---

The Montessori School of Syracuse for allowing us free use of Oak Cottage - We'd especially like to thank Mary Lawyer O'Conner and Susan French for helping us with the arrangements;

Wegmans for donating a $50 with of groceries;

Our presenters:

• Michael Sickler
• Donalee Peden Wesley

for sharing their knowledge, time, & dedication to carrying on the tradition of figurative drawing;

and the OFD board members, for their planning, preparation, time, and more.


Our instructors, Michael Sickler and Donalee Peden Wesley, both concentrated on the theme of placing the figure in its environment and also on working toward a finished drawing. The first day we worked on visceral and emotive concepts with Michael, focusing on the quality of line and incorporating the gesture into the finished drawing. We were made aware of the danger of getting too tightly controlled when working on a longer pose. We also entered the arena of drama as our model posed with exaggerated facial expressions in a grim reaper setting (thanks to our skeletons that also came to the workshop). The final critique - where a drawing from the first half and the second half of the class was shown side by side - helped each of us understand how to transition from gestural poses to a finished drawing that contains emotion.

The next day, Donalee set up a fabulous stage for our model that included plants, lots of skeletons and bones laid about in provocative poses, mirror, umbrella, and elaborate drapery. The overall effect with the lighting was theatrical and seemed to contain a story. After presenting an approach to dealing with such a complex subject, we attacked our paper, which we divided into 4, with quick gestural sketches. This helped us warm up and understand the composition laid out before us. Then we moved on to working on a finished drawing, focusing on the things that especially appealed to us. Donalee spent personal time with each one of us, discussing the composition and encouraging us to explore our personal vision. Finally, we were treated to a critique of all our drawings, where Donalee discussed the roles value, composition, and line weight all play into the piece.

The two workshops meshed together beautifully and the surveys from our participants indicated that the weekend was a success on many points. Thank you all for participating and giving us your feedback! See you at the next "A Sense of Drawing"!

10:00 am – 2:30 pm

Michael Sickler (brief bio), associate professor, Studio Arts Department, Syracuse University. Michael Sickler, through both discussion and image, will explore what makes up a strong figure drawing. The class will explore specific areas of the figure, the figure in the round and the interplay of the figure and the skeleton. The class will encompass a range of drawing; short drawings to longer finished pieces. Suggested Materials: 18x24 paper, charcoal pencils, ink, dark, bold drawing materials (no vine charcoal).

10:00 am – 2:30 pm

Donalee Peden Wesley (brief bio), adjunct professor, Syracuse University, and instructor, Onondaga Community College Donalee Peden Wesley will focus on the figure in its environment. Participants will examine and draw the figure in the context of its setting. The class will encompass composition, measurement, proportion, value, consistent lighting, and large scale drawing. Suggested Materials: 18 x 24 drawing board, 18 x 24 white drawing paper, 18 x 24 newsprint, vine charcoal, compressed charcoal (Alphacolor is very good), charcoal pencils assorted from hard to soft, black NuPastel, sharpener, white eraser (Stateler is very good), masking, rag, brush, water container.