rdc syllabus- anatomy drawing the figure - artistjustinogilvie.com/downloads/summer2015/rdc...
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Instructor: Justin Ogilvie RDC Series 2015
Course Syllabus Anatomy: Drawing the Figure
(July 13 -‐ 17, 2015)
Prerequisites It is recommended that you have basic figure drawing experience. Course Description In this course students examine the underlying skeletal and muscular structures of the human body in aim of creating powerful, dynamic and realistic drawings. Each class begins with an anatomy lecture on a specific body region, followed by drawing from the live model. Students explore the expressive use of line, value, weight and volume as well as classical techniques in shading, gesture, sighting and composition. Emphasis will be placed upon observational accuracy and integrating anatomical knowledge in the process of drawing. To complement the academic nature of this course, students will also explore a variety of abstract mark-‐making processes (silhouette, negative and void spaces, motion, fragmentation, multiplicity, etc.) that will bring a fresh life to their figurative work, and keep the process fun and creative. Each class is supplemented with individual and group feedback, demonstrations, as well as slide presentations on historical and contemporary figurative artists. Learning Objectives
• Development of perceptual and technical skills in drawing the figure • Understand basic proportional relationships, planar structure and anatomy of human form • Understand key aspects of skeletal & muscular structures, of human form • Develop perceptual awareness and understanding of the movement of the human form • Integrate anatomical knowledge into both creative and observation-‐based drawings • Develop strong skills in realistic representation, as well as memory-‐based and imaginary
drawings • Develop new creative and abstract mark-‐making processes in depicting the human form
Teaching Methods LECTURE: Each class begins with a 20-‐30 minute lecture on a white board examining a specific region of the human body. Students draw along with the instructor during these lectures identifying key skeletal and muscular structures, landmarks, as well as basic geometrical shapes to simply the human form. LIFE DRAWING: So as to integrate anatomical knowledge from the lecture into various techniques of drawing, the remainder of class is devoted to doing observational studies from the live model, focusing on the specific body region lectured upon. Various drawing techniques are explored each class, which are first demonstrated by the instructor, then worked upon by the students in their life drawings. DEMONSTRATION:
Instructor: Justin Ogilvie RDC Series 2015
The instructor demonstrates 'how to' drawing techniques at the beginning of each drawing session, as well as periodically throughout the class. These demonstrations are meant to provide students with a tangible step-‐by-‐step method on how to master traditional drawing techniques, as well as to inspire greater exploration with drawing materials. This instructor takes great pride in providing high quality demonstrations! CRITICAL FEEDBACK: While students draw from the live model, the instructor walks around the room providing individual feedback and correction if necessary. Such feedback ensures that the various drawing techniques and body region being explored are fully grasped. At the end of the class, students select one work to be discussed in a final class critique identifying its strengths, weaknesses and areas to further develop. Such group feedback allows students to then learn from each other's work. The instructor guides these discussions to ensure students learn how to speak about artwork in clear, simple and constructive language. AFTER CLASS SESSIONS: In the middle of the week during 'after class hours', the instructor will give a slide show presentation on 'Contemporary Figurative Artists' with over 300 pictures. The instructor will also be available to meet with students after hours to simply hang out, discuss life as an artist, as well as address any questions about class. On the evening when RDC has drop-‐in life drawing, the instructor will be in attendance drawing and inspiring through example. Course Schedule Day 1: TORSO 9:00 AM -‐ 9:20 AM: Course introduction, meet instructor and students. 9:30 AM -‐ 10:00 AM: Anatomy lecture on 'Torso' (part 1). Students draw along with instructor. 10:15 AM -‐ 11:45 AM: Draw from live model focusing on torso. Explore various drawing techniques. 11:45 AM-‐ 12:00 PM: Group feedback discussion 12:00 PM -‐ 1:30 PM: Lunch Break 1:30 PM -‐ 4:00 PM: Anatomy lecture on 'Torso' (part 2). Students draw along with instructor. Students continue to along the same lines as the morning session, working from the live model on various drawing techniques. 4:00 PM-‐ 4:30 PM: Final group feedback discussion Day 2: LEGS & FEET 9:00 AM -‐12:00 PM: Exploring the 'Legs', this morning session includes an anatomy lecture, life drawing from the live model and group feedback in the same manner as the previous morning. 1:30 PM -‐ 4:30 PM: Exploring the 'Feet', this afternoon session includes an anatomy lecture, life drawing from the live model and a final group feedback discussion in the same manner as the previous afternoon. Day 3: ARMS & HANDS 9:00 AM -‐12:00 PM: 'Arms' (similar framework to previous class) 1:30 PM -‐ 4:30 PM: 'Hands' (similar framework to previous class) Day 4: PORTRAIT 9:00 AM -‐12:00 PM: 'Proportions of the Portrait' 1:30 PM -‐ 4:30 PM: 'How to Draw Facial Features from Various Angles' Day 5: FULL FIGURE 9:00 AM -‐ 12:00 PM: 'Regular Life Drawing Session' with 2, 5, 10, & 30-‐ minute poses (male model) 1:30 PM -‐ 4:00 PM: 'Long Pose' -‐ 2.5 hour long pose (female model) 4:00 PM-‐ 4:30 PM: Final group feedback discussion/ course completion
Instructor: Justin Ogilvie RDC Series 2015
Course Materials 1) 1 pad of brown kraft paper 18” x 24”
2) 1 pad of newsprint paper or cartridge paper 18" x 24"
3) Sketchbook (no smaller than 8.5” x 11”) or a notebook for anatomy lectures
4) ‘Derwent Drawing’ coloured pencils: Chocolate, Venetian Red & Chinese White. These are waxy like pencil crayons, not to be mistaken for Derwent’s pastel pencils. Derwent has other types of pencils, so don’t confuse them. They are specifically called "Derwent Drawing"
5) Conte: black, brown, terracotta & white (1 each minimum)-‐ other colours welcome
6) Derwent Pastels: These are optional. These are a wonderful alternative to coloured pencils and conte. These are pencils as well but with pastels inside. They are excellent to experiment with subtle colours in working with the figure.
7) Compressed or Vine Charcoal: Excellent for more intuitive and expressive approaches. Also great for creating dark and mid-‐tone backgrounds then erasing through it creating a subtractive effect.
8) 10 x Coloured Pencils: Any kind will do. These are for anatomy lectures in which each muscle is drawn with its own colour.
9) 2 x Erasers: (a) 1 blue Staedtler “Click” eraser with refills (or similar)
(b) White rectangular eraser (Staedtler makes a good one)
10) X-‐acto knife to sharpen pencils
11) Drawing board: Harcourt House has some, but they are heavy and sometimes filled with textures from painting sessions. I’d recommend getting your own. Don’t get the one with a metallic paper clip at the top…no need. 12) 1 pad of tracing paper
13) TEXT BOOK: Anatomy: A Complete Guide for Artists by Joseph Sheppard
This can be purchased from Amazon.ca for about $15. http://www.amazon.ca/Anatomy-‐Complete-‐Artists-‐Joseph-‐Sheppard/dp/0486272796/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337127382&sr=8-‐1
OR I will make a booklet of select photocopies from this same book, which you can purchase for $10. Please let me know if you’d like me to make this booklet for you. Note: Other anatomy textbooks are welcome, but let me know what they are beforehand. Many of them are either too general or too advanced.