Life Drawing - An Amazing Experience for Any Art Student
Improve your Artwork with Life Drawing
Life Drawing has been a vital part of art education for centuries. The human form is the most popular and intriguing subject in art. Working from life is the best way to learn about the human figure.
Note: Most life drawing classes and groups work from nude or partially nude models, this is an important part of art education but means that most life drawing classes are not appropriate for children. Please discuss with the life drawing instructor or organizer beforehand if your child wishes to attend a class to make sure it is appropriate for their maturity level and your parental comfort level.
Why Practice Life Drawing?
Life Drawing classes can be some of the most intimidating aspects of art education. If you've only worked from photos or clothed models suddenly being faced with a nude model can be uncomfortable at first. However a little embarrassment in the beginning is worth what you will learn and the improvement your artwork will see.
Why is life drawing so useful? With photos you can't see in 3 dimensions, everything is flattened by the camera. Clothed models have the details of their anatomy obscured by clothing.
Life drawing classes also have the added benefit of being able to discuss technique and get critiques by the other artists. You also aren't limited to just drawing, many people bring watercolors, acrylics, oils, even clay if the poses will be long enough for sculpting.
Life Drawing Links
- The Society of Figurative Arts
Modern Classical Life Drawing, Painting and Instruction - Learn To Draw The Human Figure
The Structure of Man Video Series - Internet Archive: Details: Constructive anatomy
One of the best books on drawing the figure ever written.
Drawing Supplies
All you really need are a drawing pad (at least 9"x12" but preferable larger) and a few pencils and an eraser. Everyone has their preferences though.
Here are my favorite papers and pencils so use.
- Strathmore Toned Sketchbook
- Wolf's Carbon Pencils
- Prismacolor Ebony pencils
- General's White Charcoal Pencils
- Dixon Ticonderoga #2 Pencils
A Collection of my Life Drawings
Noadi's Art is mainly my outlet for expressig myself in 3 dimensions. I'm far more comfortable sculpting than drawing but drawing is such good practice for all aspects of art that I try to get some in when I can. Here's a small sampling of my life drawings form the past couple years.