Clarifying traditional cast drawing methods ...

[Minh Thong]

After the Spring and Summer layoff, I'm pulling out my drawing materials this weekend and will begin concentrating on the basics again. I've done a little cast drawing with help from a mentor who is an illustrator and college drawing teacher, and I wanted to try one using the traditional atelier-style methods. Can someone please correct my understanding of the general process, where needed? I understand there are differing methods, including sight-size v.s. basic units v.s. measuring with calipers, but here's the general technique I've gleaned from various sources ...

* Measure vertical limits of cast on the media (place tick marks), then measure horizontal limits (using plumbline, calipers, etc.) and mark. Also measure mark some basic relationships within the cast and mark them as well.

* Create basic external contour, recheck. Then measure and draw basic shadow lines while ignoring halftones and reflected light.

* Block in the background.

* Model the halftones and reflected lights within the cast. Then lastly place the darkest darks and refine the background.

I realize this is greatly over-simplified, but is this the general method used in classical training?

Any pointers?

Thanks for any help at all ...

Minh Thong