Leningrad School of Art

Author: Repin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Learning to draw, whether in professional art schools or self-study, generally follows two approaches: one is observation drawing. Since art schools are equipped with facilities, have standardized teaching curricula, and offer teacher guidance, they place greater emphasis on observation drawing. Starting from basic courses, students progress systematically, gradually mastering (formal foundations) and then skillfully applying (formal techniques). Classroom observation drawing is predominantly used, but it is also essential to include copying courses during the learning process. Without basic formal techniques, observation drawing cannot be achieved. Observation drawing fundamentally differs from photography; it is the product of objective things being observed, processed by human perception and thinking, and expressed through corresponding formal techniques, involving an interaction of eye, brain, and hand. Copying is precisely the best method for learning how to represent objective things. For self-study in painting, without the conditions of art schools to conduct observation drawing, the primary means of acquiring skills relies on extensive copying. This applies to both Western and Chinese painting—copying is the best way to learn traditional techniques and absorb the successful experiences of predecessors. Through copying, one can more conveniently learn methods and techniques for representing objects, avoiding the inevitable trial-and-error process and achieving the goal of mastering traditional techniques more efficiently. In the past two years, I have visited dozens of new and old art schools and art departments in universities across 8 provinces and cities, and the most striking issue I noticed is the weak teaching resources and insufficient high-quality art image materials. Tianjin People's Fine Arts Publishing House has gathered its core editing team to compile a series of books over the past two decades, collecting famous artworks and outstanding studies from prestigious art academies and museums both domestically and internationally, as well as from talented artists. Adhering to the principles of meticulous editing and printing while striving for affordable pricing, this series aims to provide supplementary reading materials for higher art education institutions and self-taught art enthusiasts, contributing to the improvement of national higher art education standards.