Painting & Drawing The Human Figure – Ken Goldman

Beginner – Advanced
October 21 – November 18
Mondays @ 1:00-4:00pm

Painting & Drawing The Human Figure

Course Overview:

This class follows a basic approach to painting and drawing the human figure from a clothed or nude life model. On day one, we will go over the many varied ways to approach gesture drawing. On weeks two and three, the model will hold a single three-hour pose during which time we will go over blocking-in, simplification, and seeing the figure as cylinders and cubes, which helps to clarify the rationale behind directional strokes in light and dark shading. During the last two weeks, students will draw or paint a two-session sustained-pose. On weeks two through five, we will do 20 minutes of warm-up gesture poses before starting each sustained pose.

In addition to canvas, newsprint, or watercolor paper, toned paper may be used to study dark and light accents in chiaroscuro treatment. Attention will be given to the creative use of color and value, and intermediate or advanced students may use their favorite medium. In addition to portraiture, attention will be given to basics of hands and feet. Deeper study of anatomy can be provided as needed. Each week one of the five main features will be discussed: eyes, nose, mouth, ears and neck (videos and notes of each will be sent to your email).

Materials:

You do not need to buy everything on this list. Only buy materials that relate to the medium you plan to work with or if you are more advanced, bring your own supplies.

Pencil: Two mechanical pencils, a 2 mm mechanical holder with 4B leads and a 0.5 mechanical pencil with 2B leads; a kneaded eraser; blending stump; small sanding block; rag; 18” x 24” Strathmore series 300 drawing pad (or any brand you already have). Drawing support: foam core 3/16” thick drawing support (cut to 19” x 25”) with four bulldog clips to hold everything together.

Attention: Artist & Craftsman Supplies (Hillcrest) will have two discounted kits hand-selected by the instructor. Buy both, combined, or either one separately if you already have the materials provided in the other kit.

Kit #1: drawing board, clips, drawing pad.

Kit #2: recommended pencils, eraser, stump, sanding block.

Charcoal: 4B charcoal pencil; softest vine charcoal; rags or Viva paper towels, kneaded eraser.

Pastels: soft vine charcoal; NuPastel, box of 96 pieces; Canson brand pastel paper, #429, 426, or 431; foam core drawing board cut one inch larger than your paper, with four clips to hold it.

Beginning Watercolor: one tube each of Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna watercolor for the first session, more colors if you have them (additional colors will be discussed at first meeting); large covered Woods or Pike palette or your favorite travelling palette; a #12 pointed and a 1” flat brush; tissues or Kleenex; Arches or other good quality paper (no Strathmore student-grade watercolor paper).

Oils: up to 18” x 24” canvas board (prime with single light wash of Golden Acrylic Gray Value #6); Robert Simmons filbert brushes #2, 4, 8, 12; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits with container, Liquin; Viva paper towels; disposable paper, wood or glass palette (plastic palette saver to store them); Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, and Permalba White paint for the first session, or if experienced, also bring a warm and cool of each primary color or whatever colors you normally use.

Acrylics: Same as oils, except no mineral spirits, just a container for water.