Arts and Crafts
Adult Courses
New for 2010
CS:
14
The Figure in the Landscape
A figure can bring a painting to life. It can enhance a landscape and make a picture. It shows scale and can create a focal area. To make figures comfortable in the picture, the size and proportion has to be right. The course will begin in the studio with a clothed model to study the proportions and the movement of a figure. Once we have learnt the simple rules of the figure the students will go out with sketch booksand cameras to capture figures in action. This will be followed by painting the landscape and adding figures. Paintings will be done in the college grounds, in the town or further afield depending on the weather. Sketchbooks, drawing paper and watercolour equipment will be provided. Easels and stools may be available if required. Students may paint in any medium of their choice i.e., oils, acrylics but will need to bring these materials. All equipment should be light and portable as we will paint out of doors weather permitting. The course is ideally suited to intermediate and advanced students who are fit and able to walk fair distances carrying their own equipment.
The course will begin in the studio looking at the proportions of the face. I will provide detailed notes and demonstrate the simple elements of the portrait. We will have an informal model so that a sketch to put the notes into practise will be possible. This is not an intense portrait class but a simplified look at the face. We will then do quick sketches to see characters that could be used in a painting.
The next step is to look at the figure. I will provide detailed notes to show the proportions of the figure. A model will sit for a short while show that the class can check the proportions in the notes. I will illustrate the drawing of the figure and again sketches will help to understand the notes. The figure will be clothed and we will look at a figure walking, sitting etc as you would find in a landscape.
Once the basics have been covered we will go out with cameras and sketchbooks to capture figures in action. This will involve quick sketches and work up to paintings. We will look at groups out in the landscape in a variety of settings.
Weather permitting we will go out after a briefing in the studio each morning. This will mean that students should bring comfortable walking shoes, coats in case of showers and hats in case of hot sunny weather(that would be a bonus).
Bags should be light and easy to carry. A digital camera would be a valuable item for reference at a later date.
We will supply sketchbooks, a small box of watercolours a brush, some watercolour paper,and some drawing materials. Please bring your own treasured equipment, a favourite brush.
Good references are the works of John Yardley for figures in the landscape and the work of Charles Reid for the portrait and figures.
I look forward to a week of great painting and discovery.
