PEGGI KROLL ROBERTS : STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING YOUR DRAWING & PAINTING SKILLS | FIGURE & STILL LIFE | JAN 20-MAR 9, 2020

4 online classes over 8 weeks - Co-Hosted with Mark Daniel Nelson, assisted by Carole Gray-Weihman and Ray Roberts

Each class is (approximately) 1 hour (11AM PST - 12PM PST)

Registered students, log in to website (or create account) and click on "Online Workshop" for workshop details.

2 Options to choose from :

Plan A: $200 (Class + Critique)

1. Watch Four LIVE classes.
2. Submit chat questions in the classroom *(comments answered by Carole, Mark, and other students). 
3. Stream our recorded class (with unlimited viewing).
4. Watch and participate in LIVE Q&A with Peggi.
5. Private access to our new "Group Area" on our website for posting your homework for review and viewing other students work and critiques.
6. Access to Limited/Exclusive Facebook Group after the course ends.

Plan B: $125 (Class Only)

1. Watch Four LIVE classes.
2. Submit chat questions in the classroom *(comments answered by Carole, Mark, and other students). 
3. Stream our recorded class (with unlimited viewing).
4. Access to Limited/Exclusive Facebook Group after the course ends.

COURSE OUTLINE 

Jan 20th

 

Class 1 -- Practicing Four Drawing Tools -- With many ways to express yourself through drawing, this class is designed to help you keep your drawing and observation skills toned.  We will draw from life and from photo reference. Not only are these basics a great way to practice, many times the results become art in themselves whether intentional or not. We will practice blind contour drawing, negative space drawing, upside-down drawing, and non-dominant hand drawing. They really are fun and so many times the results are surprising. (It’s a good thing)  But keep in mind our intention is to practice

Supply List -- Pigma Graphic Black Archival Ink Pen No. 1, 6B Graphite Pencil, Wide Point Sharpie,  Canson Mixed Media Drawing Pad 14” x 17”, Strathmore Drawing Paper Pad 9” x 12”  

Assignment -- Find a quiet spot. Observe your surroundings and just practice these four basic drawing tools. For example, draw a chair approaching the same subject with each tool. These drawings can become ideas for paintings!  Any subject is fine. 

Feb 3rd

Class 2 -- Simplified Adult Figure Proportions -- From the resource, “Figure Drawing for all it’s Worth by Andrew Loomis”, based on the “8 head Ideal Figure” How can we draw a variety of figures and maintain the individual character of each person and keep it from looking formulaic? How can we capture animation and still maintain good proportions?  Peggi uses what she calls “vicinity marks”. These marks indicate where a specific part of the anatomy should land or come close to and it works every time. Then with solid contour drawing specific to the individual, you will capture a real variety of people. “I rely on these marks, especially when trying to draw moving figures. This can be very frustrating. But with these marks and some memory work I can get very close and build believable figures.” 

Supply List -- Lots of Photo reference. I have a whole library of figures taken at grocery stores, malls, airports, walking, bending, side views, back views, front views. 6B Graphite Pencil, Variety of Marker pens, Black Gouache, White Gouache, No. 2 Synthetic Filbert Brush, Same sketch pads as for drawing.

Assignment -- Take your large library of photo reference. Set up with pad and drawing tools and repeat exercises as seen in the demonstration. Mark those “Vicinity Marks” first--very important. Then start your contour drawing paying close attention to where the top of the “head and chin” land, then the “armpit, chest area”, then the “waist to navel” area, then to the bottom of the torso. The knee is about half-way between the bottom of the torso and foot. Again, think of these parts of the figure landing close to or on the mark.  

Feb 17th

Class 3 -- Painting Simple Figures Under a Source Light- 2 Values -- We will work from photo reference and paint simple figures (in a vignette style) demonstrating a light source on a the form. We will work in 2 values to keep it simple. This will help maintain light separated from shadow. The student should gain an understanding of how to introduce more values from the springboard of two. There is a strategy that Peggi will talk about that makes it very simple to achieve the effect of light on a subject.

Supply List -- Black Gouache, Permanent or Titanium White Gouache, Cadmium Yellow Gouache, Quinacridone Rose Gouache, and Cerulean Blue Gouache. Winsor Newton has a great Primary Color Set of Gouache. A variety of sable or a synthetic blend of brushes. Filberts, Flats, and Rounds work best -- #2 to #8 -- a variety of sizes. An Aquabee Super Deluxe Heavyweight Drawing paper Sketch Pad. 93lb. For wet and dry media. 12” x 9”

Assignment -- In a vignette style go through your reference and just paint simple figures that are in a light source. Use the strategy introduced to keep light separated from shadow and the lessons from the previous two classes. Paint a lot of different characters. If you don’t have references, try to shoot photos of people under outdoor sunlight. Outdoor sunlight is the easiest light to render.  

Mar 9th

Class 4 -- Multiple Figures in a Composition -- Peggi will show you how to add figures to a composition by using simple one-point perspective. By finding your horizon line and working from one point on that horizon line you can put figures in the foreground, middle ground or far background and have them all live in the space without one looking like an ant or a giant, in relationship. It’s a very simple strategy and will allow you to place any figure either up close or far away. It will be important to have a photo reference of the figure that is in a similar relationship to the horizon. In other words, you won’t want to use a figure that you’re looking down on next to a figure that may be at eye level or above. 

Supply List -- You may use all the supplies from the previous 3 lessons. Photo Reference of individuals from the same vantage point as in eye level, from below or from above.

Assignment -- Gather a lot of references of people in crowds as well as individual figures. The grocery store is a great place to start. I use my iPhone and snap away in a clandestine way. (I pretend I’m scrolling my email.) Practice adding figures as demonstrated in class.  

IMPORTANT - UPON SIGNING UP : If you haven't created a member account on our website, please do so upon registering by clicking on the "log in " button in the top right corner of our header. Please use the same email address for your registrations with our online workshops that you use for your member account to ensure that you receive the necessary info for this course.