Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, had trouble when it came to artists. He
hated Wagner’s mega-opera, The Ring, and he had a lot to say about painters,
including wondering why they had nude models. Why couldn’t they be drawn with
their clothes on, he wondered.
The answer is quite simple. For most, it is very difficult to draw the
human body. As a result there are lots of benefits in attempting to do. One
major benefit is that if you can learn to draw the human body, with feet and
hands and face and figure, you can draw ANYTHING!
Why is it so challenging? Because a normal object of any shape is rather
predictable. A square, a circle, a triangle, a tube shape, etc. can be depicted
easily in your mind and as result is fairly easy to draw. If we picture a hand,
a foot, a face, a belly, an arm, etc. what comes to our minds will vary
dramatically. And we know that the shapes are complex, so when we try to
translate body parts in two dimensions by drawing on paper, our minds revert to
preset ideas, something like a template of what the parts should look like. Yet
perspective, reflections and the ability to measure with your eyes get in the
way of translating 3D into 2D.
This is why some artists pretend that drawing doesn’t matter. They hate
that being able to draw a human figure acts like a discerning element in the
arts, that it separates those artists who can do art from those who talk about
it.
Some contemporary artists say emotional expression is more important, or
new and modern aesthetic challenges are more interesting than the old human
body. For decades one particular director of the National Gallery of Canada had
a hate-on for drawing. The Gallery purchased not one drawing during his tenure.
For most of us that template of what a person is supposed to look like
is too strong to overcome. For example: draw a nose. You will most likely draw
a line from a corner of the eye to the nostril. Take a look in the mirror and
tell me if you see a line. You might see a line if you turn your head at an
angle and there is a harsh shadow cast on your face. That line is evidence of
the template, because in most instances there is no line, but very subtle
shadows. And of course, shadows are difficult to draw.
Thomas White, a professional artist and a graduate of the Ontario
College of Art and Design is running a figure drop-in session Tuesday nights
beginning at 7pm at the Baggage Building in Prince Arthur’s Landing. It’s open
to everyone, and he’s willing to give instruction, so if all you’ve ever drawn were
stick people this would be a great opportunity for you.
Thomas has built the studio “horses” in which to sit with a board to
accommodate up to ten students. Unlike other drop-in sessions he provides the
boards, the paper and the charcoal, but you’re welcome to bring your own
materials. He’s built a professional model stand and has lights set up to cast
interesting shadows. He can teach a variety of approaches, and he’s very
proficient with the “deep anatomical” approach to drawing “where the bones are
like the foundation of a house,” he says.
More than just rendering an accurate likeness, Thomas sees drawing as a
way of “Exploring the human condition through the act of drawing.” He believes
that similar to the way a human face tells a story of a person’s life, so does
the body where there is also a great deal of expression involved.
Thomas, who once worked in the area as a tree planter and crew boss,
moved to Thunder Bay from Toronto five years ago, graduated from teacher’s
college and bought a house in the country with his wife. He has two children.
He loves the accessibility to the forest and laments the distances from nature
in Toronto. Locally he’s become more involved in the arts, doing auto body
painting as seen on his own motorcycle. He’s also producing fine art, working
towards an art show in the future.
Thomas prefers the models avoid static poses, which results in the
models being more animated. The drop-in students start with warm-ups of 30
second poses to a minute, then five minute and up to half an hour.
His model for last Tuesday night, Julia Postigo-Rombola has modeled for
3 years at LU and at the Painted Turtle. Julia got into modeling inspired by a
fictional book character who did the same. Julia thought
it was incredibly brave. Challenging herself she gave it a try.
“I don’t really mind being naked. It’s not sexualized. And everyone has
the same body. Our North American culture is pretty afraid of nudity. I never
really understood it.”
Julia says she constantly fidgets, so she enjoys the challenge of
sitting still. She uses the time to meditate and think of the next pose. “It’s
fun and it’s like you get paid to learn, because you listen to the instructor
and you can try it at home.”
Julia studied sculpture and is now an
outdoor recreation student.
Thomas is still looking for more students, and looking for people of all
body types and ages to pose for the sessions. It’s a paid gig for the model.
Portraiture is also taught in his sessions. You can email him if you would like
to join the group, or pose for the artists, at disorder@fastmail.fm. You can also
register through the Baggage Building Arts Centre: 684-2063.
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