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Please note the time allocate for each exercise is an approximation and not an absolute.
If you don’t achieve the goals required for each exercise you maybe required to repeat it.
Please note this curriculum is still work in progress – we hope to have it completed before Christmas
The first exercises are designed to help the beginner find their bearings in what is usually a familiar medium.
Using Sight-Size, replicate a simple Bargue plate
You will be introduced to proportion, gesture, structure and edge through careful reproduction of the separate stages of a Bargue.
You will be introduced to the basic initial order of steps to arrive at a well proportioned drawing.
You will also learn possible uses of line weight variation and basic handling of graphite (e.g how to flatten shadows, that graphite must be layered soft to hard).
Using Sight-Size, replicate a simple Bargue plate
Principles of proportion, gesture, structure and edge from the Exercise 1 will be re-enforced. An additional challenge will be added with a more complex subject to copy.
Copy from life in sight-size a simple cast feature with as close to one light source as possible in full value.
You will begin to learn how to apply the lessons learnt in Bargue plates into the more difficult task of translating 3D forms into 2D drawings. You will learn how to set up a cast drawing in sight size.
Proportion, gesture, structure and edge will continue to be re-enforced. And you will learn about the classical order of light, and what categories of light on form they will be expected to reproduce. You will also learn to use variation in line weight to express form in the cast.
You will be drawing casts of increasing complexity in charcoal, with the emphasis on keying in an extended value range.
Using sight-size, replicate a simple cast from life to the fullest value range allowed for by charcoal.
Lessons of proportion, gesture, structure and edge will continue to be re-enforced.You will be introduced to the concept of flattened planes and how to design their values to properly represent these planes.
You will be introduced to drawing with mass and at this point be introduced to the full concept of value. You will also be taught how to key a drawing and how to work up the values in a drawing from the bottom of the range up.
The drawing will be expected to be keyed at the fullest value range possible and you will also learn how to handle charcoal (how to get a deep dark, how to flatten values)
Using sight-size, replicate a moderate cast from life to the fullest value range allowed for by charcoal.
Lessons of proportion, gesture, structure, edge, value, material use and planar thinking will continue to be re-enforced. Additional difficulty in applying these concepts will be introduced through more complexity in subject
Using sight-size, replicate a complex cast from life to the fullest value range allowed for by charcoal.
Lessons of proportion, gesture, structure, edge, value, material use and planar thinking will continue to be re-enforced.
Additional difficulty in applying these concepts will be introduced through more complexity in subject
You will be drawing casts of increasing complexity in charcoal and white chalk on toned paper, with the emphasis on keying in the fullest value range possible.
Using sight-size, replicate a moderate cast from life to the fullest value range allowed for by charcoal.
Lessons of proportion, gesture, structure, edge, value, material use and planar thinking will continue to be re-enforced.
Additional difficulty in applying these concepts will be introduced through more complexity in subject
Using sight-size, replicate a complex cast from life to the fullest value range allowed for by charcoal.
Lessons of proportion, gesture, structure, edge, value, material use and planar thinking will continue to be re-enforced.
Additional difficulty in applying these concepts will be introduced through more complexity in subject
Secondary task
Students wanting to do an extra exercise can do a range of quick charcoal value studies, to further enhance their understanding of value, and understanding how to make things “glow”.
Using sight-size, replicate a portrait from life to the fullest value range allowed for by charcoal.
Lessons of proportion, gesture, structure, edge, value, material use and planar thinking will continue to be re-enforced.
Additional difficulty in applying these concepts will be introduced through more complexity in subject
Having mastered charcoal you now move on to painting with a restricted palette and understand the principles of temperature.
Using sight size, replicate a simple cast from life to the fullest value range allowed for by paint.
Lessons of proportion, gesture, structure, edge, value, material use and planar thinking will continue to be re-enforced.
You will learn how to handle the medium and the principle of fat over lean and the proper procedure for keeping materials clean and well kept.
You will learn proper paint application (avoid dabbing, as few strokes as possible, mix transition on palette not the canvas).
You will learn what an imprematura is and how to apply and use it as well as the concept of colour temperature. You will learn how to transfer a drawing onto a canvas
Value 20% – tone, keying, light/darkness range, relative values, over modelling, full value range (keyed properly) , hierarchy of value, compression in the shadows, planes
Temperature 20% – warm/cold and variations between them
Edges 10%- sharp v soft
Material use 10% – application, sight size, good handling of the paints, oiling out. (bonus points: brush economy) fat over lean
Right side of the canvas
Plumb line
Easel upright
canvas plumb
Easel parallel to line of sight
tape on the floor and easel
standing at least 1.5 meters away
standing in between subject and painting (centered)
canvas properly stretched
You will continue to reinforce the skills obtained in Exercise 9 and replicate a moderate cast from life to the fullest value range necessary within your medium.
