Bargue Drawing Tutorial Stage 4: The First Schematic

Now I’ve got my main four points established, I want to get the rest of the points I need to get to the stage of the first schematic. Then I can join the dots.

As I said previously, I’ve marked some points on the original plate so that I can see where I’m measuring to. From these points, I need to find the ones that correspond to the points that Bargue has used for the first schematic drawing.

A quick word about the schematics here: They don’t match the measurements of the final drawing. They’re meant to be viewed as a recommended approach to breaking down the drawing into it’s main shapes, to help to get the general form before refining down gradually to the specific details. All measurements should betaken from the finished drawing.

Looking at the first schematic, I can see that I need six more points to match it. Finding these points and marking them on the drawing is done in exactly the same manner as the initial four points: first finding the vertical distance from the horizontal, then the horizontal distance from the central vertical construction line.

At this stage, it’s starting to get a little easier. Each new point added represents a new anchor to triangulate from in order to ensure that the next point is accurate. In this way, the accuracy of all points on the drawing are dependent on the accuracy of the first four. That’s why I take so long making sure that the first points are right.

Finding and marking these points takes me around another two hours.

Once the points are in, joining the dotsin order to create the first schematic takes about ten minutes. All the hard work has already been done.

It’s a relief to get to this stage. There’s a lot more to go, but now I can see the drawing starting to take shape. The next update will come once I’ve got to the stage of the second schematic, by gradually refining this one and adding more points. Once that’s done, I’ll be able to draw the final outline, and fill in the tone blocks, working towards the finished drawing. Who knows, I may even be done by Christmas.

This is one of a series of six posts describing how to copy Bargue plates sight size:

• Stage 1: Bargue plate 5, setting up the drawing
• Stage 2: making the first marks
• Stage 3: marking the furthest left and furthest right points
• Stage 4: laying in the main shapes of the first schematic
• Stage 5: refining the schematic
• Stage 6: the finished drawing