Figure Drawing Fundamentals with Ramon Hurtado

Not currently in session, select the spectate option for lifetime access to recordings from last term! 

[Ramon] somehow made what I thought for years were all the most clinical and gruesome parts of art into fun and games that come so easily with his explanations and demonstrations. He may have the stretches where he goes for record times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. His explanations, demonstrations, and careful elaborations have somehow given me more and more than I ever could’ve hoped for.
—Buddy Baker

In this 8-week class we will demystify the topic of figure drawing and anatomy and making it approachable, simple, and fun. We will learn to draw the figure in such a way that the knowledge we gain shows up in the work we actually want to make – and stays there. This class will give more control and more options in our artwork, rather than giving anatomy diagrams to copy which are then forgotten. If you want to be able to confidently draw or paint the figure regardless of the style of the art you make, this class is for you!

This class is applicable to character design, concept art, painting, drawing, or sculpting with practical knowledge that you can start using it in your own work immediately. We’ll do this by learning about common mechanisms and patterns, studying how various forms of the body are woven together, how they interlock and how they produce movement. We’ll also look at how 19th century artists acquired their anatomical knowledge and how they used it to create beautiful artwork full of life. By the end of the course, you’ll see human anatomy as a fun puzzle to solve and gain the confidence to draw, paint or sculpt the figure with greater speed and clarity, whether you’re working from life, photos, imagination or all three.

We’ll cover:
How to draw from reference vs imagination
Expressing ideas using both line and tone, across media
Avoiding perfectionism and keeping the process manageable
Keeping our drawings on track by defining their purpose

Duration: 8 weeks
Date & Time: Starts Saturday November 4, every Saturday at 11:00 AM Pacific, 2:00 PM Eastern
Skill level: All skill levels welcome
Tiers: Receive feedback or spectate without homework feedback
Format: 4 hour live class each week with combination of lectures, demos, and feedback. Recordings will be provided within 24 hours of each class.
Materials: Any digital or traditional mediums. Paintovers will be done digitally.

Most of the time, drawing the human figure seems like a choice between blindly copying the model or memorizing an endless array of muscles and bones- but it doesn’t have to be that way!

• Week 1: Introduction and Basic Principles-
  Movement, character, structure and how to think in 3d
• Week 2: In-depth critiques and practical application
• Week 3: Common Mechanisms-
  Interlocking forms and universal features of the human figure
• Week 4: In-depth critiques and practical application
• Week 5: Adding Complexity-
  How to subdivide basic forms to create details with purpose
• Week 6: In-depth critiques and practical application
• Week 7: Interactive Demo-
  Simple solutions and diagrams for specific problem areas, including heads, hands and feet.
• Week 8: In-depth critiques and practical application