Complete Sight-Size Drawing Course (Level 1-3)

Academies and ateliers around the world are increasingly teaching an American realist approach to drawing and painting known as sight-size. Taught today by the students of American artists R. H. Ives Gammell and Richard Lack, this popular approach has been exported throughout the world and is now taught in dozens of schools. In sight-size, the easel and the subject matter are positioned in such a way that the artist makes one-to-one horizontal comparisons for a high level of optical accuracy. Hosted by Florence Academy of Art founder Daniel Graves, this massive course is the most comprehensive breakdown of the sight-size approach ever produced online. Senior sight-size instructors, Leo Mancini-Hresko and Joe Altwer will teach you the materials, set-up, exercises, and process which are taught in top ateliers from the comfort and convenience of home. You can use course either as an alternative to attending an atelier or academic art school or as a preparation or even supplement to one. You will utilize the historical Charles Bargue plates, plaster casts and live models to develop your drawings from simple light-and-shade straight line patterns, to full beautifully rendered tonal works. By the end of this course, you’ll be an expert in the approach and be ready to take on Sight Size Painting Course, scheduled for a 2020 release.

Level 1

1. Sight-Size Drawing Lesson 1: Introduction to Sight-Size Method

In this lesson, Leo Mancini-Hresko will introduce the Sight-Size approach to drawing. He will go over the tools and the materials you will be using, such as pencils and charcoals (And their hardness), as well as different types of drawing paper.

2. Sight-Size Drawing Lesson 2: Beginner Bargue Plate Project

In this lesson, Leo helps you get into the basics of academic drawing study; specifically, the Charles Bargue course. You’ll practice copying a beginner Barge plate, along with using the Sight-Size drawing tools – a mirror and a plumb line.

3. Sight-Size Drawing Lesson 3: Intermediate Bargue Plate Project

This lesson is the next step of Charles Bargue course. Using the Sight-Size Method, Leo will demonstrate drawing the intermediate Bargue plate.

Level 2

4. Sight-Size Drawing Lesson 4: Short Poses Figure Project

In this lesson, Joe Altwer will be drawing 4 different 2-hour poses using the Sight-Size methodology. You will learn how to block in a figure with straight lines, define a contour and a shadow line, develop shadow shapes, and apply values for shadows.

5. Sight-Size Drawing Lesson 5: Plaster Cast Project

This lesson is the 7-hour demo of drawing a plaster cast with charcoal. You will learn how to block in the drawing with the help of a mirror and a plumb line, how to define shadow and light shapes and turn them into forms. Leo will also go over 9-step value theory and “keying the drawing” process.

6. Sight-Size Drawing Lesson 6: Portrait on Toned Paper Project

In this lesson, Leo will draw a portrait of a live model with the same light and shade pattern as in the Plaster Cast Project. This will be the same technique that he used for drawing 3d still objects with the only difference that his model is going to be slightly moving.

Level 3

7. Sight-Size Drawing Lesson 7: Long Pose Figure Project

In this lesson, Leo will demonstrate how to draw a long pose figure project with charcoal on white paper with the same degree of contrast as in Plaster Cast Project. Drawing along with the instructor you will gain the skills of using full tonal range in your work.

8. Sight-Size Drawing Lesson 8: Short Pose Figure on Toned Paper Project

In this lesson, Leo will work through the same problems but in a short pose drawing. He will be working on toned paper from a live model trying to get a real sense of who this person is and how he is standing.