Every one of us has the ability to draw within; it is something that can be learned. Whether you wish to learn how to draw for its own sake or to learn drawing as a means to aid some other artistic pursuit, there is no doubt that drawing is a beneficial and satisfying pursuit.
This online drawing class will introduce you to drawing techniques to get started straight away and build confidence with proven methods for learning to interpret what you see onto your paper.
Start Date:
Course Length:
4 weeks
Tuition:
$149.99
Course Materials (included with tuition):
- Drawing Workshop for Beginners by Jill Bays (digital video download) Retail: $19.99
Instructor:
Annette Raff (bio)
What You’ll Learn:
- Introduction to tools for drawing – pencil, pen & nib, and charcoal
- Approaches to drawing in a realistic manner:
- Methods and hints to achieving accuracy
- Creating texture
- Negative shapes to aid accuracy
- Shading to give 3-dimensional appearance
- Learning to set up a still life composition
Who should take this course:
- Beginning artists who wish to draw and paint well
- Artists who wish to improve their observation and drawing skills
ART SUPPLIES YOU’LL NEED:
- 6B graphite pencil
- Charcoal – 1 stick (preferably ‘Willow’ charcoal) or a charcoal pencil
- Pen and nib and bottle of ink, or fine line marker
- Kneadable eraser
- Drawing pad 11 x 14” approx. (medium tooth)
- Retractable pen knife (for sharpening charcoal)
- Pencil sharpener
All assignments must be submitted through the Blackboard System for evaluation.
To expedite responses to questions, contact the instructor via e-mail.
Note: Throughout these lessons, you will need to pause and rewind the video download often. You may draw from the objects on the screen by pausing on the photo, or you may choose your own similar objects from which to draw. If you choose your own, please remember to photograph them and submit along with your finished drawing. It is helpful to sit and watch the complete video download from start to finish firstly before you begin this course.
Course Syllabus
Session 1 – Introduction to Drawing with Pencil
a) Experimenting with Pencil
Watch (0:00 to 02:30 mins) Jill’s introduction and experiments with her pencil in making marks on the paper.
b) Contour Drawing and Crosshatching for Shading
Watch the video download (02.30 to 06:45) demonstration that Jill does of drawing a pear and a tomato.
c) Drawing a Vase using the Measuring Method
Watch the video download demonstration (6:46 to 12:47 mins) of Jill drawing a vase, using the “measuring” method.
Begin your own drawing. You will need to compare one part of the object to another, using your pencil to help you measure, just as Jill does.
d) Using the “Block-in” Method, Lines, and Angles to Construct Your Drawing
Watch the video download demonstration (12:48 to 19:50 mins) of Jill drawing the still life (group of vegetables). Pause the video download at the photo of the vegetable still life.
Begin your own drawing. Try to visualize the complete group of vegetables within a rectangular shape. While keeping your eye on the subject, lightly pencil in these “rough” working lines just as Jill did.
Continue until you have all the vegetable outlines marked in roughly and lightly, before you begin any shading.
Once your main shapes are in place you may begin shading your vegetables.
Homework Assignment:
Refer to the instructions in a) above and complete the practice exercise. There is no need to submit this practice exercise for evaluation as it is designed to familiarize you with using your pencil.
Refer to the instructions in b) above and complete the drawing of the pear and the tomato. Submit your drawings via Blackboard for evaluation.
Refer to the instructions in c) above and complete the drawing of the vase. Please note there is no need to shade this drawing as the lesson is aimed at familiarizing you with beginning a drawing using the “measuring” method. Submit your drawing via Blackboard for evaluation.
Refer to the instructions in d) above and complete the drawing of the still life (group of vegetables) and submit via Blackboard for evaluation.
Watch the video download demonstration (19:50 to 23:45 mins) of drawing an ivy plant using “negative shapes” (the spaces between things).
Now begin your own drawing. You may use the ivy plant on the video download screen to draw from.
Once you have checked the “negative shapes” for accuracy, you can begin “shading” them with a light tonal value.
Remember using “negative shapes” is just one of the methods we can use to aid accuracy, just as we used “block-in,” lines, measurement, and angles in Week 1.
Usually drawing in a realistic manner consists of the conjunction of several methods combined to help you achieve accuracy.
Homework Assignment:
Refer to Session 2 instructions above and complete the drawing of the ivy plant using the “negative shape” method. Submit your drawing via Blackboard for evaluation.
Session 3 – Introduction to Charcoal and Ink Pen & Learning to Compose with Thumbnail Sketches
a) Charcoal Drawing – Textures
Watch the video download demonstration (23.50 to 30:37 mins) of Jill’s drawing of a log. Pause the video download where you can see the log and begin your own drawing. This time you will be using charcoal.
b) Nib Pen and Ink or Fine Line Marker to Draw a Pinecone
Watch the demonstration (30:40 – 34:40 mins) of an ink drawing of a pinecone.
c) Learning to Arrange a Still Life and Using ‘Thumbnails” to Decide on a Suitable Composition
Watch the video download (35:00 to 39.20 mins) of Jill’s demonstration on arranging a still life. This time the instructor would like you to find your own group of 3 or 4 objects.
Photograph or scan these small drawings and submit them to the instructor so she can evaluate them and help you choose the best composition from which you will complete a finished drawing in Session 4.
Homework Assignment:
Refer to instructions in a) above. Complete the drawing of the log using charcoal and submit via Blackboard for evaluation.
Refer to instructions in b) above. Complete the drawing of the pinecone using a nib and ink or a fine line black marker, and submit via Blackboard for evaluation.
Refer to instructions in c) above. Complete three “thumbnail” sketches (on one sheet of paper). Photograph or scan all 3 drawings and submit via Blackboard for evaluation. The instructor will look at your 3 sketches and let you know which one she thinks is the best composition and why. You will work from the chosen composition (arrangement of objects) in Session 4, where you will complete your final drawing.
Watch the video download demonstration (39.20 to 46.55 mins) of Jill drawing a group of objects that she has arranged into a composition and pause the video download.
Remember:
- Begin with very light “sketchy” lines
- Use the “block-in” method to establish the overall composition on your page
- Use the “measuring” method to help you begin drawing the objects
- Check the angles of lines on the edge of objects
- Check the accuracy of drawing by focusing on “negative shapes” (the shapes in between objects)
- Squint your eyes often to see the different tonal values (light and shade)
Homework Assignment:
Refer to Session 4 instructions above. Complete your drawing of a group of still life objects including shading. Submit via Blackboard for evaluation.
Well done – you have completed Learning to Draw from the Very Beginning.
Enjoy the journey!