An introductory figure drawing class will be held at the High Museum in Atlanta, focusing on capturing the dynamic energy of the human figure using charcoal, graphite, and white chalk on toned paper. Participants will practice drawing from museum objects, anatomy props, and live models, exploring essential shapes and gestures before developing loose sketches into detailed drawings that convey form and weight. The course will also cover combining drawings of live models with studies from the High’s collection to create multi-figure compositions.
- Week 1: Participants will learn to hold the pencil between the forefinger and thumb, drawing from the shoulder and elbow to create large, light, and loose marks. The class will begin with brief poses to capture action lines and develop loose gesture drawings. Skills in measuring height and width to create angular silhouettes will also be introduced.
- Week 2: The session will start with warm-up gesture drawings, followed by the use of contour lines to transform angular silhouettes into poses with structure and depth. Focus will be on identifying large forms such as the pelvis, ribcage, and skull, while maintaining the energy of the gesture. Connecting joints with straight lines and outlining the skeleton with outer contours will be emphasized.
- Week 3: After warming up, participants will learn how to describe the structure of the head, feet, and hands. The focus will shift to identifying values—light, medium, and dark tones—and clearly representing each shadow’s shape. Techniques for establishing a dynamic relationship between light and shadow will also be practiced.
- Week 4: Participants will visit the galleries with sketchbooks to create studies of figurative paintings. During this session, the live model will alternate poses in museum spaces, allowing participants to draw inspiration from notable foreshortening and dramatic lighting found in the artworks.
- Week 5: The class will focus on combining multiple figures onto one sheet of drawing paper, varying the scale and positioning to create improvised compositions. Attention will be drawn to the shapes between the drawn figures as a cohesive composition develops.
- Week 6: In the final week, previous lessons will be integrated into a longer-form drawing. Participants will take time on gesture and proportional drawing before building shapes of shadow and light. The course will encourage the combination of figures, as well as cropped portions, to create emergent compositions.
This class accommodates all levels of skill and talent, making it suitable for individuals with no prior experience in art making. Participants will acquire new skills applicable to their artistic practices.
Please note that in the event of a session being canceled, November 17 is set aside as a makeup date.
