Traditionally the art student would copy master drawings and then plaster casts of sculptures and monuments and then finally from life.
The Charles Bargue master drawings are a series of s prints ranging from simple to more advanced drawing. Training the eye of the student to understand the effects of light and shadow, the illusion of form.
Among the artists whose work is based on the study of Bargue’s plate work are Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh.
Curriculum
Construct
First the student must learn how to reduce form into an approximation of straight lines, after that the student progresses to rendering the form.
The eye is the immediate centre of interest, “window of the soul” Eyes exist in a complex anatomical setting that changes with each turn of the head, difficult to render as a two dimensional form.
These copies will teach the student how to simplify the organisation of the eye and it’s surrounding structures.
Rendering
Once students have learned how to draw a construct they then progress to rendering form. The plates cover the anatomy beginning with the feet, hands, arms, legs and torso.
Each print builds on the other training the eye of the student to understand the effects of light and shadow, the illusion of form.
Below is a demonstration of a construct, but we won’t working as tight as it can be inhibit the student if they rely to much on devices.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu2IMgeF0Ts
Materials
- Wood panel or something similar (should be large enough to place two sheets of paper – the reference and the drawing paper – besides each other).
- Sheet of paper – regular printer paper should be sufficient for this exercise.
- the printed reference (available here as a digital download package)
- artists tape • pencils in different grades (2H, HB & 2B are sufficient)
- kneaded eraser
- measuring device such as a knitting needle or a thread ruler (only for the initial preparatory steps)
Workshop = £195
Registration
6 Week Charles Bargue Drawing Course = £195. To register for the workshop, fill in your details and pay a 20% deposit below. Then pay the balance on the day. An email will be sent to confirm your attendance the week before the start date.
Timetable
Saturdays, 9.30-13.00.
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Venue Address
Louis Smith Art
Phoenix House
Ellesmere Street
Manchester
M15 4JY
Travel
Set navigation for Cawdor Street. Ellesmere Street is blocked in the middle for the next year. If you are traveling by car enter Ellesmere Street by turning left after the Church on the roundabout over the Mancunian Way.
Free Car Park at the rear of the building on Cawdor Street.
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Contact
Louis Smith
Tel: 07980989666
Email: louissmithart@gmail.com
facebook.com/louissmithpainting