Portrait: Drawing the Head (Intermediate)

A drawing course ideal for those with some drawing, preferably life drawing, experience, who want to concentrate on portraiture.

What The Course is About:

The emphasis of the course will be on structure and anatomy and ways of understanding and describing this, through close observation of the model. You will not be studying colour on this course. You will work from live models as well as skulls, casts, yourselves and each other. You will explore different media as useful tools to convey various responses. You will draw at different speeds and explore the use of caricature. We will discuss ideas in the group but you will receive one-to-one feedback and instruction. There will be regular class reviews of work. Using the school library and internet as resources we will refer to the work of different artists for example and guidance. This course will be at our Putney Library site.

Materials Required:

What to bring to the first session: Please bring to the first lesson; pencils (2B, 4B), willow and compressed charcoal, putty erasers, sharpeners. Papers of your choice (some papers can be bought at the school shop). Masking tape or clips (drawing boards are supplied).

Previous Experience:

Some drawing, preferably life drawing, experience would be beneficial.

End of course:

What will I achieve? You will learn to identify the skeletal structure of the head, and the musculature of neck. You will learn how to take proportional measurements and judge angles and the major planes of the face. You will consider facial type, individual proportion, body language and particularity of expression.