Life Drawing for Beginners


This course seeks to systematically outline and guide you through, some of the fundamental principles that lead to a comprehensive proficiency for drawing the human figure. In the space of six weeks students will gain the necessary tools in a short time, to build on principles they can practice and repeat over a life time.

Each week introduces the student to a new aspect of competent figure drawing. Included with this is a brief analysis of human anatomy, starting with the major masses of the skeleton and concluding with an analysis of each of the major muscle groups of the human body.


COURSE OUTLINE

  • Week 1. The figure as basic line and structure.
  • Week 2. The figure as line and structure.
  • Week 3. Fundamental gesture and action
  • Week 4. Gesture and action with basic anatomical masses, landmarks and limited convexed contours
  • Week 5. Basic anatomy and the figure as line and contour
  • Week 6. The figure as convexed forms, basic shadow masses and modelling at the plane break.


By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Identify how the placement of the models weight coincides with the figures action.
  • Begin to understand and grasp the processes of conceptualising, selecting and creatively inventing from the figure.
  • Learning how to treat the figure as a “mannequin” rather than a static object to mindlessly copy and reproduce.
  • Have an ability to apply a basic knowledge of human anatomy to figure drawing, including the basic skeletal masses of the figure and muscle groups.
  • Understand the basic principles of suggesting form with line alone.
  • Making use of and/or inventing a light source to model form.
  • Being able to identify techniques and make use of Old Masters drawings within a contemporary drawing practice.


MATERIALS LIST

  • Drawing materials required:
  • Faber Castel Pitt oil based hard sanguine OR black chalk pencil.
  • Kneadable eraser
  • Stanley knife to sharpen pencils
  • A3 sketch book
  • Two metal bulldog clips for support


When:
Friday 15 February -  22 March 2019
6.30 PM - 8.30 PM

Where:
North Sydney Community Centre
Inside Civic Park at 220 Miller St, North Sydney
(behind Stanton Library, between McLaren & Ridge Streets)

Previous student feedback:

'Dominique chose learning tasks that practiced skills relevant to beginners, which we mostly were. Dominique  also offered intermediate students scope to improve skills.  He offers constructive feedback individually and promotes a friendly and interactive studio approach.'

'How much I learnt in such a short course.'