Workshop 3
Principles in Academic Figure Drawing
Instructor: Krasimir S. Marinov
23 June – 04 July 2025 | 60 hours
It goes without saying that figure drawing is the cornerstone of any art education. It lays the groundwork for understanding nature, mastering observation, and honing technical skills, while also building a robust collection of aesthetic sensibilities, philosophical convictions, and deep insights into the world of the classical. Without this foundation, it would be impossible to create a beautiful and inspiring masterwork.
During the 19th century, art reached unprecedented heights in terms of composition, technique, and emotional depth. The academic painters of this period achieved a level of magnificence unparalleled in its beauty and elegance. It is their legacy that we will be delving into, exploring the meticulous practice of figure drawing that produced some of the most outstanding academic painters of the 19th century.
The workshop will focus on the creation and conception of the beautiful, the graceful, and the academic—words that reflect the sensibility through which the figures will be observed and later drawn. Achieving this requires an extensive introduction and a careful breakdown of the principles underpinning classical aesthetics. One of the workshop’s core aims will be to impart these principles while providing practical instruction to supplement these drawing studies. It is important to understand the lenses through which we will be observing the figure, while simultaneously gathering the skills necessary to translate it onto paper.
A thorough grasp of anatomy, perspective, and proportion is indispensable for achieving mastery in figure drawing. Understanding how muscles, bones, and joints interact beneath the surface allows for a more truthful and dynamic representation of the human body. Likewise, a strong sense of perspective and spatial awareness ensures that figures are accurately placed within their environment, giving them a lifelike presence. Cultivating these skills requires commitment and disciplined practice, as it is through repetition and focused study that we gain control over complex forms and the confidence to render them with clarity and precision.
The workshop begins with a deep dive into the history and development academic style, followed by several demonstrations on the use of the medium (e.g., charcoal), the process and methodology, and supplemented by a few elementary exercises.
In the first week, students will begin their first sustained project: the Ecorché cast. This project provides sufficient complexity while remaining manageable for beginners.
In the second week, the focus will shift to working from a live model, culminating in a single, sustained pose that will be developed over time.
Workshop Testimonials
Krasimir is an excellent and a born teacher! One can observe that he is clearly passionate about what he does and that sensibility is imparted to his students. He is generous and encouraging with clear and comprehensible explanations, and immediate guidance. He helped me understand the nuances and subtleties of using charcoal. He put in 100% to see that the potential of each and every student was brought out. He demonstrated unlimited patience to answer our queries – from the basic to the complex one, every time.
Mansueta D’Souza
The course and its structure was well constructed and laid out. He demystified figure drawing for me and most important of all – provided me with the critical foundation that I sorely lacked. I would not hesitate to take another course with Krasimir if he offers one!
The workshop was well formatted and well paced. I gathered a better understanding of the concepts that make a good figure drawing and learned ways to work more efficiently without sacrificing quality. I think the final figure drawing I made was the best figure drawing I have ever made and definitely the most complete. 10/10
Frank Fetrow
I’ve tried out a new technique and now have two weeks of experience in academic live drawing. The teachers’ remarks and comments of the work were truly helpful. Drawing consistently for 6 hours a day deliberately improved my drawing and observation skills.
Ivan Shinkarenko
The location of the school is also very good, going around town and visiting museums kept me inspired throughout the whole period of the workshop.
EARLY RESERVATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED, AS STUDENT NUMBERS ARE PURPOSELY LIMITED TO ALLOW FOR A HIGH DEGREE OF INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION.
- WORKSHOP FEE: €2400.00 EUROS
- (THE COST OF SOME OF THE MATERIALS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PRICE – OTHER MATERIALS, HOWEVER, ARE TO BE PROVIDED BY THE STUDENT. A MATERIALS LIST WILL BE PROVIDED ON REGISTRATION).
- THE FEE INCLUDES 10-DAYS TUITION.THE COURSE INVOLVES 60 HOURS OF FULL INSTRUCTION, TOGETHER WITH LECTURES.
