Beginning Figure Drawing: Core Foundations TUESDAY EVENINGS begins 1.14

Teachers: Kae Yu

 

Letter from the instructor:

Hi Artists!

I’ve been teaching figure drawing for 15 years, and every quarter, I discover something new. Drawing the figure never gets boring, but I remember when it used to feel like I was trying to thread a needle of precision. The challenge, as I was taught, was to get it “right” in 20 min or less.

Looking back, that seems like a good goal for an oil change, but not a drawing.

I was taught to get it “right,” but over the years I’ve realized I wish I had been taught differently—to respond, not to copy. Responding to the model, the scene, and the evolving composition makes the process fun and creative, rather than feeling the need to prove my worth as an artist through accuracy.

To infuse this liberation into SAL’s curriculum, I created “Beginning Figure Drawing: Core Foundations”—a class that teaches what I wish I’d learned from the start. This particular class is a rare event: with drawing and painting studios opened up and turned into one big studio, with two stages, and extra drawing support. It’s amazing energy.

This class answers the question “When do you stop copying the reference and start creating art?”

In this class, you’ll learn to see and perceive clearly while making artistic decisions that go beyond mere copying. We’ll focus on developing the poetry of the figure, starting with the core of the body and expanding outward.

In this class, you’ll learn to see and perceive clearly while making artistic decisions that go beyond mere copying. We’ll focus on developing the poetry of the figure, starting with the core of the body and expanding outward.

Inspired by artists such as Henri Matisse, Egon Schiele, Rembrandt, Cecily Brown, Mercedes Matter, Richard Diebenkorn, Pierre Bonnard, you’ll explore how to turn a simple sketch into a work of art that moves and breathes and beats within the page. Whether you’re new to figure drawing or looking to see it in a fresh way, this class is about discovering a dynamic, responsive world through drawing.

I hope you sign up! I’m excited to learn and create with you.

Ruthie V.
Founder, Seattle Artist League

 

Description:

Join us for this fundamental series of Figure Drawing, and learn to create figure drawings full of life and expression. In this foundational figure anatomy series, we will work with with core elements and landmarks, expanding fluid gestures through the legs and arms. Additionally, we will dedicate time to studying the challenging structures of the head, hands, and feet, empowering you to approach the most baffling forms with confidence. By gaining a deep understanding of anatomical subtleties, we can elevate the dynamism, grace, and expressive impact of our drawings, enabling us to perceive the figure more clearly, and convey it more powerfully through our artwork. We will cover: proportion, flow, foreshortening, bony landmarks, how to measure, and how to artistically modify.

MOST LEVELS. If you have never taken a drawing class before, please bring the prerequisites of curiosity, patience, self compassion, and tenacity.
REPEATABLE CLASS. There is always more to learn about the figure, and more to explore in your own responsive style.