The Frank J. Reilly Method of Drawing

Who Was Frank J. Reilly?

Frank J. Reilly (1906-1967) was an influential American painter and educator who taught at the Art Students League of New York for over 25 years. He developed a systematic approach to figure drawing and painting that simplified complex forms into manageable components. His method combined traditional academic principles with practical techniques that could be taught efficiently.

Reilly's approach became known as the "Reilly Method" and has since influenced generations of artists across various disciplines, including illustration, fine art, and animation. The method emphasizes structural accuracy, proportional relationships, and the understanding of light on form.

Before developing his own approach, Reilly studied under George Bridgman and Frank DuMond, two prominent teachers at the Art Students League. From Bridgman, he learned structural anatomy; from DuMond, he gained insight into color and light. Reilly synthesized these influences with his own innovations to create a comprehensive system that addressed the challenges artists faced in representation.

The Core Principles of the Reilly Method

The Reilly Method is built on several fundamental principles that work together to help artists construct accurate drawings of the human figure:

• Structural Thinking: Breaking down complex forms into simple geometric shapes that are easier to understand and draw accurately.
• Line of Action: Capturing the gesture and movement of the figure to create dynamic drawings with a sense of life.
• Abstraction: Simplifying details to see the larger form and relationships between different parts of the figure.
• Proportional Systems: Using established canons of proportion to ensure accuracy and consistency in representation.
• Light and Form: Understanding how light creates volume and dimension through consistent application of value patterns.
• Rhythm and Flow: Creating visual continuity throughout the composition through careful arrangement of lines and forms.
• Comparative Measurement: Using one part of the drawing as a unit of measure against other parts to maintain proportional correctness.

The Six-Line Abstraction

One of Reilly's most significant contributions was his six-line abstraction system. This approach simplifies the human figure into six essential lines that define the major rhythm and structure of the body. By establishing these six lines first, the artist sets a solid foundation for the rest of the drawing.

1. The Head Axis: This line represents the tilt and direction of the head. It's usually drawn through the center of the head from crown to chin, determining the basic angle of the head in space.
2. The Spine Line: This curve captures the primary gesture of the torso, connecting the base of the skull through the ribcage and pelvis. In a standing figure, this curve typically forms two opposing C-curves.
3. The Line of Action: The overall gesture line that runs through the entire figure, usually from the head, through the torso, down to the weight-bearing foot. This line establishes the primary movement and energy of the figure.
4. Hip Line: This line represents the plane and angle of the hips across the width of the figure. It's crucial for establishing the orientation of the pelvis in space.
5. Shoulder Line: Similar to the hip line, this establishes the plane and angle of the shoulders, helping to orient the ribcage in space.
6. Knee/Ankle Relationship: This line helps establish the relative positions of the legs, particularly important for showing weight distribution and stance.

These six lines create a framework that captures the gesture and proportion of the figure before adding detail. This abstraction serves as a roadmap for constructing the drawing with accuracy. Reilly often said that a strong six-line abstraction was the key to successful figure construction, as it established the essential relationships early on.

The beauty of this system lies in its efficiency. Rather than getting lost in details immediately, the artist first establishes the major relationships and proportions. Any errors in these fundamentals are more difficult to correct later, so getting them right at the beginning saves time and prevents frustration.

Applying the Reilly Method: Step-by-Step Process

The Reilly Method follows a logical progression from general to specific. This systematic approach helps build confidence while ensuring accurate representation:

Step 1: Gesture and Line of Action

The drawing begins with establishing the line of action, the primary directional flow of energy through the figure. This line typically runs from the head through the torso to the weight-bearing foot. Reilly emphasized capturing this gesture quickly and confidently, as it sets the foundation for the entire drawing. This step should be performed with minimal erasing, as the initial impulse often contains the most energetic and truthful observation of the pose.

Step 2: Six-Line Abstraction

After establishing the primary gesture, the six lines are added to define the basic structure of the figure. This includes the axes of the head, shoulders, hips, and the major rhythms of the limbs. These lines are drawn lightly but accurately. At this stage, the artist is looking for major angular relationships and proportional alignments rather than anatomical specifics.

Step 3: Basic Form Construction

With the abstraction in place, basic forms are created over this framework. The torso might be treated as a combination of cylinders and boxes, the head as a sphere modified by planes, and limbs as simplified cylinders. This step bridges the gesture to more detailed construction. The key is to establish the volume and three-dimensionality of the major forms while maintaining the dynamic quality established in the gesture.

Step 4: Proportional Refinement

Using Reilly's proportional system, the forms are refined to establish accurate relationships between different parts of the body. This includes checking the width of shoulders to hips, the relative sizes of joints, and the proper length of limbs. Artists might use comparative measurement techniques, using the head as a unit of measure against which other parts of the body are compared.

Step 5: Anatomy and Detail

Once the underlying structure is sound, anatomical details and surface information are added. This step transforms simplified forms into a more naturalistic representation of the human body while maintaining the underlying structure. Important anatomical landmarks are placed according to the previously established proportional system. Surface anatomy and smaller forms are then added, always with attention to how they relate to the larger structure beneath.

