Drawing the Face & Figure like Charles Bargue

Discover how a 19th-century drawing course — taken by artists like Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso — can elevate your own skills!

In this two-day workshop, instructor Dara Dodson will lead you through the rich history and techniques of a drawing method introduced by Charles Bargue. A renowned French artist and lithographer, Bargue created a rigorous curriculum that became a cornerstone of classical art education and has influenced artists for generations.

Using Charles Bargue’s iconic plates and figure drawings as reference, learn how to accurately replicate complex images onto paper with charcoal — focusing on proportion, perspective and value. Discover how to divide the human face and figure into different parts for accurate drawing, and how to use shading techniques to create depth and dimension. Through step-by-step guidance, you’ll render with precision, capture subtle details of the human form, and achieve lifelike accuracy in your drawings!