New York Academy of Art

Alongside fundamental instruction in concepts such as block-in, basic anatomy, value, drawing technique, and so on, we will have a secondary focus on strategies for approaching detailed areas that can be a challenge when drawing the full figure: the face, hands, and feet. These are the most complex and recognizable elements of the body, and they often serve as anchor points in a figure drawing, even if they are relatively small elements of the composition. These areas also tend to shift in a live pose and require a strategic approach for that reason. This course will help students to gain confidence when approaching potential problem areas. The majority of class time will be working with a live model in long poses, practicing these elements in proportion with the overall figure drawing. We will also break it down with sketching exercises and anatomical studies of the face, hands, and feet. In addition, optional homework exercises will give students the opportunity to go deeper with their study. There will also be overall instruction on block-in, structure, value, and drawing technique, and students will receive personalized feedback each week during class.