Byzantine Iconography Series 4: Drawing the Full Figure (P1)

Explore drawing feet across various schools and periods, from dainty to clunky, focusing on a transverse relationship with diagonal and horizontal feet to convey movement and stability.

Explore the toes in Byzantine iconography, from the big toe to the little toe, noting the two-segment structure, the second toe longest, and how toes are joined or tucked.

Master the diagonal movement of drawing a foot in Byzantine iconography, building from heel to toe, outlining the sandal, and rendering the toes with proportional divisions to convey volume.

Learn to draw the inner horizontal view of the foot in Byzantine iconography, depicting a leg, protruding heel, a bulging midfoot, a hidden second toe, and simple surface marks.

Explore the outer view of the foot, angle the heel outward, sketch nearly parallel lines that retract, and show the toe overlap where the little toe and big toe begin.

Draw two feet in a 3/4 stance within composition, elevating the rear foot to stay visible, and place objects further away above the foreground to relate to the viewer.

Learn to draw the infant Christ's feet from the bottom, depicting the heel, toe circles, and leg angles, including a crossed foot with a sandal slipping off.

Examine how Byzantine iconography preserves the fixed form of Christ, with his name, while using techniques, materials, colors, garments, gospel book, and halo.

Learn to construct the full-figure Christ with a dynamic frontal pose using a one-and-a-half-head body proportion, guiding lines, and simplified garments, with a gospel book and supporting leg.

Learn to render Christ and the apostles’ garments with rhythm and volume, detailing inner tunics, outer mantles, folds, transverse lines, and the gospel book.

Learn to draw Christ's hands, feet, and face in Byzantine iconography, using freehand halo construction and transverse lines to create flow, volume, and garment rendering inspired by master works.

Explore full-figure iconography of women saints, focusing on garments (tunic and outer robe), color symbolism (blue and purple), and symbols (three stars for virginity; cross for martyrs with praying gestures).

Explore the basic structure of a Byzantine woman martyr in the full figure, using proportional guidelines—head divisions, nose and chin lengths, neck, shoulders, arms, and a prayer gesture.

Learn to sketch a woman's full figure by outlining the garment and headdress, positioning the arms, and adding hanging folds and pelvis volume for realism.

Observe the arms' transverse relationship and the cross with the hand. Note that the neck is centered when drawing a woman's head and garments for a typical woman martyr.

Explore the basic structure of Theotokos in iconography, focusing on garment flow, raised hand gestures, and how the veil is held in holy protection icons with a balanced axis layout.

Study the full-figure depiction of the Theotokos in the Mamphorion, applying Byzantine iconography with outlined composition, a head covering with three stars, and rhythmic garment folds.

Master the full figure of the Theotokos in Byzantine iconography, focusing on the himation and the sense of lines described in this self-taught course.

Explore how transverse lines on the head covering and garments create rhythm and movement in the Theotokos face and hands. Practice varied hand positions to expand drawing possibilities.

Explore the garments of monastic saints, from the Lenten undergarment—the robe of rejoicing and the robe of righteousness—to the great schema over the shoulders, symbolizing spiritual protection against evil.

Begin with a head guideline and base outline to establish the monastic figure, then render a blessing hand and scroll, balancing the garment for dynamic posture.

Establish the right position for the monastic figure, align the shoulders, shape the outer garment, place the scroll, and set the belt at waist level for the Koukoulion and Mandya.

Explore monastics' garments in Byzantine iconography, focusing on lention (zostikon) and polystavrion, with attention to wide sleeves, undergarments, and the belt called zoning.

Explore Byzantine iconography series 4 in drawing full monastic figure, focusing on hands and face, and detailing vestments like the head covering, outer robe, inner garment, and belt.