The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts

The most crucial part of any artwork is its preliminary stages. In this class, Sawyer will emphasize the most necessary of these stages: the block-in. The goal for this class will be describing the figure as efficiently—and accurately—as possible. Through a series of demonstrations, explanations, optional assignments, and primarily model time, students will be eased into complex topics. Gesture, rhythm, proportions, shape simplification, structure, and notan statements will be discussed and practiced in an approachable manner. There will be no intimidating rendering. This is the meat and potatoes of drawing!

Students will be introduced to the pencil and its first mark, the line. Students will be restricted to the line for most of the class. Several line qualities will be demonstrated, from thin and sharp, to broad and soft. Students will be restricted to a line quality in between—a firm line that is made with the dulled tip of a pencil. Students will then be presented to the concept of gesture.