Life Drawing Sketchbook Short Course
Course description
Course overview
Life Drawing Sketchbook is a short course ideal for both beginners and learners with more experience looking to develop their figure drawing skills. Working from a diverse range of experienced live models, you’ll experiment with traditional and experimental drawing techniques, such as gesture, proportion, foreshortening, light, and structure directly in your sketchbook.
The techniques you learn in the studio will be directly applicable to drawing at home, in public, and in motion, helping you to build a sustainable and long-term sketchbook practice. This course supports both technical observational studies and intuitive, embodied responses, allowing you to explore and develop your personal approach to the human form.
The combined traditional and experimental hybrid delivery in sketchbook format has proved successful in helping artists develop their skills in and out of the classroom. You are encouraged to work between sessions to refine your skills, focus on personal goals, and make the most of your time in the studio.
Classroom discussions and sharing work are a vibrant feature of this course and present an opportunity to gain feedback on your drawings from a wide range of perspectives. Beginners will have the chance to learn from more experienced learners, while all participants gain confidence by sharing their knowledge, perceptions, and individual skillsets. This collaborative environment fosters experimentation, reflection, and creative problem-solving, while building connections within a supportive artistic community.
This course is available in two formats: a 5-week evening course or a 2-day course.
Who this course is for
This course is suitable for anyone interested in figure drawing, whether you’re trying it for the first time, revisiting the foundations of life drawing, or refining an existing practice.
Beginners will develop the skills to draw from live models, while intermediate and advanced learners will explore more experimental approaches, learn from peers, and strengthen their decision-making in drawing. All learners benefit from working in a collaborative, supportive environment where feedback, discussion, and shared learning are central.
No prior experience is necessary.
Key information
Topics covered
- Observing and mapping the human body
- Gesture, movement, and proportion
- Foreshortening and spatial relationships
- Light, tone, and structure
- Traditional dry media techniques (charcoal, pencil, pastel, conte)
- Experimental and embodied drawing approaches
- Using colour in life drawing
- The body in relation to interior space
- Developing and sustaining a sketchbook practice
- Individual and collaborative drawing exercises
- Classroom discussion and reflective feedback
- How to use a sketchbook
Learning outcomes
- Draw from live models using a variety of traditional and experimental techniques
- Use your sketchbook as a tool for reflection, experimentation, and sustained creative practice in the studio, at home, and in public
- Apply observational and intuitive approaches to gesture, proportion, foreshortening, light, and structure
- Engage in classroom discussions and sharing of work to gain feedback and learn from peers
- Strengthen creative decision-making and problem-solving in your personal drawing practice
- Build connections within a supportive community of artists and continue drawing independently beyond the course
- Digital badge and certificate of attendance
Materials
All materials will be provided, however, please feel free to bring any materials you like to work with such as:
- Charcoal, compressed charcoal, pencils, conte crayons, soft pastels
- Sketchbooks: A3 and A4
- Sugar paper: A3 and A4, mid-tone (grey, buff) and other colours
- Erasers, sharpeners, biros, felt tip pens, masking tape
Book a course
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