Join us for a weekend workshop during which we will gain a solid understanding of the structure of the skull, a foundation on which to build a lifelike portrait. We will sculpt a clay sketch of the skull giving us tangible experience, helping to form a mental model that can reinforce our powers of observation when drawing the portrait. We'll learn and expand upon the Loomis method in order to draw volumetric sketches of the head from any perspective that incorporate important planes and anatomical features. It's tempting to jump right to interesting details, like eyes and expressive wrinkles, but our attention will be on seeing the big picture and on creating studies and sketches rather than finished work. Students should have experience drawing the portrait and/or figure.

This is a 2-day workshop, running 9:30am-4:30pm each day:

Saturday

• Introduction to the skull through lecture and drawing

• Sculpting the skull with demonstration and hands-on practice

Sunday

• Drawing a simplified skull from plaster models and photographs

• Drawing with a live model

Fee: $250, includes armature and clay

You may register in full with a credit card. We'd like to make this workshop accessible to all. Please email Steve to inquire about sliding scale options: stephensaxenian@gmail.com.

Each day will include periodic breaks and 1 hour for lunch

Drawing Materials: 

18x24 pad of newsprint 

18x24 drawing board

Charcoal pencils 

Any other drawing paper, pencils or media you like to use

Notebook

Laptop

Free 3-D rotatable model of a skull for your reference: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/the-anatomy-of-the-human-skull-baf6ac7b781a46218dca2b59dee58817

Clay tools:

Bring any clay modeling tools that you have. If you don't have any, we have tools available to lend.