Figurative Illustration I
September 7 - December 16 / Tuesday, Thursday 4-6:45pm
An illustrator tells stories and the figure is the core of many stories. This means figure drawing is a key skill for any illustrator to master. This class is the first step towards that goal. Our primary subject will be the live nude figure model. The student will be pushed to develop a linear process for creating a figurative drawing from beginning to end using a variety of drawing materials. This process will be supplemented by extensive study of art history, light and shadow, proportion, and basic anatomy and drapery.
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Proportionately measure the figure.
- Construct the figure with simple shapes.
- Draw the figure with volume and energy
- Use an understanding of structure to inform organic observational drawing
- Map shadows onto a structural drawing in order to communicate lighting on a figure.
- Draw a figure from life in the correct proportion using simple construction and measuring
- Understand how to use various media to create the desired drawings and effects
- Articulate how the figure has been represented in art history through an understanding of past and current figurative artists.
- Understand how to prioritize time when drawing a quick pose versus a long pose.
- Understand basic drapery and be able to simplify effectively.
- Separate a figure into simple light and dark shapes.
Instructional Team
Lead Instructor: Ivan Montoya is an adjunct faculty member who earned his BFA from the College for Creative Studies in 2017 and received the Imre J. Molnar Artistic Achievement Award. Ivan has worked as a freelance illustrator, artist and muralist, partnering with clients including The Platform and 1x Run, as a part of the Murals in the Market Festival. His work is in the Guillermo Del Toro Bleak House Collection.
Guest Instructors:
Gil Ashby has drawn murals, graphic novels, and illustrated children's books including Dear Mother, Dear Daughter: Poems for Young People by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple, and Rosa Parks by Eloise Greenfield. Ashby has also created sequential art for Graphic Novels. Publishers Include: Parahannah Press, DC, Marvel (Epic comics) and Dark Horse.
Narciso Espiritu has produced illustrations and graphic designs for The Atlantic; NPR; In These Times; Science Friday; BUST Magazine; Capstone Publishing; Art House Productions; Black Wail; Go! Robo, Go!
Ndubisi Okoye is a multidisciplinary creative that creates works that tell a story. He has worked for many advertising agencies, non-profits, and brands to tell stories that show the beauty of Blackness and Black culture across the African diaspora. He has created gifs for Giphy, the biggest Giphy platform, and the ACLU of Michigan. His gifs have been shared and shared over a billion times across the internet by the likes of Michael B. Jordan, Blavity, Adobe, Netflix, and many others.
Rashaun Rucker is a journalist and artist who has won more than 40 state and national awards for his work.He was honored in 2016 as a Modern Man by Black Enterprise magazine. His work was recently featured in HBO’s celebrated series Random Acts of Flyness and Native Son.
Francis Vallejo is an illustrator whose book, “Jazz Day,” written by Roxane Orgill was the recipient of the 2016 Boston Globe Horn Book award for best Picture Book. His newest illustrated book “Anansi Boys” written by Neil Gaiman and published by The Folio Society was released January 2019 and has won Spectrum Gold and the D&AD Pencil Award.
For more information about Dual Enrollment contact the Office of Precollege and Continuing Studies at 313.664.7456.