Step 6: Value and Light

The final step involves describing the figure through light and shadow. Following Reilly's five-value system, the artist establishes the light, halftone, shadow, reflected light, and highlight areas. This creates the illusion of three-dimensional form while maintaining the clarity of the structural drawing beneath.

Proportional Systems in the Reilly Method

Reilly developed proportional relationships that simplified the complex anatomy of the human figure into manageable units. These proportions served as guides that helped artists maintain consistency in their figure drawings:

• The human figure is approximately 7.5 to 8 heads tall in idealized proportions
• Half of the figure's height is found at the midpoint of the pelvis
• The arms, outstretched, span roughly the same distance as the body height
• The width of the head is approximately equal to its height
• The distance from the chin to the bottom of the ribcage equals roughly one head length
• The width from shoulder to shoulder is approximately three head widths
• The elbow aligns vertically with the bottom of the ribcage
• The knees align with the bottom quarter of the figure
• The wrists align with the pubic arch when the arms are hanging at the sides
• The hands are approximately equal in length to the face

Light and Shadow Principles

The Reilly Method includes a systematic approach to understanding light on form. This approach helps artists create convincing three-dimensional drawings through the strategic use of value (light and dark) areas.

• The Five Values: Light, halftone, shadow, reflected light, and highlight. These five value zones create the illusion of three-dimensional form. The light area is fully illuminated by the light source. The halftone represents surfaces turning away from the light. Shadows occur where light is blocked from reaching the surface. Reflected light occurs in shadow areas where light bounces from surrounding surfaces back into the shadow. Highlights are the brightest points where the surface directly faces the light source.
• Light Logic: How light direction affects value relationships across forms. Understanding that light travels in straight lines and hits planes at different angles helps the artist predict where shadows fall and how values transition across forms.
• Edge Control: Understanding how edges change between light and shadow, from sharp to lost, enhancing the illusion of volume. Edges are typically sharp where a form turns quickly away from the light and softer where the transition is more gradual.
• Form Shadow vs. Cast Shadow: Distinguishing between shadows on the form itself and shadows cast onto other surfaces. Form shadows have soft edges and follow the structure of the form. Cast shadows usually have sharper edges and take their shape from the object casting the shadow and the surface onto which it falls.

Reilly taught that consistent application of these principles creates convincing spatial illusion in drawings. He emphasized seeing the light and shadow patterns as abstract shapes first, then refining them to describe form accurately.

Color Theory in the Reilly Method

Although primarily known for his drawing methods, Reilly also developed a color theory that complemented his structural approach. This color system helped artists use color to enhance form and create atmospheric effects:

• Temperature Relationship: Understanding how warm and cool colors create depth and atmosphere. Reilly taught that warm colors tend to advance while cool colors recede, helping to create spatial illusion.
• Color and Form: Using color to enhance the three-dimensional structure of the subject. This involves shifting color temperature as forms turn away from the light source.
• Limited Palettes: Working with restricted color ranges to ensure harmony and consistency. Reilly often recommended limited palettes with specific warm and cool primaries to allow the artist to focus on value relationships first.
• Color Notation: A systematic approach to color mixing using a numbered chromatic scale. This notation system helped artists identify and reproduce specific colors consistently.
• Color Keys: Establishing the overall color scheme of a painting early in the process. This ensures that all color choices serve the overall impression of the work.

The Legacy of the Reilly Method

Frank Reilly's impact on art education continues today through the many artists who studied with him. During his time at the Art Students League, Reilly taught thousands of students, many of whom went on to become successful illustrators, painters, and teachers themselves.

The structured approach of the Reilly Method has proven particularly valuable in fields requiring accurate representation of the human figure, such as illustration, animation, and concept art. Many successful commercial artists learned their foundations in the Reilly approach, bringing its principles into their work in film, publishing, and advertising.

Many contemporary art educators and ateliers incorporate elements of the Reilly Method into their teaching, valuing its balance of structural accuracy with artistic expression. The method's emphasis on understanding fundamental principles before details makes it an effective foundation for artists of all levels.

The enduring relevance of the Reilly Method lies in its practicalityit provides concrete steps artists can follow to improve their work while still allowing for personal expression and style development. Rather than prescribing a specific look, it offers a framework that supports an artist's vision. In an era when many art schools moved away from systematic instruction, the Reilly Method provides a structured approach that helps artists develop solid drawing skills that serve as the foundation for all creative expression.

Resources for Further Study

For those interested in learning more about the Reilly Method, several resources provide additional information and instruction:

• "The Reilly Method of Drawing" by Frank J. Reilly (lecture notes compiled by former students)
• "The Drawing Course" by John Raynes (contains elements of Reilly's approach)
• "Drawing the Head and Hands" by Andrew Loomis (shares similar principles)
• "The Human Figure" by John H. Vanderpoel (a foundational text that influenced Reilly)
• "Dynamic Figure Drawing" by Burne Hogarth (demonstrates principles compatible with Reilly's method)
• "How to Draw the Figure" by Frank J. Reilly (reproduced lecture notes)

Many contemporary artists and instructors continue to teach the Reilly Method through workshops, online courses, and instructional materials. The method's practical approach continues to prove valuable for artists seeking to improve their representational skills.