Vilppu Academy

Essentials & Figure 1 Bundle

$1,595.00 ~~$1,700.00~~

This bundle includes Drawing Essentials and Figure Drawing one at a discount for purchasing the courses together. By default these courses are to be taken during the same session. If you prefer to take Figure one the following session, please make note in the checkout process.

Drawing Essentials Starting January 13, 2025

This course covers the use of materials as well as essential skills needed as a prelude to Figure Drawing which Glenn learned at the beginning of his artistic training. He finds that this basic skill set is often missing in the training of artists today. The focus is as much on training the eye as the hand, with development of visual skills as well as how to study independently. Basic concepts in drawing and their application are demonstrated and incorporated into the weekly assignments, using the same basic materials that will be needed for the Figure Drawing courses.These concepts are applicable to any field of artistic endeavor.

Essentials Class Outline

Week 1
The Basics of Drawing: Materials, Physicality, Fundamentals of Line and Value

Week 2
Drawing as a Tool: The Thumbnail, Blocking in /Lay-ins, Final Development Basic procedure of going from the general to the specific.

Week 3
How we Study: Sources

Week 4
Drawing from observation

Week 5
Describing Form: Analysis of Form: Geometrical Solids, Simplification, Combining Forms along with the Modeling Tone, Indirect Lighting to discribe the forms.

Week 6
Creating a Sense of Realism: Direct Lighting, Core, Reflected Light, Cast Shadows

Week 7
This lesson is overview of the use of reference material (photos, etc.) and how to use it most effectively in figure drawing. I discuss some of the basic pitfalls and problems in the use of photographs. The assignment will be to use photos/reference material in a figure drawing of your choice.

Week 8
In this video on using photos in drawing or painting heads I discuss some of the basic pitfalls and problems in the use of photographs in drawing heads. The assignment will be a drawing of the head from a photograph.

Week 9
Use of the camera as a sketchbook/reference for further development of landscape subject matter.

Week 10
Animal drawing and the use of the photo as a means of research and reference. How to work from the photograph.

Figure 1 Starting January 13, 2025 or the following session (please make a selection in notes on checkout)

This online course is developed from the Basic Figure Drawing course that I teach world wide and is the basis for the Vilppu Drawing Manual. This course consists not only of my video lectures, but also includes lectures using the tablet computer as I do in my regular classes. Figure Drawing 1 focuses on the gesture, using simple volumes consistent with traditional figure construction as a means of communicating and analyzing the gesture as well as the fundamentals of rendering form with tone and line.

Figure Drawing One Class Outline

Week 1
Gesture, capturing the action of the figure, the soul of your drawing. This is the first step in your drawing and gives direction to everything that follows. This lesson will show several different approaches to starting your drawing and analyzing the action.

Week 2
Spherical forms, the basic containment of forms, and foundation of 3D drawing. This lesson explains and applies the use of the spherical forms with examples from the past to today.

Week 3
Box Forms, the clarification of the 3D gesture as well as placement of forms spatially. The box is the primary element of both analysis and description of forms in real space as well as a fundamental element of perspective.

Week 4
Combining Spheres and Boxes.In this lesson the focus is upon how forms react with each other to give a sense of the “real”, the bringing your drawing to life. The analysis of reality applied to drawing.

Week 5
Cylinders - cross rendering. The combining of forms and the contours going over and around the form as a traditional tool of description.

Week 6
Bringing the figures to life, squash and stretch, Continuing the analysis of interaction started in Week 4, we focus upon how forms function in showing the gesture, by focusing upon opposites as they help to clarify and describe the action.

Week 7
Basic anatomical landmarks and proportions. An in depth explanation of proportions and their us as landmarks in analyzing action as well in creating anatoomically correct drawings.

Week 8
The Modeling tone as the primary means of rendering form. The introduction of specific means of rendering form using the modeling tone, combing many of the elements discussed in earlier lessons.

Week 9
Furthering the development and use of the modeling tone in the description and analysis of form with examples both modern and historical.

Week 10
Direct light, this lecture is some times referred to as the laws of light. The fundamental elements of direct light are approached as tools that can be manipulated to not only describe form, but as tools of expression.

Great learning

In Essentials class I've learned the fundamentals of drawing. It was really important for me to develop my skills. It opened my eyes to see art in everything, and It helped me to head the right direction. Before Figure 1 class I had no idea how to draw a human figure. I've learned about movement, about the effect of each line on the drawing, about how to draw a tridimensional form, how to feel where each part is placed in space, how to observe shadow and light. Having Glenn's critiques on my assingments was also really helpful for my learning process and development.

Sheldon

To write a review about Glenn would take a massive library

So what I will say is that for the last 43 years to current
I study vilppu daily.
Not only all his artist training but also his life training .
I am who I am today because of him.
Glenn is my teacher my mentor my friend and my family
Sheldon Borenstein

Always want to Repeat

My drawing skills improved dramatically. I will always repeat these classes not just to improve my skills but to gain confidence in drawing.

I found that it's like you get both Eleanor and Glenn in both packages. So you have this prodigously gifted artist teaching the basics of drawing whilst gently, nudging you to draw then ...... His glorious wife not just managing the background of payment but genuinely interested in ME.
Then, I met the students from around the world. We all want to do well with our artwork. It is great to meet them.
A wonderful experience. It gave me confidence ,better skills and that I hope to repeat early next year.

These were my first courses at the Vilppu academy. Both course lectures were well structured, progressively leading from simpler to more complex subjects. By completing all the assignments, drawing along with Glenn on all lectures and master Tuesdays, with his to the point critiques and guidance I feel my drawing skill significantly improved.

Two amazing classes that are even better together

The Essentials/Figure 1 bundle is so extraordinary that nothing I write could begin to do it justice, but I will do my best to describe a few of the reasons why it is such a special experience. First of all, I would recommend that everyone start with Essentials. Even if you’re an experienced, accomplished artist, it’s the perfect introduction to Glenn’s approach, and it delves into all the tools you will need to thrive in Figure 1 and beyond. Figure 1 is probably Glenn’s most famous class — it is the live version of his brilliant Drawing Manual — and it guides you through a thoughtful sequence of steps to construct the figure (from reference or imagination) and make it spring to life on the page. In addition to the stellar course videos, individualized critiques, and weekly master classes, I especially loved getting to meet my fellow students from all around the world through our closed Facebook group. I love seeing each classmate grow and explore new material, and we all support each other and share our insights. I never imagined that I could go to the best art school in the world without ever leaving home, and I am grateful every day to be part of the “Vilppu art family”!

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