Draw silently. Sketch portrait

Author: Liu Changsheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Characteristic portrait sketching from memory has become an important component of the entrance exam for art majors in higher education institutions in recent years, establishing itself as a mainstream trend. In 2006, nearly 80% of institutions adopted this exam format. For a long time, many candidates have focused solely on life drawing in their sketching studies, believing that mastering life drawing alone would guarantee success in the exam. As a result, they have dedicated significant time and effort to portrait life drawing during their professional training. However, simply excelling at portrait life drawing is no longer sufficient to meet the new entrance exam requirements. The sketching exam evaluates candidates' actual abilities through a short-duration written test, primarily measuring their grasp of sketching techniques from a technical perspective, with a focus on assessing foundational skills while also considering artistic qualities. This demands that we not only improve our ability to draw portraits from life but also prioritize enhancing our skills in drawing from memory. As an essential part of training, drawing from memory often reflects a candidate's potential and comprehensive abilities, as well as their firm grasp and flexible application of certain artistic principles. "Knowing is not enough; knowing why is equally important," and thus, strong drawing-from-memory skills are also a crucial component of a candidate's artistic competence.