Drawing Skills

with Nataliya Zozulya

‘Drawing is the way of seeing’ - Ken Howard 

This Introduction to Drawing course is designed for people who have none or very little experience of drawing, and offers a structured approach to observational drawing.

What is the course about?

This course offers a comprehensive and creative approach to learn how to use line, tone, texture and composition to create exciting drawings from observation. While using a variety of drawing materials and experimenting with different approaches to drawing, you will be encouraged to develop your compositional skills and use drawing as a tool to develop your individual ideas.

What will we cover?

- Proportional measuring, composition and basic perspective

- Expressive properties of pencil, charcoal, and other drawing materials

- Use of tone and texture to suggest form

- Gesture and mark-making

- Developing ideas and using drawing as an exploratory tool.

What will I achieve?

  • By the end of this course you should be able to...

  • Draw more confidently and accurately from observation

  • Draw more sensitively with a variety of materials

  • Use tone confidently to establish structure and create solidity of form

  • Draw creatively using line and gesture

  • Identify and develop a personal approach to drawing.

Introduction to Drawing 12-Week Programme Autumn 2024

  1. Foundation of Drawing: Essential exercises: measuring, directional lines, points, angles. How to handle the pencil. What can be achieved with different drawing materials.

  2. Foundation of Drawing: Space and Tone. Drawing basic objects with pencils. Measuring.

  3. Foundation of Drawing: Composition, perspective. Drawing Symmetrical objects. Volume and form. Pencils.

  4. Foundation of Drawing: How to draw asymmetrical objects: points, angles, comparison, negative space.

  5. Foundation of Drawing: Second session drawing asymmetrical objects. Paying attention to details.

  6. Drawing flowers with charcoal.

  7. Simple still life. Points in space. Gradation of tone. How to use tone to create volume.

  8. Second session of Simple still life

  9. Experimenting with soft pastel.  Fruits and vegetables.

  10. Autumn still life. Composition, silhouette, directional lines.

  11. Second session of Autumn still life.

  12. Drawing landscape: Students’ own projects.

Materials to Bring

A3 fine grain heavyweight drawing pad, graphite pencils from H to 6B, good rubber, Stanley knife, masking tape, A2 plastic folder to carry drawings, ruler

Apron.

Willow charcoal.

Soft pastels for later sessions.