Figure Drawing: The Art and Science of Portraying the Human Figure

In this course we will learn to draw the human body via close observation, studying the anatomy of the human form, and exploring methods of representation. We will practice drawing fundamentals while depicting nude and clothed figures in space, using graphite, charcoal, ink, and, possibly, water-based media. Daily classes will include drawing from anatomical models and plaster casts, drawing from live models, visits to the College Art Museum and Special Collections, and analyses of figurative representation through the lens of artistic technique, and cultural context. The learning goals of this course will bring us closer to understanding the forms we wish to represent, deepen our practices of observation and drawing, and capture human expressions.