Drawing Fundamentals

Drawing Fundamentals takes you through the need-to-know basics of getting started drawing with Watts Atelier. In these series of videos you’ll learn how to sharpen the pencil, draw with your arm, understand the basics of values,  edges, the Reilly Method and dive into comprehensive courses on head drawing, figure drawing and quicksketch (gesture drawing).

 

 

Courses Listed from left to right, click on a course below to see a video preview

Drawing Fundamentals Phase I
The Most Basic Concepts

Drawing Fundamentals Phase II
Building Objects with Basic Forms

Head Drawing Fundamentals
Head Drawing Basics, Reilly Rhythms, Shading and Structure

Figure Drawing Fundamentals (preview not available)
Figure Drawing Basics, Reilly Rhythms, Shading and Anatomy

Quicksketch Fundamentals
Introduction to Gesture Drawing, Efficiency and Indication

 

Core Head Drawing

In the head drawing phases you will continue to develop upon the concepts that you started with in Head Drawing Fundamentals. You’ll work through many exercises to help you develop your familiarity with the anatomy and structure of the head and practice many linear drawings. Most exercises will be done in charcoal, with Head Phase V taking you through high level rendering of the portrait in graphite.

Courses Listed from left to right, click on a course below to see a video preview

Head Phase I
Fundamentals Expanded

Head Phase II
Linear Drawing, Proportions, Shadow Mapping and Structure

Head Phase III
Head Quicksketch (30 seconds to 1 hour)

Head Phase IV
3+ hour Renderings of the Head in Charcoal

Head Phase V
10+ hour Renderings the Head in Graphite

 

Core Figure Drawing

In the figure drawing phases you will expand much more on the Reilly Method, structural figure drawing and anatomical proficiency. As with the head drawing phases you’ll work through many linear drawings to practice placement, proportion and edge quality. Most exercises will be done in charcoal, with Figure Phase V taking you through high level rendering of the figure in graphite.

Courses Listed from left to right, click on a course below to see a video preview

Figure Phase I
Fundamentals Expanded

Figure Phase II
Figure Layins from Photos

Figure Phase III (Preview Currently Unavailable)
Figure Quicksketch

Figure Phase IV
3+ hour Renderings of the Figure in Charcoal

Figure Phase V
10+ hour Renderings the Figure in Graphite

Structural Figure Drawing
Simplified Anatomy of the Human Figure

 

Gouache Portrait Painting

At Watts Atelier we use gouache as an introduction to painting. Gouache has specific qualities to it that generally lend itself well to teaching fundamental painting concepts. It allows you to paint in a procedural and controlled manner and works especially well to teach people about the concept of ’tiling’. In these phases you will explore three color palettes: the Monochrome Palette, Zorn Palette and the Warm/Cool Primary palette.

Courses Listed from left to right, click on a course below to see a video preview

Gouache Phase I
Portraits in Monochrome and Zorn Palette

Gouache Phase II
Portraits in Warm/Cool Primary Palette

Gouache Phase III
Master Studies – Cornwell, Rockwell, Frazetta, Leyendecker, Schaffer, Elvgren, Coll

 

Portrait Painting in Oil

An area of study that we consider a ‘core’ to artistic training is portrait painting. In these phases you will be taken through learning the intrinsic qualities of oil paint while working through various exercises painting the skull, Asaro Head and photo reference. You will be introduced to several techniques such as pickout (grisaille), direct painting and soft scumbling while utilizing the Monochrome Palette, Zorn Palette and the Warm/Cool Primary palette. You will also be doing exercises in gesture painting and master studies in this series of phases.

Courses Listed from left to right, click on a course below to see a video preview

Oil Painting Fundamentals (Preview Currently Unavailable)
Introduction to Painting Techniques

Portrait Painting Phase I
Monochromatic Studies

Portrait Painting Phase II
Controlling Color with the Zorn Palette

Portrait Painting Phase III
Master Studies of Facial Features

Portrait Painting Phase IV
Gesture Portrait Painting

 

Figure Painting in Oil

Figure Painting should be another frequent area of study in your artistic training. You will start this series of phases with monochromatic paintings from photos of casts from the front and back perspective. Moving on, you will continue to develop your painting techniques by doing pickout (grisaille) paintings from photographs of figures and then painting with color on top of your pickout. As the phases progress you will be introduced to the topic of gesture painting of the figure and painting from the masters.

