Online Bargue Plate Drawing Course and Online Cast Drawing Course Art students up through the early 1900's learned to draw by studying Cast Drawing and copying master drawings such as Bargue plates for at least a year before drawing a live model or painting. It can take 20-50 hours to complete a Bargue plate copy, and 40-80 hours to complete a beginner cast drawing, so how is it possible to teach such detailed and precise drawing methods online?
Bargue Plate Copy by Sadie Valeri Atelier student Jennifer Israel
Such slow, detailed artworks like these are not suitable for teaching with a single video, so my Bargue Plate Drawing and Cast Drawing online courses start with Intro to Classical Drawing, which introduces the steps and concepts of classical drawing in a series of short, manageable lessons.
Starting with how to correctly sharpen a pencil, my students master how to draw an ellipse, a perfect circle, and a fully shaded 3-dimensional sphere with controlled shading. Even beginners are surprised to find that with a few weeks practice, they can achieve impressive results.
Students are then guided through a series of exercises for drawing any object with accurate proportions, using my exclusive 4-step block-in method.
When a student has completed these exercises, they are ready to create their first Bargue Copy, and then Cast Drawing.
Browse my online art courses or become a member to access all the courses for an affordable monthly rate with personal instruction available.
To study cast drawing with me online, my online student purchases an affordable beginner cast, one of the Features of Michelangelo's David (available through American and European sellers). I then guide the student through setting up the cast with an appropriate light source. The student then works through the steps for creating a classical drawing which they have learned through copying Bargue plates. They submit their progress weekly, and through detailed written feedback they are able to execute a successful classical cast drawing at home.
Generally students work 10-20 hours per week on their drawings. We have all levels of students, from absolute beginners to professional artists who want to experience the benefits of classical training.
Cast Drawing demonstrated for her students by Sadie Valeri
Cast Drawing by Online Atelier Instructor Derek Spieker
Cast Drawing by Online Atelier Instructor Ian Hurtado Zafra
Students who complete even just one cast drawing find that their skills have dramatically improved for drawing and painting any subject. Browse my online art courses or become a member to access all the courses for an affordable monthly rate with personal instruction available.