This course at Hampstead school of art is ideal for all students at all levels from beginner to advanced. The course is given by Gianlucca Rotelli. We will use the reference book Drawing Course by Charles  Bargue and Die Gestalt Des Menschen from Gottfried Bammes .

On this course the students will receive instruction in the ‘Sight-Size’ method of drawing. Each student will be trained to draw from simple to highly complex images. . In addition, we will focus on anatomical drawing with an emphasis on human physiognomy. This will include a detailed study of  the human skull; the structure of the eyes; the nose; the mouth and ears. They will study and analyse as well as execute detailed copies of Bargue's drawings in order to develop in-depth techniques as regards  composition, line, perspective, and shading. During the course, the students will also learn how to use the plumb-line and they will be able to correctly judge  all measurements, including heights, widths, negative spaces, and halftones.

The study of anatomy for  students of drawing is absolutely fundamental. It enables the artist  to be able to observe the exterior of the subject or model while also understanding and reacting to the anatomical realities below the surface. Students will learn to imagine and see the muscles below the skin, the skeleton below the muscles. Students will learn to employ the simplification of the planes in life-drawing.  This is one of the best ways to learn how to visually build the human-body with our anatomical knowledge. During the course , we will study the muscles in connections with the skeleton with a particular concentration on the skull. 

Drawing well makes the artist free to express themselves in a figurative style. Drawing is the most essential building block and primary skill to create a consistent structure for the artist. This course is a prerequisite for oil painting and by the end of the course students will be able to draw a portrait properly and with confidence.

During the lessons the students  will learn the process of how to correctly prepare the canvas to support oil colours and special varnishes. The techniques used come from the great classical masters like Rembrandt and Caravaggio. The main point of the course is how to create high-quality professional and beautiful oil pigments using only natural materials. This process is actually very old and has been in use for many centuries. The fundamentals of drawing will help the student to discover how to make classical paintings. Students will also be able to mix natural pigments themselves having completed the course.