ART 1042 - Introduction to Figure Drawing

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture 1 Lab 2 studio
Course Description: This course introduces students to the fundamentals of figure drawing and explores both traditional and contemporary approaches to the subject. Assignments are designed to build skills as well as broaden students’ knowledge of the cultural-historical relevance of drawing the human form, clothed and nude. Skills covered include capturing movement (gesture drawing), analyzing proportional relationships, shading techniques, and identifying bone and muscle structures most useful to artists. The course is relevant to art students and art-related professions where the ability to draw the human form, from life and from reference material, is a necessary skill set. 
MnTC Goals
Goal 6

Prerequisite(s): None
Recommendation: ART 1041 and

Course placement into ENGL 1021 OR completion of ENGL 0950 with a grade of C or higher OR completion of RDNG 0940 with a grade of C or higher and qualifying English Placement Exam OR completion of ENGL 0090 with a grade of C or higher and RDNG 0950 with a grade of C or higher OR course placement into ESOL 1033 or completion of ESOL 0043 with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0051 with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0052 with a grade of C or higher.

Major Content
1.  Shading techniques 

a. light logic

b. creating the illusion of 3D form

c.  psychological mood

2.  Sighting/relational measuring to analyze proportional relationships

3.  Basic anatomy relevant to art applications

a. bone structures and landmarks

b. muscle structures and landmarks

4.  Gesture drawing

5.  Coordinating steps and stages of drawings based on designated time limits.

a. gesture warm-up

b. positioning marks

c. blocking-in of angles and tones

d. refinement of shading and details

6.  Exploration of wet and dry materials

7.  Scaling and sizing the figure as related to format dimensions

a. intentional cropping for visual impact

b. intentional positioning of entire form

8.  Professional protocols and procedures when drawing from a live model

9. Responsible and effective use of reference material

a. copyright

b. research

           c. manipulation toward an original concept

10.  The elements of art as applied in figure drawing

a. line

b. shape

c. space

d. value

e. texture

f. form

g. color (optional in a level one course)

11.  Cultural-Historical overview of drawing the human form

a. traditional and contemporary applications 

b. differing cultural attitudes about drawing the nude human form throughout history

12. Safety practices

 
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, students will be able to…

1. demonstrate basic skills toward the creation of effective drawings of the human form, clothed/costumed and unclothed.

2. visually communicate ideas and perceptions using traditional and contemporary drawing processes. 

3. demonstrate effective use of a variety of drawing materials

4. explain the vital role and value the fine arts and humanities have in the development of culture.

5. analyze the effectiveness of personal artwork and the work of others using terms and criteria common to art. 

6. apply health and safety practices within the discipline.

7.  analyze visual-spatial relationships observed in the human form through the drawing process.

8. apply fundamental drawing strategies for constructing the illusion of 3-dimensional space and form on a 2-dimensional surface.

9.  analyze drawings using terms, principles, and criteria common to art. 

10.  apply basic human anatomy concepts in drawings in a visually effective way.

11. analyze the interrelationship between drawing the human form from direct observation (from life) or using reference materials. 

 
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC): Goals and Competencies Goal 6
Competency Goals (MnTC Goals 1-6)
06.01. Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities

06.02 Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context.

06.03 Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.

06.04. Engage in the creative process or interpretive performance.

06.05. Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities. 

 
Theme Goals (MnTC Goals 7-10)
NA

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