ARTED 450 : Figure Drawing Reading

1. What rationale for figure drawing or studying the human form can you find in this article?

Drawing and studying the human figure can help students combat the sexualized and dehumanized bodjes that are portrayed in the media. The human body can also be used in art in a variety of ways that are powerful and beautiful. It can help us learn about human anatomy. A student might also learn to consider what ideals are being portrayed in the world they live in and why. They can learn to read an image of a body like a text. Figure drawing can teach us to capture action and life.

2. What art making activities does this article describe?

Put a skeleton inside of two boxes and then have the students draw that. Then take the skeleton out of the box. Have them draw a person standing in front of them, focusing on the clothes and thinking about where the clothes came from. Then have them discuss why it is so hard to draw a figure.

Draw a skeleton emphasizing the largest shapes and lines.

Show examples of people who use the figure in their art (see list below) and discuss what makes a good drawing other than meticulous detail and accuracy.

Do gesture drawings of greek statues, fashion magazines, and student models. Do this using pastels, water, ink, gesso, charcoal, sticks, and other materials.

Make collages of polymer, gesso, and newspapers to draw on top of.

Stand back from the drawing and draw on top of drawings.

Combine drawings and maybe use spray paint to rework some of the studio drawings.

Do a big project involving drawing from real life, the study of taking photographs, and the use of photographic references. Multi-media is encouraged.

3. What artists are mentioned. Look up each of these artists and capture an image of their work.

Elizabeth Peyton