A Study in Cast Drawing
Mentor 1
Michael Banning
Location
Fireside Lounge
Start Date
24-4-2015 10:20 AM
Description
Cast drawing is considered an integral part of the traditional academic approach to figure drawing, and the study of the human form. However, an art curriculum outside of the academy does not typically stress the study of plaster casts. This leads me to ask the question: does traditional academic study in cast drawing enhance technical skill and anatomical accuracy in figure drawing? Is an emphasis on the cast a logistical adherence to traditional doctrine, or can it be a valuable focus in a more contemporary approach? I will begin my studies by drawing from source plates of casts and figure studies, then moving into drawing directly from the cast, enveloping myself in the process. After this initial integration of specific skillsets into my drawing technique, I will then begin to draw from the figure. By simultaneously working from the cast and the figure, I can then observe the progression of my overall observational competency and anatomical accuracy in my drawing. In addition, I will also investigate the traditional drawing methodologies implemented by the academy, to further inform my approach. This includes an investigation into the conceptual impetus behind the tradition, and the classical ideals it is based around. To do so, I will utilize the Charles Bargue Drawing Course as a primary resource for my studies, examining the actual process behind the creation of the drawings, and also working from the drawings themselves. This contemplation and implementation of academic principles will encompass my research, and ultimately shape my continuing studies for my Fine Arts degree. I believe that my research processes will yield an overall improvement in my technical skill and anatomical accuracy in figure drawing. And I believe that these improvements will not only speak to the value of traditional methodologies, but also to there enduring relevance in contemporary practice. Thus, I am recognizing the significance of the practice in the field and showcase its value within an academic context.
A Study in Cast Drawing
Fireside Lounge
Cast drawing is considered an integral part of the traditional academic approach to figure drawing, and the study of the human form. However, an art curriculum outside of the academy does not typically stress the study of plaster casts. This leads me to ask the question: does traditional academic study in cast drawing enhance technical skill and anatomical accuracy in figure drawing? Is an emphasis on the cast a logistical adherence to traditional doctrine, or can it be a valuable focus in a more contemporary approach? I will begin my studies by drawing from source plates of casts and figure studies, then moving into drawing directly from the cast, enveloping myself in the process. After this initial integration of specific skillsets into my drawing technique, I will then begin to draw from the figure. By simultaneously working from the cast and the figure, I can then observe the progression of my overall observational competency and anatomical accuracy in my drawing. In addition, I will also investigate the traditional drawing methodologies implemented by the academy, to further inform my approach. This includes an investigation into the conceptual impetus behind the tradition, and the classical ideals it is based around. To do so, I will utilize the Charles Bargue Drawing Course as a primary resource for my studies, examining the actual process behind the creation of the drawings, and also working from the drawings themselves. This contemplation and implementation of academic principles will encompass my research, and ultimately shape my continuing studies for my Fine Arts degree. I believe that my research processes will yield an overall improvement in my technical skill and anatomical accuracy in figure drawing. And I believe that these improvements will not only speak to the value of traditional methodologies, but also to there enduring relevance in contemporary practice. Thus, I am recognizing the significance of the practice in the field and showcase its value within an academic context.
