Casts do not move. That static aspect is what keeps you from chasing shapes, which in turn helps you to develop accurate sight. Additionally, casts are also uniformly colored, which makes seeing and modeling accurate values much more straightforward.
It is only the Sight-Size arrangement which gives you a one-to-one view of both your subject and artwork. For the beginning student that one-to-one view is crucial. It eliminates the need to mentally scale your subject as you're trying to draw it.
Your subject and drawing must be arranged visually next to each other as seen from a distant vantage point. All seeing takes place from that vantage point. You'll begin with a simple cast. It is the nose from Michelangelo's David.
Stages 1 & 2 are when you will block-in the arabesque (outline), cast shadow shape, and the bedbug line (shadow line). All of these shapes will be determined from the distant vantage point.
Stage 3 is the mass-in stage. You'll begin by viewing the cast while squinting and search for the darkest darks. You will then mass-in the value relationships of the cast shadow, shadow, and background.
Stage 4 is the modeling stage. Modeling is when you begin to create the illusion of depth. You'll do this by rendering the halftones in relationship each other and to the whole, being careful not to over-model.
Stage 5 is the turning edges stage and it is when the impression of depth is most fully realized. First, you'll discern the sharpest sharp and softest soft. Then you'll turn all the edges in the scene relative to those extremes.
Stage 6 is the final stage of your cast drawing in Sight-Size. You'll make sure that all the values are relative to each other, all the edges are relative to each other, all the accents are properly placed, and that there is a convincing illusion of depth.
That depends. Most people would do best by choosing the Cast Drawing in Sight-Size self-directed course. It gives you the most content at the most affordable price.
Both will teach you all you need to know about cast drawing in Sight-Size. The differences are that Cast Drawing in Sight-Size: An Atelier Manual is missing most of the history and theory of Sight-Size. That content is in The Sight-Size Cast. Also included in The Sight-Size Cast is how to paint casts in Sight-Size.
I'd be happy to answer inquiries over on the Sight-Size site here.
My name is Darren Rousar. I am an atelier-trained artist and teacher who can teach how to see better so that you can draw and paint better.
I have written numerous books on the subject, and have been teaching students how to see, draw, and paint since 1988 in the States, Florence, Italy, and online. You can learn more about me over here.
If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them through the form on the Sight-Size site over here.
