4 week drawing course for beginners

Ignite your creativity and learn new drawing skills.

A woman with long dark hair sitting at a table, holding a pen, with a golden cocker spaniel dog sitting beside her. The woman is dressed in a dark long-sleeve shirt and appears to be writing or drawing on a sheet of paper.

Being able to draw is very helpful for planning painting, sculpture, illustration, design, and a great tool for exploring your ideas.

This course begins with observational drawing of basic geometric forms and to observe light on those forms. We then explore perspective, drawing by the grid system and expressive drawing.

Join me in this mindful small group course.

Week 1: Observational drawing
In week 1 we learn how to draw the simple geometric shapes that all things are composed of, and:

  • Drawing materials

  • Types of drawing

  • How to simplify and draw simple forms and structures

  • Measuring and proportion

  • Line, shape and tone

  • Understanding how falls light on objects 

  • How to draw realistically

Week 2:
Perspective and composition
In this class we venture outside, weather permits, to learn about and draw building with realistic perspective. We also:

  • Discuss different types of perspective

  • Discuss and experiment with horizon lines, vanishing points and eye level

  • Construct drawings using one-point and two-point perspective

  • Learn how the illusion of depth and space on is created

  • Develop observational skills and spatial understanding so you can draw believable environments and objects

  • Discuss the Rule of Thirds and the Golden Ratio

Week 3:
Drawing people — figurative drawing and drawing using a grid
We draw and learn about:

  • Proportions for the human head and body

  • Experiment with grid drawing

  • Observing detail and tonal variation square by square

Week 4:
Expressive Drawing
In this final and very experimental class we explore the following:

  • Using different drawing materials including charcoal, brush and ink etc.

  • Experiment with the emotion of line while thinking about the weight, gesture and movement

  • Create different mark making ideas

  • Experiment with shape and emotions?

  • Create a composition combining line, marks and shape

  • Experiment with music and drawing

  • Create a new abstract composition using elements from your experiments


    Materials are provided. 
    Workshops are small, usually 4 — 6 people, to give you maximum assistance.

    $360 per person for 4 weeks
    Fridays 6 — 8pm
    Saturdays 10.30am — 12.30pm

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Person sketching a detailed drawing of a pair of eyes on a white sketchpad.
Black and white drawing of a cloudy sky over a flat landscape.
A woman drawing on a large sheet of paper with a pencil, focused on her artwork, in an art studio with shelves in the background.
Person drawing a sketch of a crowded outdoor scene with trees and a building, using a pen on paper.
An artist creating a monochrome still life painting of vases on a table, with two canvases on easels showing different stages of the same scene.
Black and white pencil sketch of a river landscape with rocks in the foreground, trees and rocks on the riverbank, and trees in the background.

  • Carol is the dream teacher: she imparts her extensive knowledge of the skills and techniques required by gently guiding her students to relax and create our own special piece. Her studio is lovely and our time together flew by. Very enjoyable and I will gladly rebook to learn as much as I can from Carol.

    Chris Prasad

  • Carol is an amazing teacher and guide and patiently took me through the three hour class. It was great talking to her and I really enjoyed working on my ceramics!

    Anu Mishra