Print this page Drawing the Animal Kingdom

Since the dawn of humanity, animals have played a leading role in human creative expression. Whether it is the significance of the depiction of a herd of bison in early surviving Cave art, or an Australian sulphur crested cockatoo conspicuously turning up via global trade, in a late-fifteenth century Italian altarpiece by Andrea Mantegna! Animals have allowed craftsman to depict a human empathy for nonhuman life, whilst being pivotal agents for conveying metaphors of universal meaning within our world. Learn to draw a variety of mammals, reptiles, birds and fish, via a basic comparative study of human and animal anatomy and by some direct observation from life.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

COURSE OUTLINE

• Basic and fundamental comparative anatomy of the skeleton: Gain practical a knowledge of the human skeleton, comparative to other animals, such as mammals, reptiles, birds and fish.
• Drawing at the Australian Museum: We will make a field trip to both study and draw from the skeletons of a variety of animals within the museum.
• Fundamental comparative anatomy of the muscle groups: Gain practical a knowledge of the human muscle groups, comparative to other animals, such as mammals, reptiles, birds and fish.
• Drawing short/long haired animals: One major challenge in drawing animals is the depiction of fur and how to convey form and volume, while at the same time suggesting texture. We will see how these challenges are interchangeable with the depiction of human hair.
• Drawing fish and other amphibious animals; Animals and movement - sketching carp in the Chinese Gardens: We will make a field trip to Darling Harbour's Chinese Gardens to draw carp. Students will be shown how to convey the carp's form in quick sketches. The aim of these classes will be to address the ephemeral reality of movement when drawing a living animal, human or otherwise. The joint role and relationship of observation to artistic invention will be further addressed in this context. Entry will be $6 adults $3 concession (please note that this is not included in the course fee)

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Have acquired a basic interrelated knowledge of the artistic anatomy of humans and other animals.
2. Conceive and demonstrate the overall masses of any animal.
3. Depict the texture of hair, fur, scales and feathers while addressing the animal’s form and volume.
4. Synthesise empirical observation with artistic invention in relation to both transposing techniques from Old Master drawings onto photographic images of animals and in addressing the reality of drawing a moving animal.

MATERIALS LIST

• Oil based hard sanguine red, black and white chalk pencils or alternative.
• Kneadable eraser
• Stanley knife for sharpening pencils.
• A3 sketch book
• Two metal bulldog clips for support
• 1x A3 sheet of blue-grey coloured paper
• Indian ink
• 1x A3 sheet of Watercolour paper
• 2x watercolour brushes sizes 6 and 8

IMPORTANT: Please arrive to the first class with all the relevant materials. A lack of materials is not just a handicap to you but to the ability to teach. Materials cost is not included in a course fee. In the event of a course being cancelled WEA cannot be held responsible for the purchase of any course materials. We therefore suggest you purchase your materials closer to the time of the course commencing.

ART SUPPLY STOCKISTS

The following stockists below are examples of places you can buy art materials from:

• Art on King: 199-201 King Street, Newtown. Ph: 9516 2342
• Eckersley's Art and Craft Store: 93 York Street, Sydney. Ph: 9299 4151. Also located in various locations throughout Greater Sydney.
• Parkers Art Supplies: 3 Cambridge Street, The Rocks. Ph: 9247 9979
• The Art Scene: 914 Victoria Road, West Ryde. Ph: 9807 6900
• The Sydney Art Store: 11 Salisbury Street, Botany. Ph: 9699 2162

You can also purchase materials from places such as Dymocks, Officeworks, Spotlight, Lincraft or online art suppliers such as Art Shed Online.