Introduction to Drawing

About this course

Participants study observational drawing through exercises that progress from simple shapes and proportion to volume, space, form and light. They work with pencil, charcoal and pastel, exploring different ways to describe subjects including still life objects, food, vegetation, portraits and the human figure. Weekly themes examine how visual information can be recorded through drawn marks. Teaching includes practical exercises, group discussion of the work and presentations using examples from artists and the school library.

What you'll learn

• Apply basic principles of observational drawing
• Use proportion to represent observed subjects
• Describe form, volume, space and light through drawn marks
• Experiment with pencil, charcoal and pastel to interpret visual information

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for learners with little or no drawing experience. Participation combines individual drawing exercises with group discussion at the end of each session, while the Beginner level indicates an introductory starting point.

• Work is discussed as a group at the end of each session.

Before you go

• Participants should bring 2B and 4B pencils, a plastic eraser, a pencil sharpener, an A3 cartridge-paper sketchbook and two sheets of A2 white cartridge paper.
• Pencils, charcoal, erasers, sharpeners and paper can be bought at the school; A2 paper is available in the shop.
• Masking tape or clips for holding paper on the supplied drawing board are available.