Lessons of proportion, gesture, structure, edge, value, material use and safety, planar thinking and colour temperature will continue to be re-enforced.
You will, at this point, learn about effects of paint thickness on the value range of paint and learn of the qualities of transparency and opacity and how this can be explore through thick and thin application of the paint.
Additional difficulty will be added through the complexity of subject
Value 20% – tone, keying, light/darkness range, relative values, over modelling, full value range (keyed properly), hierarchy of value, compression in the shadows, thick lights v thin shadows, planes
Temperature 10% – warm/cold and variations between them
Edges 20% -sharp v soft
Material use 10% – application, sight size, good handling of the paints, oiling out. brush economy, clean application, fat over lean, varying thicknesses
Right side of the canvas
Plumb line
Easel upright
canvas plumb
Easel parallel to line of sight
tape on the floor and easel
standing at least 1.5 meters away
standing in between subject and painting (centered)
canvas properly stretched
You will continue to reinforce the skills obtained in Exercise 10 and replicate a complex cast with a more advanced palette, accounting for more subtle shifts in temperature and hue on a white subject.
Lessons of proportion, gesture, structure, edge, value, material use, planar thinking, temperature and thickness of paint will continue to be re-enforced.
You will, at this point be introduced to the Zorn palette and the concept of hue, value and chroma as understood in the munsell colour system.
Additional challenge will be added through further complexity of subject
Right side of the canvas
Plumb line
Easel upright
canvas plumb
Easel parallel to line of sight
tape on the floor and easel
standing at least 1.5 meters away
standing in between subject and painting (centered)
canvas properly stretched
Using sight-size, replicate a portrait from life to the fullest value range allowed for by charcoal and chalk.
Lessons of proportion, gesture, structure, edge, value, material use and planar thinking will continue to be re-enforced.
Now having a good understanding of oil painting with a limited value range we will extend the palette and introduce you to colour.
From life using sight-size paint a green and red pear to the highest colour and drawing accuracy as possible, with the focus on capturing the “glow” using colour.
Lessons of proportion, gesture, structure, edge, value, material use, planar thinking, temperature and thickness of paint will continue to be re-enforced.
At this point the you will be introduced to a full colour palette and colour theory using a full colour palette and how to approach colour mixing for a specific subject.
You will learning to adjust your mix to replicate the chroma/value and hue in nature. Capturing subtle hue shifts e.g. red to green in preparation for the full palette in figure painting.
You will use colour (chroma) to create a glow and sense of light and clean/thicker paint application to indicate the plaines of the pear to maintain a sense of structure. You will also be taught about colour accents at the end of the exercise to set off colours.
Value 20% – tone, keying, light/darkness range, relative values, over modelling, full value range (keyed properly) , hierarchy of value, compression in the shadows, planes
Temperature 20% – Colour, hue shifts, chroma shifts (grey vs chromatic) Colour accents, Temperature, warm/cold and variations between them,
Edges 10%- sharp v soft
Material use 10% – application, sight size, good handling of the paints, oiling out, brush economy, clean application, fat over lean and varying thicknesses.
Right side of the canvas
Plumb line
Easel upright
Canvas plumb
Easel parallel to line of sight
tape on the floor and easel
standing at least 1.5 meters away
standing in between subject and painting (centered)
canvas properly stretched
From life you will be using sight size to paint a pear in one three hour session only.
Using the skills you learnt in Exercise 12 you will condense them into a shorter amount of time increasing your speed and the rapidity of decision making.
You will also focus on mixing and your brushwork should be more natural and intuitive, showing increased confidence. Paint can be applied more thickly to understand the process of quicker alla prima painting style.
Value 20% – tone, keying, light/darkness range, relative values, over modelling, full value range (keyed properly) , hierarchy of value, compression in the shadows, planes
Temperature 20% – Colour, hue shifts, chroma shifts (grey vs chromatic) Colour accents, Temperature, warm/cold and variations between them,
Edges 20%- sharp v soft
Material use 20% – application, sight size, good handling of the paints, brush economy, clean application, varying thicknesses, loading the brush properly, different textures expressed.
