New York Academy of Art

This ten-week course invites artists of all levels to study the human form by integrating classical methods with direct observation of the nude model. Through demonstrations, practice, and personalized feedback, you’ll refine your understanding of proportion, anatomy, and structure, developing and refining a strong foundation in figure drawing. Students will study the 7½-head proportional system, how to accurately capture the figure using a measuring technique, and key anatomical landmarks of the human form, applying these principles to create believable figures on a 2D plane. The first half of the course emphasizes linear drawing techniques to achieve accurate proposition. The second half of the course introduces tonal rendering to create depth and volume in your work. Whether you’re building foundational skills or pushing your practice further, this course provides the tools and guidance to improve as an artist. By the end, you’ll be able to draw standing figures with ease, merging conceptual understanding with hands-on practice to build a confident ability in figure drawing.