSE: 15 minutes
2ndLONG POSE: 15 minutes
CRITIQUE: Students lead
Session 8: Guided figure drawing 2
FINAL ANALYSIS: Guidance and short Q&A
GESTURE DRAWING: Short, fast muscle-memory warmup
SHORT POSES: 1 minute each
LONG POSE: 30 minutes
CRITIQUE: Instructor leads
Email me or fill out the form below and let me know whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, and together we’ll plot a course to the next level.
Register before October 30, 2020 for a 20% discount.