Building Form with Reductive Drawing - A 3-day Workshop with Savannah Tate Cuff. December 19 - 21, 2025 (Friday evening through Sunday). Workshop Schedule: Friday, 6pm - 10pm; Saturday, 10am - 5pm; Sunday, 10pm - 5pm. This three-day portrait workshop introduces artists to the reductive method—a process that starts with a toned ground and builds form by erasing and pulling out light, rather than only adding dark marks. This approach emphasizes clarity of value and structure, helping artists see the portrait as an interplay of light and shadow rather than just lines. The workshop begins Friday evening with a class demonstration, followed by two sustained portrait poses over Saturday and Sunday. Participants will work step by step, starting with a flat block-in and gradually modeling form under a single light source. Along the way, instruction will cover anatomy, proportions, and composition, with live demos and individualized critiques to reinforce learning. Key Topics include: • Reductive vs. additive drawing methods • Structure of the head and accurate proportion • Modeling form with light and shadow • Designing effective compositions. Level of Study: OPEN. Open to all levels, this workshop is an opportunity to sharpen your observational skills, deepen your understanding of value, and explore how reductive drawing can bring portraits to life with nuance and depth.
