Sunday, January 13, 2008

Figure Painting Classes Coming Soon!

Starting February 6th, I'll begin teaching a six-session class on Painting the Human Figure through U.T.'s non-credit program. This is a class for beginners, but there are usually a variety of skill levels represented. This session I'll be revising my syllabus a bit from the previous years. Typically the class begins with a monochrome painting from a mannequin (because she sits very still), followed by a portrait and then a figure. This session I plan to begin with gesture drawings of the full figure and try to move more quickly to full color paintings, and I'm probably going to try to end the class with a clothed pose using either a dancer or a Yoga practitioner. Should be interesting.

Here's the official class announcement:

Working from live models, this introductory class will focus on depicting the human form through a naturalistic use of light, shadow, and color. Emphasis will be on simplifying the complex human form and developing a process by which it can be realistically portrayed. Instruction will be geared toward the use of oil, but other mediums are welcome. Knowledge of your chosen medium will be helpful, but no previous experience with figurative art is required. A materials list can be found online at www.outreach.utk.edu/ppd and a model fee of $25-50 (depending on enrollment) will be payable to the instructor at the first class.

A materials list can be found on our web site at www.outreach.utk.edu/ppd A model fee of approximatedly $25- $50 (depending on enrollment) is payable to the instructor at first class.


And here's a link to the signup page at U.T.:
https://aceweb.outreach.utk.edu/CourseStatus.awp?~~282218

8 comments:

erin said...

I'll be there! I like the revisions, too!

Ken Smith said...

Excellent. I'll look forward to seeing you.

Know any ballerinas who'd like to model for us one evening? ($10/hr).

erin said...

Ballerinas would be great! I don't know any locally, however.

I'll see if Troy knows any. He's signed up, too.

Anonymous said...

Wish I could take. It's a long commute....

Ken Smith said...

It would be a bit of a drive. especially the return trip. It's a shame it's so hard to find people teaching figure painting. Through my four years as an undergrad at U.T., I never had a figure painting class (only drawing).

Anonymous said...

Yes, and working with color just adds such complexity to what might be just a line drawing!

Michael Dorosh said...

Not sure why you are taking swipes at westerners with your posting. I have a lovely statuette of Motherland on my desk - with Russian characters on the base. It would seem the Russians are just as capable of producing commercialism out of art as the rest of us.

Ken Smith said...

Not much of a swipe at westerners, but you missed the point, which is: I want one of the freakin' statues too. Where'd you get it?