This beautiful fine art drawing course will take you to a new level as an artist.
Most aspiring classical artists are I believe acquainted with the Bargue drawing course and many of them are familiar with the Julien course also.
Less are aware of the Josephine Ducollet course and it is presented here in restored form.
I totally support the point of view of French art teachers of the 19th century that fine art students need to study the rich traditions of the classical art.
French schools at that time advocated the following sequence of art education:
- Drawing copies of classical art plates
- Copying drawings by the Old Masters
- Drawing classical casts - busts and figures
- Drawing live models
The 20th century brought various "isms" into art, and many art students become disillusioned with art education as it is practiced today.
Copying the Old Masters and studying their art is an important part of traditional art education. Copying classical masterpieces will develop a proper artistic taste and style. I believe that thousands of fine art students will improve greatly from such exercises.
These plates were created as a part of an intensive drawing course system much like the one designed by the late great draftsman, artist, and painter Charles Bargue
During my atelier training plates like these were integrated in the curriculum (as I'd imagine with most ateliers around the world) and taught as a means of refinement of observational skills in the practice of drawing.
Benefits are perpetual in the entire scope of the artist's development.
To have the ability to accurately record what the eye sees removing deviation or mental hindrance, I'd say is the basic principle behind this drawing system.
Once this is gained the artist is in a better position to integrate their imagination in a precision controlled manner.
Should you buy a copy of this book?
If you're really serious about improving drawing skills, and you're willing to put in some hard hours of practice, then yes, you should definitely buy it.
If you just love drawing and have cash to burn, you should buy it.
If you're in the habit of buying art instruction books but you cant really draw that much, this book isn't going to magically help you draw better.
But neither is any art book.
