Silhouette and Highlights on the Figure

Lesson 1: We’ll start with checking on everyone’s art supplies and possible questions. Each class practice will begin with warm-up sketching on paper from ten gestural poses. A nude model will maintain each pose from 30 seconds to 1 minute. We will sketch directly with a brush and black and white tempera (or latex paint) - to develop eye-hand coordination. This will get us ready for our main project on canvas - the figure. We’ll start it with a pencil drawing on canvas, addressing all the points from composing to proportions. The teacher will provide feedback to each student.

Lesson 2: The second class will start with reviewing the work from last week and discussing what makes sketching successful. After that, we’ll do our quick-hand practice - to get into the flow and to silence the thinking brain. The goal is to activate the Right-Brain mode for the main project. We will review everyone’s beginning on canvas and discuss if adjustments are needed. The energy we built through sketching will be helpful for completing our figure rendering.

Lesson 3: A brief review of the last week's progress; then warm-up sketching. The warm-up will be slightly elevated in challenge, to match today’s work on the main project. The detailed instructions on how to paint the figures silhouette will allow students to complete it by the end of the class.

‍Lesson 4: After a short review of the last-week’ work and warm-up sketching practice, the teacher will provide the key points on the function of highlights in figurative painting and demonstrate examples from the masters, followed by the step-by-step guidance on how to paint highlights and finishing touches. The course will end with a discussion of the completed work in the group critique.