In addition to gaining an understanding of the human body and its proportions, my students' figure drawings show an emphasis on relating the figure to its environment. This better prepares students in the long run for integrating the figure into a composition.
Large Scale Freshman Drawing, charcoal on paper, 3.5'x 4'
In this drawing the environment echoes and follows rhythms moving in and out of the figure. The light isn't quite right but the shape and rhythm structure is fantastic! Students are encouraged to select echoing shapes and rhythmic extensions so that the whole page sings about the subject.