Right side of the canvas
Plumb line
Easel upright
Canvas plumb
Easel parallel to line of sight
tape on the floor and easel
standing at least 1.5 meters away
standing in between subject and painting (centered)
canvas properly stretched
Paint the previous alla prima pear completely from memory, aiming to replicate as accurately as possible the colour and specific shape of the pear.
Learning to mix specific colours from memory helps solidify the basics of colour theory and everything learned in the two previous exercises.
Trying to replicate accurately the drawing and specific gesture/shape of the pear from memory helps build toward using memory as a drawing tool in future projects.
Value 20% – tone, keying, light/darkness range, relative values, over modelling, full value range (keyed properly) , hierarchy of value, compression in the shadows, planes
Temperature 20% – Colour, hue shifts, chroma shifts (grey vs chromatic) Colour accents, Temperature, warm/cold and variations between them,
Edges 20%- sharp v soft
Material use 20% – application, sight size, good handling of the paints, oiling out, brush economy, clean application, varying thicknesses and loading the brush properly.
Right side of the canvas
Plumb line
Easel upright
Canvas plumb
Easel parallel to line of sight
tape on the floor and easel
standing at least 1.5 meters away
standing in between subject and painting (centered)
canvas properly stretched
From life using sight-size paint 3 fruit and aim for as much variety size/colour/shape.
Dealing with varying local colours of differing fruits increases experience and understanding of colour mixing.
Mixing time should be much faster at this stage. Students should have a stronger understanding of composition from this exercise having spent arranging their set ups.
Value 20% – tone, keying, light/darkness range, relative values, over modelling, full value range (keyed properly) , hierarchy of value, compression in the shadows, planes
Temperature 20% – Colour, hue shifts, chroma shifts (grey vs chromatic) Colour accents, Temperature, warm/cold and variations between them,
Edges 20%- sharp v soft
Material use 20% – application, sight size, good handling of the paints, oiling out, brush economy, clean application, varying thicknesses and loading the brush properly.
Right side of the canvas
Plumb line
Easel upright
Canvas plumb
Easel parallel to line of sight
tape on the floor and easel
standing at least 1.5 meters away
standing in between subject and painting (centered)
canvas properly stretched
Paint from life using sight-size a three object still life. The objects must be varying in size, texture, shape and colour. The more variety the better. e.g., fabric/metal/wood/paper.
You may only begin the large piece after 10 compositional sketches have been made and a mini colour study.
You will learn how to competently experiment with different compositions of a simple three object still life.
How to paint the varying textures between the objects and using different paint application techniques for visual effect. Finishing technique and rendering surface textures. Broken colour/colour accents.
Value 20% – tone, keying, light/darkness range, relative values, over modelling, full value range (keyed properly) , hierarchy of value, compression in the shadows, planes
Colour 20% – Colour, hue shifts, chroma shifts (grey vs chromatic) Colour accents, Temperature, warm/cold and variations between them,
Edges 20%- sharp v soft
Material use 10% – application, sight size, good handling of the paints, brush economy, clean application, varying thicknesses, loading the brush properly, different textures expressed.
Right side of the canvas
Plumb line
Easel upright
Canvas plumb
Easel parallel to line of sight
tape on the floor and easel
standing at least 1.5 meters away
standing in between subject and painting (centered)
canvas properly stretched
From a high quality print, as close to the original size paint to completion a head study, replicating every last detail as closely as possible including, brushwork, texture, colour, shape design, edges, transitions, colour palette.
Some examples of 19th century artists to copy…
Anders Zorn
Sargent
Repin
You will learn by replicating new skills in brushwork, colour combinations, shape design and edges. Finishing styles can be explored by expanding your opportunity to develop stylistic choices in their own work.
Value 20% – tone, keying, light/darkness range, relative values, over modelling, full value range (keyed properly) , hierarchy of value, compression in the shadows, planes
Colour 20% – Colour, hue shifts, chroma shifts (grey vs chromatic) Colour accents, Temperature, warm/cold and variations between them, equal to original
Edges 20%- sharp v soft, equal to original
Material application use 10% -sight size, good handling of the paints, brush economy, clean application, varying thicknesses, loading the brush properly, different textures expressed, needs to be handled similarly as to the old master original
Right side of the canvas
Plumb line
Easel upright
Canvas plumb
Easel parallel to line of sight
tape on the floor and easel
standing at least 1.5 meters away
standing in between subject and painting (centered)
canvas properly stretched
Using sight size, you will replicate a portrait from life to the fullest value range allowed for using a full colour palette.
In this final painting project choice of portrait you will need to display a clear understanding of the key concepts of painting and composition, as well as individual creativity.
