Selected Model Drawing Copybook · Pencil Sketches of

Author: Anhui Fine Arts Publishing House
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-11-01
Features:
Sketching figures are one of the key teaching contents in art foundation education. They help learners develop artistic abilities by observing, understanding, recognizing the characteristics of objects, and applying painting techniques and language. This guides learners to successfully enter the art they dream of. The works in this book are exquisite and standardized, fully meeting the requirements of basic teaching. The images are clear, making them convenient for learners to copy and appreciate.
Beautiful foundation courses are mandatory for all fine art majors. Whether in art high schools or art academies, basic art education holds a significant position. The content of basic art education is generally divided into subjects such as still life sketching, portrait sketching, plaster figure sketching, and color still life. The purpose of offering these courses is to cultivate students' artistic abilities by observing, understanding, recognizing the characteristics of objects, and applying painting techniques and language, guiding them to successfully enter the art they dream of.
The cultivation of artistic ability includes two aspects: the development of artistic thinking, imagination, and aesthetic ability; and the cultivation of operational ability. Operational ability refers to the skillful use of tools and materials, allowing subjective treatment and imagination to be applied to the objects one observes and thinks about. The artist should observe the object from a unique perspective, grasp its essential characteristics, and then express them through means such as lines, colors, light and shadow, warmth and coolness, space, structure, perspective, and solidity and void. The cultivation of artistic ability in these two aspects is indispensable and complementary. Without aesthetic ability, even the best techniques cannot truly grasp the essential characteristics of the object. Conversely, even with boundless passion and countless imaginations, without solid fundamentals, one cannot express their own ideas and concepts—only empty fantasies.
In basic teaching, cultivating students' artistic abilities relies on two fundamental methods: sketching and copying. Sketching involves drawing directly from real objects, training students to observe and depict them objectively, thereby developing their keen perception and mastery of skills. However, some students may encounter various difficulties when sketching, such as conveying the texture of objects, detailing, spatial handling, and the overall relationship between black, white, and gray in the composition.
Typically, teachers use outstanding works as teaching models for students to copy and appreciate. Through copying, students can understand the original artist's intentions and composition, learn specific methods for shaping objects, and resolve doubts, thereby quickly improving their painting skills. Copying excellent works can be done in several ways: overall copying, partial copying, mirror copying, interpretive copying, and mental copying. Students can choose the method that best suits their weaknesses. Outstanding basic teaching works are like a good teacher, teaching you how to handle the overall effect of the composition—such as the black, white, and gray relationships in sketching and the warm and cool tones in color—and also helping you solve details such as form, space, and texture.
Teachers in basic departments often adopt a teaching method that prioritizes sketching while supplementing it with copying, achieving significant results. This shows that learning from excellent works and absorbing their essence can compensate for inadequate painting experience while also cultivating the ability to discern quality and excellence in aesthetics.
To promote the improvement of painting skills among art majors and encourage more students to join the art world, Anhui Fine Arts Publishing House has selected over a hundred outstanding works from its published books over the years, categorizing them into four volumes based on the content of basic teaching in art academies: Sketching Portraits, Sketching Plaster Figures, Sketching Still Life, and Watercolor Still Life. The works in the book are exquisite and standardized, fully meeting the requirements of basic teaching. The images are clear, making them convenient for students to copy and appreciate. Most of the authors are renowned professors from major art institutions and famous painters, and their rigorous teaching attitudes are reflected in their works.