Life Drawing for Sculptors with Simon Harris

The term has now started, but we welcome casual bookings for single classes. Please note there will be no classes running on 23 May and 6 June, this is a 6 week class running over 8 weeks.

This 6-week* life drawing course focuses on learning to see and draw the human figure as a three-dimensional, sculptural form. Working from a live model each week, sessions combine guided demonstrations, short warm-up studies and longer poses, with optional group critique. Through a structured progression covering gesture, proportion, light, anatomy and spatial depth, students strengthen observational drawing skills and spatial awareness, culminating in a sustained final figure study that supports and enriches sculptural practice.

Basic drawing materials will be provided. Students are welcome and encouraged to bring any of their preferred materials with them.

Class Structure:

Each week: Begin with some theory and/or demonstration from Simon. Start with some 1 and 2 minute warm-up poses, then move to longer poses, finishing in week 6 with a single long pose. Close each week with a group critique, inviting the group to show and discuss their best drawings (critique optional).

Primary Goal: To learn how to see and draw form, particularly the planes of a three dimensional figure and the effects of light and shade. Also to learn some basics of drawing and anatomy and to strengthen students’ spatial awareness to enhance their sculptural practice.

Week 1 — Gesture as Mass & Movement Focus: Capturing the weight, energy, and overall movement of the figure, using broad strokes, avoiding outlines or too much detail.

Week 2 — Proportion & Structural Framework Focus: Building a structural ‘armature’ in the drawing – centre of gravity, balance, stance and proportional landmarks. Drawings function as scaffolding for form, rather than surface description.

Week 3 — Planes, Simplification & Light Focus: Reducing the figure to interlocking planes and using basic light and shadow to clarify volume – no tonal polishing.

Week 4 — Sculptural Anatomy I: Torso as Mass Focus: The ribcage and pelvis, and their relationship within different poses, emphasising tilt, rotation and compression.

Week 5 — Sculptural Anatomy II: Limbs, Hands & Feet Focus: Constructing limbs, hands and feet as simple masses – using cylinders, wedges and blocks to emphasis load-bearing and articulation.

Week 6 — Foreshortening, Depth & Final Integrated Study Focus: Understanding the figure as a solid object occupying real space, not a flat image. Students integrate gesture, structure, planes, light, anatomy and composition into a single extended pose.

About Simon:

Although Simon Harris has an extensive background in graphics and illustration, his focus has recently shifted to sculpture since studying at Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School.

Simon’s early career as a commercial artist saw him create storyboards, logos and editorial illustrations for Australian publications including a cover and several double page illustrations for Time magazine.

Since 2003 he has been a lecturer at Billy Blue College of Design (now part of Torrens University) and still teaches illustration there on a part-time basis.

Following a Covid lockdown epiphany, Simon concentrated on his fine art practice, exploring figurative forms drawn with graphite on paper. His drawings were finalists in several art prizes including the North Sydney Prize and the prestigious Dobell Drawing Prize.

Simon brings an analytical eye and sculptural awareness to the time honoured process of drawing the live model.