Fundamentals of Observational Drawing

In week one, Iliya will go over everything you need to start an observational drawing, from materials and setup to mark-making and measuring.

In week two, Iliya will teach you the fundamentals of drawing form, using simple geometric shapes. You will learn how to describe three-dimensional volume and construct forms from observation.

In week three, you will learn the essential elements of light and shadow. Iliya will teach you how to describe planed and curved surfaces on cylindrical objects.

In week four, Iliya will teach you how to apply the principles of light and shadow to a spherical object. He will discuss the effective ways to render a terminator line.

In week five, Iliya will teach you how to construct a geometric still life from observation. You will draw a three-dimensional illusion of form using your skills in construction, measuring, and developing values.

In week six, Iliya will demonstrate how to add half-tones and highlights to a still life drawing as the final touches. At the end of the lesson, he will show you how to stretch paper in preparation for next week’s project.

In week seven, Iliya will demonstrate how to draw planes of the head using John Asaro’s sculpture as the reference. You will focus on constructing its structure and applying shadows to each form.

In week eight, Iliya will take last week’s drawing to completion. He will show you how to add half-tones and highlights to amplify your shadow masses.