CGMW Analytical Figure Drawing Instructor: S.

Michael Hampton

Proposed Course Outline

Course Description:
As students continue to develop a basic skill set throughout this course, a special emphasis will
be placed on the understanding and application of those basics to the human figure. This course
will emphasize a process based approach and development of the figure heavy in an analysis of
from, construction, and perspective. This course will offer and in depth study of the figure and
the surface anatomy while always maintaining a grounding in the artistic and principles of
design.

Week 1: Lecture: Introduction of teacher/ Goals of class. Lecture on gesture and the
development of a process.

Homework: 100 Gesture Drawings (half should be done from life, the other half
from Old Masters drawings, paintings or sculpture). Choose 5 of your best
gestures to submit for critique and instructor feedback. Drawings may be scanned
in and submitted or submitted as digital files done in photoshop or as jpgs. You
may also upload one, or more, for student feedback on the class blog.

Week 2: Lecture: Connections, Shape and Understanding the skeletal landmarks.

Homework: 25 construction drawings. Drawings should follow in class process
of gesture, shapes, connections, landmarks, and finally into a development of the
perspectives of the torso, arms, and legs. Choose 2-5 of your best to submit for
critique and instructor feedback.
Week 3: Lecture: Head Drawing. Construction and design of the human head.
Homework: 25 Head constructions. Following the in class work flow, develop
the head from simple shapes into the architectural planes. Development of the
features is optional. Choose 2-5 of your best to submit for critique and instructor
feedback.
Week 4: Lecture: Muscles: Torso/trunk. Placing the anatomical shapes of the upper and
lower torso based off the understanding of the skeletal landmarks.

Homework: 25 Construction drawing with the anatomy of the upper and lower
torso included on top. Only develop the muscles covered within the lecture, but be
sure to draw the entire pose. Choose 2-5 of your best to submit for critique and
instructor feedback.
Week 5: Lecture: Torso 2.
 Homework: 25 Construction drawing with the anatomy of the upper and lower
torso included on top. Include the muscles discussed in the prior week as well as
the anatomy of the torso. Choose 2-5 of your best to submit for critique and
instructor feedback.
Week 6: Lecture: Structure and anatomy of the legs
Homework: 25 Leg and pelvis constructions. Include the anatomy on top of the
underlying skeletal and perspective breakdowns. Pay close attention to the shape,
gesture, and perspective of each shape as you build. Choose 2-5 of your best to
submit for critique and instructor feedback.
Week 7: Lecture: The structure, design and anatomy of the upper arm and shoulders.
Homework: 25 Shoulder and arms constructions. Develop the anatomy of the
upper arms together with the anatomy of the upper torso. This week should
specifically focus on the shoulder girdle and the muscles of the scapula and front
of the humerus. Choose 2-5 of your best to submit for critique and instructor
feedback.
Week 8: Lecture: The structure, construction, and design of the forearm.
Homework: 25 Shoulder and arms constructions. Develop the anatomy of the
upper arms together with the anatomy of the forearms. Choose 2 of your best to
submit for critique and instructor feedback.