Courses Listed from left to right, click on a course below to see a video preview

Figure Painting Phase I
Monochromatic Studies from Casts and Photos

Figure Painting Phase II
Starting Figures with Underpainting and adding Color on Top

Figure Painting Phase III
Gesture Figure Painting

Figure Painting Phase IV
Figure Painting from the Masters – Zorn, Velázquez, Solomon and Bouguereau

 

Still Life Painting in Oil

In Still Life Painting you will explore the process of achieving realistic textures of various objects. As with the other phases, you will start with monochromatic studies and then work your way towards paintings that utilize more color. In this series of phases you can expect to paint things like flowers, wood, silver, copper, vegetables, leather, brass and more. Learning to understand the layering process required to develop texture and patina will be integral to the visual appeal of your paintings.

Courses Listed from left to right, click on a course below to see a video preview

Still Life Painting Phase I
Monochomatic Studies of Multiple Objects and Patinas

Still Life Painting Phase II
More Patinas and Motifs in Zorn and Warm/Cool Palette

Still Life Painting Phase III (Preview Currently Unavailable)
Gesture Painting Complex Scenes

 

Landscape Painting in Oil and Gouache

In Landscape Painting you will study composition, color and achieving depth in your paintings. The first phase in gouache will largely focus on small compositional studies. As you progress you will be introduced to the specifics of painting particular aspects of landscape such as clouds, rivers, lakes, trees and more. The landscape section of our program will finish off with four master study paintings from Edgar Payne, Frederick Judd Waugh, Isaac Levitan and Percy Gray. 

Courses Listed from left to right, click on a course below to see a video preview

Landscape Painting Phase I 
13 Different Compositional Studies in Gouache

Landscape Painting Phase II (Oil)
Painting Trees, Waves, Clouds, Rocks, Rivers, Snow, Sea, Clouds, Lakes

Landscape Painting Phase III (Oil)
Landscape Painting From the Masters – Payne,  Waugh, Levitan, Gray.

 

 

Masterclasses (Portfolio Development)

The purpose of the Masterclasses is to help students take concepts further by applying knowledge to other artistic situations such as developing an illustration, creating character design, or understanding composition and storytelling. In the masterclasses you’ll not only find portfolio development classes, but also classes designed to help you take your fundamental knowledge to a more masterful level. 

Courses Listed from left to right, click on a course below to see a video preview

Drapery Essentials
Understanding the 7 Key Folds 

Perspective Essentials
Studying the Technical Side of Perspective

Anatomy Intensives – Arms and Legs
Insertions, Origins and Rendering of the Arms and Legs

Anatomy Intensives – Torso front and back
Insertions, Origins and Rendering of the Torso

Observational Color
Enhance your Color Skills with Observation and Technical Understanding

Features and Facial Expressions
Learn the Anatomy of the Facial Features and the Structure of Expressions

Fundamentals of Character Design
Develop a Character from Scratch Utilizing Fundamental Design Principles

Sketchbooking
See the Process and exploration of three professional artist’s sketchbooks

Composition and Staging
Learn to produce excellent compositions through basic principles

Creating Environments
Understanding the four main types of images

Painting Mood and Atmosphere in Gouache
How to Achieve Different Moods through color and composition

Dragon Design
Creating believable and interesting dragons

Essentials of Tech
Breaking down tech to build compelling vehicles, aerospace designs and mechs

Studio Landscape: Structures
Landscape Painting with a focus on man-made structures

Illustration: Painting a Comic Book Cover
Illustrating a comic cover from start to finish

Illustrating a Fantasy Scene
Illustrating a fantasy scene from start to finish

Inking Phase I
Basic Exercises in Ballpoint, Quill and Brush

Inking Phase II
4 Different Subjects in Brush

Inking Phase III
Master Studies and Photo Work in Brush and Quill

Bridgman’s Anatomy Phase I: Torso Front and Back
Breaking Down and Cleaning Up the Drawings of George Bridgman