Purpose Statement & Overview:

The purpose of this course is to help figurative artists improve their understanding of the anatomical structure of the human body with the goal of improving their figure drawing and painting. This is not a medical anatomy course. Therefore, our treatment and coverage of the many biological features associated with human anatomy will be only cursory and superficial. Our focus will be to learn the aspects of human anatomy that influence the external shape and form of the human body from the point of view of a figurative artist.

Each class meeting will focus on a few anatomical characteristics of the human body, and the class meeting will be divided between a lecture time and drawing time. I am trying to keep the lecture portion to a range of 25 to 45 minutes in order to maximize our drawing time. The goal is the discuss the anatomical features with the appropriate technical information and then to put into practice what we discuss through drawing. Our drawing time will be from a combination of life drawing from models but also copies of Old Master drawing & painting references, a life-size model skeleton, and other anatomy reference prints.

Cost:

The cost of the course is $ 250.00 dollars. However, for full-time TAFA students the course is included in the price of tuition.

This class is open to students to “drop-in” students for $25 dollars per class, but only if space is available.

Day & Time:

The course will meet for 11 sessions, meeting every Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; beginning Thursday, January 12, 2012

Spring Break dates still To Be Determined.

Location, Arrival & Parking:

Our studio is located at 415 South Main Street; Fort Worth, Texas 76104

Please arrive early so we can begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. to maximize our time together. We have no designated parking lot for TAFA, but there is plenty of on-street parking that is unmetered. Please leave spaces available closest to the building open as a courtesy for our female students.

Materials & Supplies:

I will provide any hand out materials that are part of the content of the course. We have recommended texts that are listed under Reference Material.

The Drawing Supplies that I recommend for the class is basically any drawing media and good quality paper. I would like each student to consider developing a notebook or portfolio of notes & drawings that represent the topics we cover. Therefore, I would recommend good quality paper that range roughly from 8 x 10 inches to 11 x 17 inches. Consider having a unified or standard size that can be easily organized into a portfolio. My own anatomy drawings are about 9 x 12 inches. I work in pencil and sometimes white chalk on toned paper. I also use pencils of differing value so I can darken anatomical portions within a drawing. You might also consider various colors (red, green, white) to also highlight different anatomical sections within a drawing. I use a range of pencils from H, F, HB, 2B, 4B and white charcoal pencils. So the color & tone of the paper you choose should also be considered. I would use a toned paper that is not to dark in value.

I recommend students sit and bring an appropriate sized drawing board (not to large) to attach their paper to for the drawing portion. We have some easels, but are limited. Therefore, if you prefer to draw standing up you are welcome to bring your own easel.