You will learn by replicating new skills in brushwork, colour combinations, shape design and edges.
If you are working from life finishing styles can be explored by expanding your opportunity to develop stylistic choices in your own work.
Value 20% – tone, keying, light/darkness range, relative values, over modelling, full value range (keyed properly) , hierarchy of value, compression in the shadows, planes
Colour 20% – Colour, hue shifts, chroma shifts (grey vs chromatic) Colour accents, Temperature, warm/cold and variations between them, equal to original*
Edges 20%- sharp v soft, equal to original*
Material use 10% -sight size, good handling of the paints, brush economy, clean application, varying thicknesses, loading the brush properly, different textures expressed.
If you have chosen a master copy the paint needs to be handled in a similar fashion.
Right side of the canvas
Plumb line
Easel upright
Canvas plumb
Easel parallel to line of sight
tape on the floor and easel
standing at least 1.5 meters away
standing in between subject and painting (centered)
canvas properly stretched
*If copying from a master’s painting
You will paint from life using sight size a complex multiple object still life with a well planned theme or idea behind the chosen objects.
The objects must be varying in size, texture, shape and colour. The more variety the better. e.g., fabric/metal/wood/paper.
You may only begin the large piece after 10 compositional sketches have been made and a mini colour study.
You will learn how to competently experiment with different compositions of a simple three object still life.
How to paint the varying textures between the objects and using different paint application techniques for visual effect.
Finishing technique, rendering surface textures and broken colour/colour accents.
Value 20% – design clarity of value design keying, light/darkness range, hierarchy of value.
Colour 20% – Colour, hue shifts, chroma shifts (grey vs chromatic) Colour accents, Temperature, warm/cold and variations between them, all designed to the idea of where the focal point should be.
Edges 20%- sharp v soft, design.
Material application use 10% -sight size, good handling of the paints, brush economy, clean application, varying thicknesses, loading the brush properly, different textures expressed.
Right side of the canvas
Plumb line
Easel upright
Canvas plumb
Easel parallel to line of sight
tape on the floor and easel
standing at least 1.5 meters away
standing in between subject and painting (centred)
canvas properly stretched
Using sight size, replicate a portrait from life to the fullest value range allowed for using a full colour palette.
or
From a high quality print, as close to the original size paint to completion a head study, replicating every last detail as closely as possible including, brushwork, texture, colour, shape design, edges, transitions, colour palette.
Some examples of 19th century artists to copy…
Anders Zorn
Sargent
Repin
You will learn by replicating new skills in brushwork, colour combinations, shape design and edges.
If you are working from life finishing styles can be explored by expanding your opportunity to develop stylistic choices in your own work.
Value 20% – tone, keying, light/darkness range, relative values, over modelling, full value range (keyed properly) , hierarchy of value, compression in the shadows, planes
Colour 20% – Colour, hue shifts, chroma shifts (grey vs chromatic) Colour accents, Temperature, warm/cold and variations between them, equal to original*
Edges 20%- sharp v soft, equal to original*
Material use 20% -sight size, good handling of the paints, brush economy, clean application, varying thicknesses, loading the brush properly, different textures expressed.
If you have chosen a master copy the paint needs to be handled in a similar fashion.
Right side of the canvas
Plumb line
Easel upright
Canvas plumb
Easel parallel to line of sight
tape on the floor and easel
standing at least 1.5 meters away
standing in between subject and painting (centered)
canvas properly stretched
*If copying from a master’s painting
Using sight size, replicate a portrait from life to the fullest value range allowed for using a limited palette of the students choice.
Lessons of proportion, gesture, structure, edge, value, hue, chroma, brush work, material use and planar thinking will continue to be re-enforced.
Value 20% – tone, keying, light/darkness range, relative values, over modelling, full value range (keyed properly) , hierarchy of value, compression in the shadows, planes
Colour 20% – Colour, hue shifts, chroma shifts (grey vs chromatic) Colour accents, Temperature, warm/cold and variations between them.
Edges 20%- hierarchy of edges
sharp v soft, clear focal point
Material use 20% -sight size, good handling of the paints, brush economy, clean application, varying thicknesses, loading the brush properly, different textures expressed.
Right side of the canvas
Plumb line
Easel upright
Canvas plumb
Easel parallel to line of sight
Tape on the floor and easel
Standing at least 1.5 meters away
Standing in between subject and painting (centred)
Canvas properly stretched
More updates about the Story of LARA, news, tutorials, work and other interesting information directly each month in your mail box?
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