Course Description

GCA Drawing Method – A One Day Introduction in the Studio

Are you curious about the GCA approach to drawing? Are you enrolled in an upcoming class or workshop at the GCA and want to get a head start? This class serves as an overview of the Grand Central Atelier’s sculptural approach to drawing from life and as a minimal basis for any future instruction at the GCA. 

This one day seminar will provide a broad overview of our methodology by presenting some of the most fundamental aspects of drawing from life through an emphasis on lecture, demonstration and practice, illustrating the concepts universally applied to any curriculum offered at the Grand Central Atelier. 

Strict practitioners of academic art would tell you that you need to hear the same concept multiple times in order to incorporate it into your thinking. One of the most compelling reasons to study at the GCA is the continuity of instruction across the entire curriculum. This class aims to familiarize you with our core concepts, as you will hear the same concepts again and again in any class you take, in person or online, thus building a solid understanding of the ideas and applicable vocabulary to help you get more out of future instruction. 

The breakdown of the day (10AM-5PM) is as follows: 

10 AM: Tour of the studios, including an overview of how the full time program runs and what we learn when studying at the GCA. 

AM continued: An overview of academic drawing materials that will be found on any supply list for part time classes at the GCA including demonstration of how we use graphite and paper and how to properly apply graphite and flatten shadows. The class will be given the opportunity to attempt these methods themselves in preparation for the afternoon exercises.

12:30- 1:15 LUNCH (bring your own or get locally)

AFT Lecture/Working: “Form thinking” vs. the optical approach. How we organize our thinking to capture a three dimensional representation of an object. We will discuss shapes, gradients, structure, contours, and the tricks our eyes play on us which require a conceptual understanding. We will begin conceptual spheres which can be finished at home as a practice for future classes.

AFT Demo/Working Bargue copies. How to construct the best “block-in” from life. How GCA thinking relies on shape thinking to inform form thinking. We will attempt small simple Bargue drawings together.