Constructive Figure Drawing: Action, Structure, and Design

Constructive Figure Drawing: Action, Structure, and Design

360 Online Class | This program is completed

All Levels
1/20/2024-3/23/2024
6:30 PM-9:30 PM PDT on Sat
$600.00
$540.00
$20.00

To assist you in preparing for this Program, we have provided a link to the setup / test pages from the conference provider. If you have never used this conference service before please click on the link below so that your PC or device will be ready to participate in this Program.

Constructive Figure Drawing: Action, Structure, and Design

360 Online Class | This program is completed

In this hands-on 10-week class you will learn a reliable 3-stage process to drawing the human figure that will empower you to draw with confidence and authority from life, reference, as well as from imagination.
Drawing from a variety of photographic references and masterworks, we will start with a simple gestural lay-in built around the landmarks of the body, allowing us to capture the action of the pose quickly and effectively. We will then break down the figure into simple shapes that will give the figure presence and structure. We will tie everything together with special attention to how each part flows into the next following the rhythms of anatomy guided by the orchestration of shape design.

Class will include demonstrations, lectures, drawing time, and plenty of hands-on individual feedback. All levels are welcome.

Topics covered include:
- gesture as a connective strategy
- figure construction and the dynamics of action
- the general model vs. the unique individual
- theories and techniques of form modeling
- light logic, shape design, and form analysis
- line quality and expressive mark-making
- active functional anatomy and the rhythms of the human body
- foreshortening and the illusion of depth Photographic reference of poses will be provided to students in order emulate the experience of drawing the model from life. We will, however, take advantage of the fact the course is online in order to also explore more dynamic poses that would be impossible to be held with a live model.

  • Misc:
    - 18" x 24" Drawing Board
    - Kneaded Eraser
    - Hard Eraser
    - Utility knife or X-Acto Knife (for sharpening pencils)

    Paper and Pencils:
    (There is no "best" paper or pencil: what matters is the paper + pencil combination. Some pencils go great with certain kinds of paper, but not so well with others. Below are some recommendations)

    Paper (choose one)
    - SMOOTH Newsprint 18" x 24" pad, OR
    - Sketch (bond) paper 18" x 24" pad (Strathmore Sketch pad or Canson XL pads are good choices)
    - Optional: Toned Paper (Canson Mi-Teintes or Ingres). Choose neutral grays, blues, or earth colors.

    Pencil (bring a selection):

    - Charcoal Pencils (2B or 4B) – works with either paper choice above (General’s and Ritmos are good brands)

    - Pastel Pencils – also works with either paper choice above (Stabillo Carbothello or Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel are good brands – pick a neutral or earth-color hue; avoid overly saturated, bright, or light colors)

    - Wax-based colored pencils – works with Sketch (bond) Paper
    (Progresso Woodless Colored Pencils, Faber-Castell Polychromos, and Primacolor Premier are good brands – pick a neutral or earth-color hue; avoid overly saturated, bright, or light colors)

    - White pastel pencils or white charcoal pencils (to go with optional toned paper)
Brenno Kenji