Learning to See

[Mischa Milosevic]

Ilaria, it has been my personal experience, after attending the academy in Florence, the Bargue plates are best utilized when working in graphite. We were instructed to use only 2B for all of the drawing and values and the 2H was used for work in the lights. The charcoal work was done with the casts and not with the Bargue plates.

Mite be a silly question but did you know that the Bargue plates are designed and should be approached by the range of complexity? Plates 1,5 - 1,12 are the ones to star with. Then you have the next range of complexness etc. No mater what ones experience, when they arrive at ether academy in Florence, all start at the same place and that is these Bargue plates. Other exercises are introduced to prepare one for live figure drawings and these too are started in graphite first and than charcoal.

All the best

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

Thanks Mischa, that is very clear. I am very motivated to do it seriously.
More questions: which paper? Simple Fabriano liscia ? Is there anything else I need?
The book is arriving just two days before I leave and I am an early packer and won't be able to run around in art shops at the last minute anyway.
I used to do graphite work when I started my illustration course, using points as sharp as needles and a very light hand. I hope I will be able to do it again, haven't been working like that for twenty years...
Ilaria