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Painting the Clothed Figure

  • Intermediate-Advanced
  • Painting

The form, structure, gesture and design opportunities of the clothed figure will be the primary focus of this observational course.  Topics will include various types of drapery and their visual properties, the shape of clothing and how clothing affects the shape of the body, determining the sensation of clothing and pose, maintaining continuity across varied clothing and flesh surfaces, rendering convincing folds and fabric structure and the design and stylistic possibilities that clothing presents. Key observational skills will include applied colour theory specifically to rendering clothing, light and value considerations, brush handling & mark as it relates to clothing surface and structure. Pose lengths will start with shorter single objective studies and advance to a sustained 3-week and final 4-week pose.

Students are encouraged to apply the ideas and principles to their own style, process and approach. Teaching is a combination of group lesson, image discussion and one-on-one feedback. Individual student goals will be a focus.

Note: Students should have previous life drawing and painting experience. This course is considered as intermediate to advanced. Each class includes a costumed/clothed life model.

12 Weeks: Base Tuition: $495 + Model Fee: $103 = Total: $598

10 Weeks: Base Tuition: $422 + Model Fee: $78 = Total: $500

 

Notes: It is recommended that students have taken a course in Introduction to Painting, Introduction to Life Drawing, or have basic painting skills. In each class a life model will be present.
* This course is not currently open for registration

What you will learn

  • Observing various types of drapery and their visual properties
  • Rendering convincing folds and fabric structure
  • How clothing affects the shape of the body and the combination of both in creating the gesture
  • Consideration of the sensation of the clothing and pose
  • Consideration of design and stylistic possibilities that clothing presents
  • Practical applied colour theory related to coloured drapery surfaces
  • Observing lighting effects on a pose across the both flesh & clothing

Materials to Bring

Materials will be discussed in the first class.  Most material decisions are the student’s choice. Media is the students’ choice and can include oil, water-mixable oil, acrylic, watercolour, gouache, ink, pastel.

Minimum Suggested Colours (warm & cool version of each primary + white):

  • Titanium White (opaque white)
  • Cadmium Red Middle or Napthol red
  • Ultramarine Blue
  • Cadmium Yellow Middle or Chrome yellow or Arylide Yellow
  • Alizarin Crimson or Quinacrinone
  • Cerulean Blue
  • Lemon Yellow or Cadmium yellow light
  • Viridian Green or Pthalo Green
  • Suggest a small tube of zinc or mixing white (a semi-transparent white).

Brushes: Range of sizes of brushes

  • Range of sizes of synthetic or natural bristle.
  • One large house paintbrush (approx. 2 inches wide). 

Support/painting surface: Student choice. Size and format will be dependent on the image concept.

Painting Medium: Optional.

Palette: Your choice – “tear-off” palette pad, wax paper, Plexiglas, wood…

Other

  • ODOURLESS mineral spirits (if using oil paint) and alternatives – will be discussed in class.
  • Paint rags, sketchbook or drawing paper and drawing media for rough work.

Requirements for 1st class:

We will be doing shorter gesture, shape and drapery contour studies.  Please bring 4 surfaces for these studies.

A limited palette can be used since more focus will be on tone and form, not as much on accurate colour.