BEGINNING FIGURE DRAWING
22-234-001L
Fall 2012
Room S212
Meets Monday and Wednesday from 10:20-12:30pm
Instructor: Barb Rosenthal
Office: AC 514
Email: Rosenthal@uwosh.edu
Office hours: Monday and Wednesday from 12:40-1:40pm
Tuesday and Thursday from 11:20-12:20pm
Course Description:
This course is designed to develop basic visual skills in drawing the human figure. The student will
primarily draw from direct observation, with a few exceptions. During the first few weeks gesture drawing
and composition will be stressed. Students are not required to memorize the names of muscles and bones.
However, form which implies an intuitive knowledge of skeletal and musculature structure, space and
composition will be stressed. As the semester progresses the poses will become longer. Value and color
will be introduced. We will also have some assignments that are just for fun. At mid-semester there will
be individual critiques scheduled. They are not graded, but strengths and weaknesses will be discussed.
Student expectations:
 To attend class
 To arrive on time and not pack up until the model stops posing at 12:20pm
 To come prepared to work hard
 To complete all assignments
 To contribute to a general atmosphere of encouragement, support and cooperation
 To participate in critiques in terms of putting up work, taking constructive criticism, and
discussing other students work
 To ask questions
 To assist in keeping the room somewhat organized and clean
 To always treat the model with respect
Supplies
Drawing pad 18 x 24"
Sketchbook—6 x 8" is ideal
2 sheets of pastel paper (gray)
Kneaded erasers 3 or 4
Newsprint pad 18x24" (100 sheets)
White plastic or pink pearl eraser
Compressed charcoal—several sticks med
Portfolio to carry work
through soft
Art supply box
Charcoal pencils
Drawing board
Vine charcoal
Colored pastels (Nupastels are good)
Fixative or cheap unscented hairspray
Optional: chamois, contè crayons
Drawing pencils or graphite sticks (3B or darker)
Note: charcoal pencils and graphite pencils will not be used during the first few weeks.
Grades:
There are three components to the assignments in this class: in-class work, two extended-time homework
drawings and a sketchbook.
The weight of the grades will be as follows:
Portfolio of class work (due final week)
60%
2 homework drawings (10% each)
20%
Sketchbook
20%
Letter grade point system
A=12 A-=11 B+=10 Etc.
Note D=3 F=0
Late work (up to 1 week) will receive a lowered grade. Work not put up for critiques is considered late.
Attendance:
Three unexcused absences will be allowed without penalty. Each absence over three will result in the
lowering of the final grade. Six absences will result in an "F" for the semester.
Every 3 tardies and/or leaving early will count as 1 absence.
Sketchbook:
You will be required to do a minimum or 10 figure studies per week with an average of 5 minutes each
(some may be 1 minute gestures, others may be extended), Over the semester 130 total will be required to
receive a "C" or better. The grade is based on effort and improvement.
Of the 130 sketches fifty may be copies from anatomy books and master artists. The remainder must be
from life.
Sources: yourself (in a mirror), people studying, sleeping, playing, shopping, eating etc.
They may be in the library, watching TV, on the bus
You may use your sketchbook assignments as an excuse to go to the park and take a break from other
studies. Some (not most) of your figure studies may be of animals in the zoo.
On Thursdays a group of students and faculty meet at about 4:00 in the New Moon downtown to sketch.
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come.
Sketchbook should have about 65 entries for the mid-semester critique.
1st Homework drawing critique on October ____
Study of a master figure drawing
Make this drawing at least 15" on the shortest side. Choose an artist from the Renaissance or so (14001800s). Reproduce their drawing (writings, smudges and open areas as well) in a similar media. Try to
capture the form and/or line quality as well as the area around the figure. Do not crop the drawing from its
original. Choose a drawing not a painting to copy. Make your choice complex enough but not overly so.
You should complete it in 4-6 hours.
2nd Homework drawing critique on November ______
Student's Choice drawing of the figure(s) or part of the figure
Make the drawing at least 18 x 24". Use whatever drawing materials you wish. Black and white is
recommended if you haven't had painting or drawing in color before. You may work from life or from a
photo you took or altered in some way. Try to not make it look like a "study" or "portrait" but make it
interesting. The instructor will show some images to give you ideas.
Semester Highlights: