Visual arts. Unleash your inner artist and see the world in a whole new way.

This introductory drawing course covers the basics of drawing techniques through a practical study of form, shading, colour and perspective. You'll gain the skills needed to produce a lovely landscape, still life, figure drawing and more. Fun and relaxing, this drawing course for beginners is accessible to anyone wanting to explore their creative potential.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• recognise the nuances of subtle pencil shading
• identify where light is seen in drawing every subject
• see and relate to drawing form in its many guises
• demonstrate confidence in the knowledge that you are now able to draw almost any subject.

Content

Day 1

• Drawing basic shapes
• Using shading
• Drawing from an assembled still life
• Drawing subjects such as flora and fauna
• Drawing animals and birds

Feel free to bring along your own botanical subject from your garden or balcony, and/or any pictures of your favourite pet or animal.

Day 2

Drawing with perspective

Please being along a photograph of a street at your favourite holiday destination, or an image of an interesting building. You'll be amazed at the results!

Drawing people and portraits

We'll discuss the rules of proportion of the human body and begin to look at features of the face. We will end with a complete portrait study from a photo of your choice.

Life drawing

Fun with drawing a number of volunteer models from our group, including your facilitator! Poses will be for 10 minutes at a time, fully clothed of course!

Intended audience

Suitable for anyone new to art, or with some previous experience. Everyone will begin to learn on the same footing – from the fundamentals.

Delivery style

• Face-to-face workshop on University premises.
• Delivered over two weekly, 5-hour sessions.

Materials

Please bring along the following materials to the first class:

• drawing pads (A3 size)
• a range of pencils: HB, 2B 4B, 6B and a pencil sharpener
• white Staedtler erasers
• photographs to use as subject matter.

Ideas for photographs include:

• a sample of plants or flowers (real or photographed)
• animals, birds, or favourite pets
• buildings, streetscapes, favourite holiday destinations - anything that shows a building in perspective
• people, family members or ancestors.

Additional materials/other media will be discussed on the first day.