Thumbnail Image: Student work, by Min Que
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APPLICATIONS CLOSEDWINTER TRIMESTER DATES: 14 January to 30 March 2024
CLASS SCHEDULE: Tuesdays & Thursdays 19:00 - 22:00 The cast room is open to students in this class on Mondays & Wednesdays from 18:30 to 22:00 for independent (uninstructed) study. STUDY LOAD: 6 lesson hours per week, 66 instructed hours total INSTRUCTOR: Thomas Langeveld LANGUAGE: English is spoken during lectures & demos. Individual critique in Dutch or English. LIMIT: 12 students maximum TUITION COST: € 545 (Tuition does not include course materials. See materials list below.) Registration for the Winter Trimester is now closed. Applications for the next trimester of classes at DARA will open in June 2024. |
Drawing and painting from sculptures is a fundamental facet of academic training. This study advances the student's ability to understand and depict complex form from direct observation.
Duration: First year cast drawing (three trimesters) | Second year cast painting (three trimesters)
Duration: First year cast drawing (three trimesters) | Second year cast painting (three trimesters)
ABOUT THIS COURSE
Selected student works & exercises completed in this course.
Course Description
Students in this class work from life, studying from plaster casts (primarily reproductions after classical sculpture) in order to translate three-dimensional space onto a flat picture plane.
Learning to draw from casts has formed the basis of serious artistic study for centuries; the tradition was primarily in practice from the 15th to 19th centuries, and is still taught to students in classical academies today.
Studying from casts traditionally precedes studying directly from a live model. For students who are early in their academic practice and want to learn how to work competently from life, this class offers an ideal setting to begin working from direct observation in a way that convincingly depicts light and form.
Students are encouraged to think about their drawings from a sculptural approach, from learning to simplify and break down complex planar structures, to moving beyond thinking in terms of line to thinking in terms of form modelling.
Students in this class begin by learning to draw at a 1:1 scale with the plaster casts, and advance to using comparative measurements. Cast drawing & painting students may work in the cast room uninstructed outside of class on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings.- CurriculumFirst Year: Drawing (three trimesters)
All students in the first year begin drawing in both graphite & charcoal.
First trimester students complete a series of short studies after a variety of simple plaster casts which depict facial features. Early assignments focus on line drawing and achieving accurate proportions from direct observation, incorporating ideas about gesture and construction into the process of sketching.
Later assignments given during the first trimester emphasize form-modelling, using a conceptual approach to break down complex forms into geometric primitives to facilitate three-dimensional rendering.
After students have completed the first trimester of Cast Drawing, they advance to completing two highly resolved studies of plaster casts in charcoal. The casts featured in these studies increase in complexity, and are generally estimated to take one full trimester each to complete.
Second Year: Painting (three trimesters)
In the second year of this course (assuming that all requisite cast drawings have been completed to the standards of the atelier), students advance to painting from the plaster casts in oils. These studies begin with a limited grisaille palette and gradually expand to the use of full color.
The simple, uniform color of the plaster casts eases the transition from drawing to painting, providing an excellent setting for students to learn to paint from life and begin modelling form in color.
Students in their first trimester of the painting year begin with short sketches of various casts using a grisaille palette, to be followed by one highly resolved cast study in monochrome.
Following this, students begin to incorporate elements of still life painting into their studies, adding varied fabrics and textures to the cast environment to begin painting in full color. To complete the programme, students complete two cast paintings in color, with each study generally estimated to take a full trimester. Course Materials (Trimester 1)
The following materials are required for participation in this course.
Buying supplies at DARA?
Items on the list marked * are available to buy at the atelier.CHARCOAL & PENCILS:- * Nitram Fine Art Charcoal – one box each of B, HB, and H, soft round 8mm
- Rembrandt soft pastel - black
- * 1 Faber-Castell pencil - HB or B
PAPER:- * 1 sheet of white Fabriano Tiepolo paper, 290gsm, size 50x70cm.
