The focus of this course is on learning to look in ways that will help you to relate your drawing more precisely to what you actually see, as opposed to ideas or assumptions about how things look. Through a series of short exercises, you will build step-by-step your experience and ability in relating ways of looking to various aspects of drawing. These will involve approaching drawing through the three basic elements of line, shape and tone. There will also be longer exercises, giving the opportunity to put the ideas taught into practice at more length and begin to put them together into more complete drawings.
Course aim
This course provides a basic introduction to drawing from observation through a series of drawing exercises aimed at developing the ability to relate seeing to drawing and focussing on three elements - line, shape and tone.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Approach drawing any subject with a clearer understanding of how to relate looking to drawing.
- Make use of line, shape and tone in drawing from observation.
- Make use of 'negative space' in composing drawings from observation.
- Use a range of pencils to create a variety of tones in my drawings.
- Make use of tone to represent light and shade in drawings.
What else do I need to know?
You will need a supply of A4 and preferably also some A3 cartridge paper, either in sketchbooks or loose sheets. You will need a range of pencils of varying grades. A suitable range would be something like 4H, 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B. You will need some charcoal sticks about 5mm thick.
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