Drawing the Human Figure chapter 12
There is no better way to learn to draw than to copy the works of master artists from the past and
the present. We have seen in the previous section how great artists solved their own drawing prob-
lems. You can learn a great deal from both past and contemporary artists by viewing and copying
great works of art, firsthand. Major cities usually have great collections, and smaller cities also have
their own treasures in smaller museums. Most museums allow you to draw on-site. However, you
should find out if they have any stipulations concerning drawing in the museum before you begin.Copying from master drawings allows you an intimacy with
the work that you cannot obtain by simply looking at a repro-
duction. The more you draw, the more you will notice how
differently you will approach looking at a work of art. In time,
you will view art works with more knowledge gained by your
own attempts at, and study of, drawing. This sense of inquiry
will only add to your pleasure of looking at great art.
When you look carefully, you will begin to understand and
appreciate the techniques that these old masters employed
to overcome any technical difficulties they may have encoun-
tered. In the fifteenth century, artists wanted to create the
illusion of space, and so invented perspective. In the exam-
ple on the opposite page, in the copy after Rubens, you can
see how a shadow in the light was suggested, or drawn,
without destroying the illusion of the light itself.
All of the previous examples in this chapter have shown how
the artist has tried to simplify the complicated form of the
human figure, while still suggesting the illusion of space and
volume. Each artist found their own personal solution. You
can observe this through the unique way each artist drew.
No one else draws with a dramatic, bold line like Rubens,
and no one else has the gentle, flowing line of Andrea del
Sarto. Draw often and you will find your own characteristic
technique of drawing. The way in which you solve technical
or compositional difficulties will build your own character
into your work. Of course, this can be very challenging and
frustrating, but it can also be immensely interesting and
rewarding. This is where you will find the joy and creativity in
your work.
Note:Some museums allow you to bring in a chair and a drawing
board or easel; check with each museum for their particular rules.
Studying Techniques of Drawing
Copy Works of Art in Museums.
Study of a Back,by J. S. Robinson