The Emotive Figure with Jill Bateman
Class | Registration opens 3/2/2026 12:00 AM EST
Explore the human figure not as a static subject to be rendered, but as an evolving form. Think of your drawings as living surfaces in which form and structure are discovered through layering, erasure, revision, and reassertion. Seek to better understand the poetics of anatomy - how artists throughout history have selectively amplified, distorted, and obscured anatomical information to shape emotive meaning.
Drawing from the life model, students will deepen their understanding of anatomical structure while simultaneously learning to move beyond mere “correctness” to see anatomy not as a set of rules but as a rich expressive language. By carefully looking at great art - both historic and contemporary - we will continually challenge ourselves to reach a more complex understanding of composition as a carrier of emotive intent. We will maintain a strong commitment to plasticity and see formal elements such as line, shape, value, space, texture, and form as active forces within the drawing process. Students will be encouraged to experiment with materials as they strive to build up rich surfaces - allowing earlier marks, erasure, and decisions to remain visible within the final image.
Your instructor has provided a list of materials required to participate fully in this class.
If you have any questions about specifics or what is needed week-to-week, please reach out to your instructor via the email in your confirmation letter.
View the supply list: https://www.dickblick.com/lists/blicku/HU4UTRG2ZV1TM/
Jill Bateman
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