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Technical Exercise - Training for Visual Accuracy, the Sight-Size Method

Added 2021-05-20 16:00:09 +0000 UTC

Dear Patrons,

This week we would like to introduce you to one of the processes used at the FAA to train for visual accuracy in drawing: the sight-size method of measurement. Through this technical exercise that can be easily practiced at home, you will develop skill over time to take accurate measurements of your subject. This method can be used in your own work, or as preparation for studies at an academic art school like the FAA.

The exercise is at the basis of the Bargue Drawing course at the FAA. We are also giving you an introduction to the technical vocabulary we use at The Florence Academy of Art.

Not many people know this, but Daniel Graves discovered the Bargue drawings and was the first teacher to use them in a 20th century drawing course. He stumbled upon a print in a market, and, after researching its origins, discovered it was an original lithograph of the “Cours de Dessin” produced by Charles Bargue in the 19th century upon request of Jean Léon Gérome (Director of l’Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris). Bargue produced several hundred lithographs to help students prepare for the entrance exam to the Beaux Arts. Daniel discovered the drawing course in its entirety in storage at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and began using them in the 1980’s to teach students basic principles of measurement, proportion and shadow shape.

If you are interested in learning more about the history of the Bargue drawing course and the most recent project - the lithographic printing of the Bargue drawings 'BARGUE ENCORE, AN ACADEMIC TRADITION REVIVED' - be the first to read the full article in Fine Arts Connoisseur magazine, in print June 2021.

Click on the attachment at the end of the newsletter to download the full article.

We would like to thank Fine Arts Connoisseur for featuring The FAA in its publication, Fine Arts Connoisseur magazine and Fine Art Today newsletter. fineartconnoisseur.com

Let's begin!

VOCABULARY:

Sight-size: a method of measurement which produces a painting or drawing exactly the same size as the subject appears from the artist's point of view. The artist positions the paper or canvas at the appropriate distance from the subject so that the subject and the artwork appear exactly the same size. This juxtaposition allows artists to see, with singular clarity, inaccuracies with regard to the size and shape between subject and drawing.
Plumb-line: (a) An imagined or drawn vertical line on a drawing/painting, or superimposed over a subject, that enables the observation of how different pieces of information relate to one another, vertically or horizontally. (b) A piece of string with a weight on the end which, when held at arms’ length, hangs perfectly vertically due to gravity, and enables the comparison of two-dimensional relationships of particular pieces of information on the subject or the drawing.
Straight line: A line with with clear start and end points that can then be judged for accuracy; often a fundamental simplification of an apparently more ‘curved’ piece of information, or a linear representation of a discrete three-dimensional plane.
Convexity: A curvature outwards.
Concavity: A curvature inwards.
High-point: The furthest point at which an apparent curvature outwards changes direction, the apex of a convexity.
Low-point: The furthest point at which an apparent curvature inwards changes direction, the apex of a concavity.

You will need:

A piece of paper set-up vertically, ideally taped to a drawing board on an easel, alternatively held in your lap so that your point of view is perpendicular to the surface of the paper.
A sharp HB pencil.
A kneadable eraser.
A plumb-line (b), a piece of string about two feet long with a small weight tied to the end.

Exercise n°1 - Geometric Shape

Step 1: Draw a simple geometric shape on your paper with straight lines. If you are right handed this should be on the left side of your paper and if you are left handed it should be on the right.

Step 2: Draw a plumb-line (a) that passes through one of the corners (or high-points) of the shape. This line enables us to understand how information at the top of the shape relates to information at the bottom, and helps us to start assessing horizontal distances.

Step 3: Reproduce the plumb-line on the blank paper next to your shape.

Step 4: Step back from your drawing to observe from a distance, and assess how high and how low the highest and lowest points of the shape are on the plumb-line. Mark them with a pencil line. This establishes the vertical boundaries of the shape. This measurement can be made by holding your plumb-line (b) horizontally at arms’ length so that it passes through a high-point on the original shape and then observing the height at which your string is passing through your second plumb-line (a). As you gain experience with this method the plumb-line (b) can be replaced by simply moving your eyes from side-to-side and comparing how comparatively high or low two points are.

Step 5: Assess the horizontal distances that your widest points lie relative to the plumb-line (a) and mark them with your pencil. These measurements can be made by holding your pencil in front of you horizontally at arms’ length and placing the tip of the pencil at one point and your thumb nail at the other. As you gain experience with this method you can rely more upon measuring with your eyes; literally ‘timing’ how long it takes your eyes to move between two points.

Step 6. In the same manner as step 4, assess the height of your widest points. If both measurements were accurate you should have arrived at the exact position of all four high-points. Connect all four with straight lines to arrive at our shape. The accuracy can be checked by comparing the inclination (i.e. the angle) of the lines you have drawn and comparing the ‘character’ of the shapes on either side of the plumb-line (a).

Exercise n°2 - Organic Shape

Next we will tackle a slightly more complex, organic shape.

Step 1: Draw an organic shape on your paper.

Step 2: Draw a plumb-line on your shape, making sure it passes through a particular high-point. Reproduce the plumb-line on the paper next to your shape.

Step 3: As with the first exercise, mark the highest and lowest extremities of the shape on the second plumb-line.

Step 4: Using the same methods as the first exercise, measure and mark the widest extremities as they relate to the plumb-line.

Step 5: Measure and draw the remaining high-points and low-points that describe the simple nature of the whole shape. Connect them with straight lines.

Step 6: Gradually break up these few straight lines into a series of smaller straight lines by establishing more high-points and low-points that describe the subtler convexities and concavities of the shape.

Step 7: Once all of the high and low-points are established, gently draw the more organic transitions between each point which give the shape its organic quality.

This method can be use to reproduce any two-dimensional shape.

After you have completed these exercises try to use this method to accurately reproduce these Bargue drawings of eyes, which are the simplest levels in the Bargue course.