BACAA/Tobias Hall Structural Dynamics of the Body: Figure Drawing - 2026

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Figure Drawing with an Emphasis on the Structural Dynamics of the Body

Dates: February 6–8, 2026
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Lunch: 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Course Summary:

In this weekend workshop series, we will strengthen our figure drawing practice as we explore anatomical structures as they are affected by the gestural currents of the body. Working with the model, students will study a variety of poses to develop a better understanding of the body's dynamics and how to translate that information into more lively drawings. The movement curve will guide the proportion of our block in, unify the major masses of the body in its action, and help us to anticipate formal pathways that will weave their way through our figures. We will learn how to locate and organize key skeletal landmarks that will help us reinforce our perspective and the active and passive rhythms of the body. Ultimately, light will lead the way as we ground and reinforce our perceptual experience with a better conceptual realization of the figure in our drawings.

Content breakdown:

  • The Movement Curve - The dynamic energy of the body in action

  • The Envelope & Block in - The perceptual foundation of our drawing and how it is affected by active and passive gestural rhythms

  • Anatomical Landmarks and Perspective - How to use perspective and anatomy in combination to better understand the shapes of our block in

  • Anatomical Structures of the body - How the anatomy is affected by the action of the pose

  • Planarity and Tone - The woven relationship of structure and light

  • My goal for the course is for each student to strengthen their understanding of these ideas while exploring the figure drawing process.

Bio:

M. Tobias Hall (b. 1981) lives and works in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Tobias has an MFA in Painting from the New York Academy of Art (Class of 2017), and received his BA magna cum laude in Fine Arts (with a focus on Animation) from Arizona State University. He has taught drawing and painting as an instructor at the Ryder Studio (Santa Fe, NM), Studio Escalier (Paris & Argenton Chateau, France), and has taught online with several schools, including Studio Incamminati, the New Mexico Art League and the Teaching Studios of Art."

All tuition fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable

Registration form/Terms and conditions must be completed and agreed to, or signed prior and emailed prior to attendance

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All tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable.

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Foster City, CA 94404|

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