SESSION I | CAST DRAWING & COMPARATIVE SIGHTING

Sep 20 – Oct 25 |Sundays 1 – 4:30 pm

Media: Graphite, Nitram Charcoal, & Tonal Paper on 3D Plaster Casts

Tuition: $500 (All supplies included)

Instructor: Danny Grant

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Course Description

Precision is the foundation of artistic freedom. Session 1 introduces students to the core observational mechanics used by classical ateliers for centuries: comparative measurement. Working directly from three-dimensional plaster casts, students learn to train their eyes to judge spatial relationships, proportional ratios, and angles without relying on tracing or mechanical grids.

Students progress from constructing a linear "envelope" to mapping internal landmarks and establishing strict light logic, culminating in a fully rendered cast study that demonstrates spatial volume and technical authority.

Weekly Curriculum Breakdown

  • Week 1: Comparative Sighting & The Envelope

    Establishing proportional sight lines, dropping vertical/horizontal plumb lines, and constructing the outer geometric envelope.

  • Week 2: Structural Subdivisions & Landmark Mapping

    Subdividing the envelope to locate internal feature relationships and anatomical landmarks.

  • Week 3: The Shadow Line (Terminator) & 2-Value Statement

    Mapping the boundary where light turns to shadow and massing in a flat, uniform shadow statement.

  • Week 4: Core Shadows & Reflected Light

    Establishing key value anchors: darkest darks vs. paper highlights, ambient occlusion, and subtle reflected light.

  • Week 5: Halftones & Form Modeling

    Rendering delicate turning halftones in the light family using controlled charcoal hatching.

  • Week 6: Edge Control & Portfolio Archiving

    Distinguishing hard, soft, firm, and lost edges; pulled highlights; photographing physical work for SlideRoom portals.

Portfolio Deliverables

  1. One Master Cast Drawing: A fully rendered, archival charcoal/graphite cast study showing advanced spatial depth.

  2. Process Pages: Preliminary construction sheets showcasing comparative measurement lines and plumb alignments.