Imagine what occurs in a class called Arts 2110: "Figure Drawing." For the average student with no experience or information about the class, "That One Where You Draw Naked People" may be a more accurate title. Students who actually take Professor Jeffrey Lewis' course quickly realize it is about much more. "My approach is academic," Lewis said. "Being able to establish an accurate representation of what is in front of them."
Lewis has been teaching the course for 22 years at Auburn, but is has not gone unchanged. "When we were on the quarter system, we had three different courses," Lewis said. "One was figure, one was anatomy and another was expressive." Lewis said the current "Figure Drawing" incorporates all three of these elements. Thus, students work to achieve a mastery of the complete human form. They focus on the skeleton and some muscular aspects of the body and are judged by Lewis based on Renaissance ideals.
"I stress proportions." Lewis said. Though the students must present an accurate representation of the models, Lewis also stressed the importance of the artists finding their own "voice." "You use your own hand," said Carley Gilliland, junior in art and English. "Every time I try to bring in a new element." The students enjoy Lewis' appreciation of their own interpretation. They also enjoy the class as a whole.
"It's laid back," said Nicholas Norman, sophomore in fine art. "He lets you find your own thing. He advises while you build your own type of work." While the students said they see the artistic benefits from the course in their sketching, the models take much from the course as well. "I've really learned to focus on my own energy and not just provide good poses for the artists," said Kate Peek, junior in nutrition and dietetics. Peek has been modeling in the class for three years. "It's very liberating," Peek said, "knowing that it's in a safe environment. The very first time you do it for a new class, it's a little nerve-racking, but from then on, it's fine."
Gilliland recognizes this as well. "Going in, you hear jokes and stuff from your friends," Gilliland said, referring to the nudity. "But it's truly a very respectful and professional experience." Lewis challenges his students in more ways than the accuracy of the sketch.
Amanda Collins, junior in graphic design, got a lot out of the activities that Lewis had the students perform in the beginning of the year, particularly a one-minute sketch. "The class has really helped me sketch better and faster at the same time," Collins said.
Lewis recognizes there is not one particular way to sketch a human body. Though each student must be accurate, like the great artists, he realizes each stresses his or her own facet and puts individual personality into the sketch. "Seurat focused on value and texture rather than line, and thus we got pointillism," Lewis said., "Some of my students focus on tone, some on value, some on emotion, and I try to look out for that and encourage it when I see it."
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