- White drawing paper pad in A3 or A2 size. (Instructor's Notes: No smooth paper. Some "tooth" or texture to the paper is required. *Fabriano Accademia is a good option.)
DRAWING TOOLS:- * Kneaded eraser
- * Masking tape
- * Sandpaper block (a large block suitable for charcoal use may be handy, such as the sanding block made by Nitram)
- 1 Knitting needle (not too thin)
- Ruler (preferably no smaller than 50cm)
- Kitchen sponge
- Tracing paper pad, size A3
- 3 bristle hair brushes, filbert/cat-tongue shape. One small, medium, and large size. (Instructor Notes: 3 similar size synthetic hair brushes are also strongly recommended.)
OPTIONAL MATERIALS:
Not required, but recommended to bring:- Paper towels (for cleaning charcoal dust off of hands)
- Toolbox or storage case for drawing supplies
- 1 acetate sheet size A2 or larger (for protecting the surface of drawings in progress)
- Mahl stick
- Portfolio case
- Pencil extender
- A small storage tin for charcoal dust
Financial Aid
Student Discount
Are you 21 years old or younger OR are you studying full-time in a university or other accredited school during the trimester?
If so, you qualify for a 10% student discount off the cost of any part-time course at DARA.
To claim the discount, please email a copy of a valid photo ID which includes your date of birth, or your current student card to [email protected] before the start of the trimester.
Please note that the student discount is for part-time study courses, and does currently not apply for workshops.
Funding For Creative Professionals
You may be eligible for funding for your studies at DARA from Werktuig PPO (permanente professionele ontwikkeling, or “continuous professional development”) if the following applies to you:- You are employed by a Dutch company or organization in the creative or cultural sector.
- You are a self-employed freelancer in the Netherlands in the creative or cultural sector.
How can I check if I am eligible?
Businesses within the creative or cultural sectors are categorized by SBI code.
The list of eligible SBI codes can be found here.
How does this funding scheme work?
Werktuig PPO finances one-third of the total cost of the course, with the remaining amount to be contributed by you or your employer.
Are you interested in enrolling in multiple courses at DARA? Werktuig PPO offers a maximum contribution of € 2000 in funds per 12 months.
How can I apply?
Apply online at: https://werktuigppo.nl/
Applications must be submitted by students. DARA is not affiliated with Werktuig PPO and cannot apply on a student’s behalf. Questions regarding this funding scheme may be emailed to [email protected]
Can DARA students apply for the STAP budget?
Not at this time.- FAQs about this CourseQ: Is this course for me?
A: This course is for you if you already have some proficiency in basic technical drawing skills. If you are considering any model classes, it is strongly recommended that you follow at least one trimester of Cast Drawing first.
Q: Is this course suitable for beginners?
A: Beginners should start with Introduction to Classical Drawing.
Q: Do students work from photographs?
A: No, we work from 3D plaster casts (anatomical models & casts of classical sculptures.) Working from photographs is not taught in any course at DARA.
Q: The course duration says the programme is two years. What if I don't want to commit to two years of study right now?
A: Students only register for one trimester at a time. You are not obliged to follow the full two-year curriculum.
Q: Can I take a trimester (or more) off and return to finish the programme later?
A: Yes. (But please note that your cast station will be rearranged and assigned to other students in the interim.)
Q: Do all new students have to start with drawing?
A: Yes. It generally takes three trimesters (1 academic year) for students to complete all requisite cast drawing studies before moving on to paint. (You may work faster or slower depending on your skill level, and the amount of time you work in the cast room during open studio hours.)
Q: What if I already made cast drawings or paintings before?
A: If you have already studied from casts in another classical atelier or academy, this will be taken into consideration. The instructor may consider placing you ahead in the programme. Please include examples of your work in your application.
Q: I want to take this class, but I will probably have to miss some lessons. Can I still register?
A: Please make sure you can attend at least 80% of the lessons before you sign up.
For FAQs about DARA in general, click here.
DUTCH ATELIER OF REALIST ART |