The Classes

Anatomy specimens are human body parts that have been professionally dissected; they are the embalmed remains of people who have generously donated their bodies to a university for study. Normally such specimens are accessible only to staff and students in medical schools. Compared to conditions 500 years ago, today's specimens are free of blood and impregnated with preservative solutions.

The work of Leonardo da Vinci is a fulcrum for the workshops - no one has yet matched his multifaceted genius in art, science, and skill in dissection.

The principles of drawing and anatomy essential for creating convincing life drawing are demonstrated. Muscles, bones, joints, fascia and movements that underlie human expression are unraveled.

Perspective and proportion are applied to the figure in a way that is easy to comprehend. You learn to create form with line and tone using various materials, including pencil, pen, charcoal, pastel, and conté.

You work at your own pace; your own style is encouraged. Topics also include drawing techniques and the golden section, as well as the development of the human embryo.

Since the main purpose of the workshop is drawing the human form, we concentrate on bones and surface muscles. Bones are the architecture of the body and the foundation of proportion; they form the underlying structure for body shape. Surface muscles affect the external form of the human figure, and they vary according to type of action or response; muscles are responsible for expression.

Images of artworks inspired by the human body from cave drawings to the present are shown and discussed; after all, artists were the first anatomists! Besides the drawings of Leonardo, reference is made to work of diverse cultures and to artists and sculptors such as Rodin, Alice Neel, and Hokusai.

All images and text on this site are copyright. For permission to use an image, please contact Viscopy: www.viscopy.com

Site engineering & design by Redback Graphix, contact +61 2 9380 7799