Courses

Based on the Art and Anatomy courses for Stanford medical students, this course is a unique opportunity to explore the human face with the eye of an artist. Students will learn to draw and capture the anatomical beauty of the human face, focusing on the skull. In a technique similar to the one used in Leonardo da Vinci's anatomical drawings, the skull will serve as the primary point of departure to understanding face portions. As the instructor demonstrates the practice, students will draw along, step by step, on paper. Then, the class will continue to work and refine their drawings. Dry bones, digital images of the skull and face, and cadaveric (donor) specimens will be our models as we explore drawing techniques and experiment with new ways of representing the face's internal and external structure. Students will receive direct feedback and guidance as they work and will be encouraged to practice mindfulness and patience, maintaining an open perspective and creativity. Students will leave the course with an understanding of the basic drawing process and anatomical depiction of the human skull.