- CLASS TIMES: MONDAY TO FRIDAY 09.30 – 12.30 AND 13.30 – 16.30
NOT INCLUDED ARE: ACCOMMODATION, AIRFARES, TRANSPORT AND ALL OTHER EXPENSES - RESERVATION & REGISTRATION: IN ORDER TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE IN OUR SUMMER WORKSHOP PROGRAMME 2025, WE WILL ASK YOU TO REMIT A NON-REFUNDABLE/NON-TRANSFERABLE DEPOSIT IN THE AMOUNT OF EUROS 500.00 FOR WORKSHOP 1 AND EUROS 1000.00 FOR EACH WORKSHOP 2 – 5.
- PLEASE CONTACT US FOR THE DETAILS FOR MAKING YOUR DEPOSIT / PAYMENTS (NON-TRANSFERABLE/NON-REFUNDABLE). WE CANNOT CONFIRM YOUR REGISTRATION UNTIL YOUR DEPOSIT HAS BEEN RECEIVED.
- PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE A TRANSFER FEE OF €20.00 EUROS ADDED FOR ALL TRANSACTIONS.
FOR REGISTRATIONS FOR WORKSHOP 1 AFTER 1ST FEBRUARY AND WORKSHOPS 2 – 5 AFTER 1ST MAY 2025 THE NON-REFUNDABLE/NON-TRANSFERABLE FULL FEE IS REQUESTED AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION. - FINAL PAYMENT: THE NON-REFUNDABLE/NON-TRANSFERABLE BALANCE FOR WORKSHOP 1 MUST BE RECEIVED BY 1ST FEBRUARY 2025 AND WORKSHOPS 2 – 5 MUST BE RECEIVED BY 1ST MAY 2025. PLEASE CONTACT US BY EMAIL FOR PAYMENT DETAILS AT: INFO@ANGELACADEMYOFART.COM
- MINIMUM ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENT FOR ALL WORKSHOPS IS 9 PARTICIPANTS.
- PARTICIPANTS IN WORKSHOPS 1 WILL BE NOTIFIED IF THIS NUMBER IS NOT REACHED BY 2ND FEBRUARY 2025 AND FOR WORKSHOPS 2 – 5 AFTER 2ND OF MAY 2025. AT THAT TIME, THEY WILL BE GIVEN THE CHOICE OF EITHER ENROLLING IN ANOTHER WORKSHOP, AVAILABILITY PERMITTING, OR HAVING THEIR DEPOSIT REFUNDED.
- FOR WORKSHOPS 2 – 5 WE KINDLY REQUEST THAT YOU CONTACT US BY 5TH MAY TO CONFIRM RUNNING OF THE WORKSHOP IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY RECEIVED OUR CONFIRMATION.
- PARTICIPANTS IN WORKSHOPS 2 – 5 MAY CONTINUE TO APPLY UP TO 1ST JUNE 2025 AND AFTER THAT TIME SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY.
- CANCELLATION POLICY: NO REFUNDS ON ANY WORKSHOPS WILL BE GIVEN FOR WHATEVER REASON.ANY DEPOSITS/FEES PAID ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE/NON-REFUNDABLE. IN CASE OF POSTPONEMENT/ CANCELLATION OF ANY OF THE ABOVE WORKSHOPS, A VOUCHER WILL BE ISSUED FOR FUTURE USE.
- THE ANGEL ACADEMY OF ART RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SUBSTITUTE INSTRUCTORS OF ANY WORKSHOP AT THE LAST MINUTE OR DURING THE SESSION.
- IN THE EVENT OF THE POSTPONEMENT/CANCELLATION OF ANY OF THE ABOVE WORKSHOPS FOR REASONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, WE STRONGLY ADVISE PARTICIPANTS TO ACQUIRE TRAVEL INSURANCE THAT COVERS THE LOSS OF ANY AMOUNTS PAID FOR AIRFARE AND ACCOMMODATION.
- SHOULD YOU REQUIRE INFORMATION ON ACCOMMODATION IN FLORENCE WE HAVE A LIST AVAILABLE OF SMALL HOTELS WHICH ARE IN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE SCHOOL. ALTERNATIVELY SHOULD YOU PREFER TO RENT OR SHARE AN APARTMENT WE HAVE AN AGENT FOR THE SCHOOL WHO WILL BE PLEASED TO ASSIST YOU. THIS INFORMATION WILL BE SENT OUT ONCE YOU HAVE ENROLED IN ANY OR ALL OF THE WORKSHOPS.