Life Drawing Analysis of Form

Sketching the figure from life is the surest way to add vitality to your artistic expression.  In this four week session we will improve our depiction of the human form using the concepts of Chiaroscuro. We will practice several techniques to gracefully render light and shadow using charcoal, graphite, and pastel.  Each class we will draw from the live nude model, then follow up with an at-home assignment to copy a master figure drawing to better understand various artist techniques in handling our mediums, composing our drawings, and directing our focus.

This class is for both beginners and experienced artists interested in getting back into the classroom and adding fresh skills to their working method.  Workshop attendees are encouraged to follow up with a series course and/or drop-in life drawing.

Materials

• 4-8 sheets of Canson Mi-Tientes “Moonstone” toned gray paper

• Newsprint for warm up drawing and practicing shading techniques

• Willow, vine, or Nitram soft charcoal (erasable)

• 2-4 Soft compressed charcoal pencils (General’s 6B or Faber Castell Pitt soft)

• 1-2 Medium compressed charcoal pencil (General’s 2B)

• Soft pastel white, cream, and/or light skin color

• Prospek Proportional Divider (or purchase for $10 from instructor)

• Artists chamois

• 2 kneaded erasers and detail eraser pencil