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Cast Drawing: The Russian Approach

In this 8-week course, you will follow instructor Iliya Mirochnik as he walks you through the centuries-old tradition of plaster cast drawing. You will learn to analyze the anatomy of the face and head. Iliya will demonstrate how he methodically builds up tones and utilizes hatching as a glaze to unify his drawings. This course provides you with many intuitive assignments, reference images, and 3D models of historical plaster casts that maximize your learning potential. After completing the course, you will gain an understanding of form and proportion, as well as develop a sensitivity to rendering light and shadow.

8 Lessons 15h 13m 2s of videos

Common Questions

What will I learn from this course?

You will learn to construct the facial features of the face, absent of color and texture. This course will give you the ability to focus on the forms of the face. In addition, Iliya will teach you how to draw from a cadaver, giving you the chance to work from a real human head. Lastly, Iliya will teach you how to render light & shadow over a Pre-Renienssance bust; it focuses on smooth features and curved characteristics.

Are there any assignments in this course?

This course includes eight (8) downloadable assignment PDFs, that help you practice the materials taught by instructor Iliya Mirochnik. Keeping up with these assignments will maximize your learning outcomes.

What materials do I need to get for this course?

Each lesson includes a detailed Materials list PDF linked under the description. Please check the file to see what you need to prepare. This course includes photos and 3d models of the plaster casts mentioned in the lectures; you can find them under the References tab. You are welcome to use your own plaster cast, but we’ve ensured to provide references for every assignment.

Is this course recommended for advanced students or just beginners?

This course is recommended for students who have a basic understanding of form, lighting, and construction. It is ideally for a student who has taken Iliya's Fundamentals of Observational Drawing.

Can I take this course digitally (Photoshop, Procreate, ets)?

Most New Masters Academy courses are designed to be done traditionally or digitally. Software changes constantly, but the fundamentals stay the same. It will be up to you to translate the information that you are learning to your software of choice. We recommend avoiding layer, undo, automatic line straightening, or other shortcuts for this course.

What is the Russian/ Illia Repin drawing method?

This drawing method has been taught at the Repin Academic Institute of Fine Arts (former Saint Petersburg Imperial Academy of Arts). This training has been preserved from one generation to the next within an institution that has changed remarkably little over the last 250 years. We would describe this approach as a hybrid between constructive and optical or graphic approaches. We also have a full 35 lesson course taught by Iliya here: Complete Russian Academic Drawing Approach