Robert Rivers' School of Drawing: Intercross

Rivers' School of Drawing: Student Drawing (early intercross phase)

What is this intercross thing anyway? I have a technical breakdown posted here but in a nutshell it is a holistic, analytical point-system-approach to drawing that helps control proportion and is an invaluable tool for mastering foreshortening (or any area of your drawing for that matter). It was passed down to me via Robert Rivers who teaches drawing at the University of Central Florida. Think of intercross as the scaffolding that goes up as a building is constructed. In the end it's no longer needed but at the beginning it is a mesh of points and lines seemingly more dominant than the building itself.  The version of intercross I teach is a fusion between the pure intercross style of Mr. Rivers and the "block-in" or "envelope" technique of Anthony Ryder . The structural "points" in a Rivers' intercross can be used to find the "shapes" necessary for Ryder's naturalistic value. I was introduced to Ryder's technique via the late great Neil Kosh from Temple University. Featured here are some examples from UCF that demonstrate the intercross technique in various stages of development.

Rivers' School of Drawing: Student Drawing (combined with contour)

Rivers' School of Drawing: Student Drawing (with and without value)

 

  

 

Various photos from the studio (shared by Robert Rivers). I'm hopeful you can get a sense of the fun, challenging, super-sized, and scrappy energy that flows throughout those drawing studios in the Visual Arts Building at the University of Central Florida. I'm very thankful to have been a part of this energy while I was an undergraduate student. I still have not come across anything quite like it.

  

Huge double mirrors were used to great effect, whether with still life or self portraiture.

Additional student work provided by UCF.