Charles Bargue: Learn to draw, learn to see

Charles Bargue (French artist, 1826-1883) created what is probably the most influential and most well known classical drawing course in history. This legendary work was conceived in collaboration with his teacher and mentor, Jean-Léon Gérôme. According to Wikipedia's page on the artist, "The course, published between 1866 and 1871 by Goupil & Cie, and composed of 197 lithographs printed as individual sheets, was to guide students from plaster casts to the study of great master drawings and finally to drawing from the living model. Among the artists whose work is based on the study of Bargue's platework, is Vincent van Gogh who copied the complete set in 1880/1881, and (at least a part of it) again in 1890."

This method of instruction does more than teach how to draw, it teaches the student how to see. A successful artist must learn to see the shapes that make up the human figure and render it correctly on canvas. This is something that I, myself often struggle with. But it is probably the single most important aspect of a truly good piece of art. Knowing that fact, I have taken two cast drawing classes in the past few years, and to be completely honest...I hated every minute. I love the process of creating a piece of art, whether it be a drawing or painting. It's relaxing, as I am able to clear my mind of life's stresses and concentrate on the task at hand. But doing a cast drawing is much like undergoing surgery with no anesthetic. It's work! But I know that if I want to improve then I must endure. It was in class that a fellow student turned me on to the Charles Bargue drawing course. I was able to flip through her copy of the book and immediately knew that I had to have it. It is an expensive book, but it is worth it's weight in gold. If you're able, I encourage anyone interested in refining their art to pick up a copy.