Learn How to Draw: Basic Drawing for Beginners

Learn the drawing fundamentals every artist should know- How to draw for beginner and intermediate artists and illustrators.

What we’ll cover in class:

• How to draw simple shapes (circles, triangles, squares, etc.)
• Breaking your subject down into shapes
• How to simplify complex curves into angles
• How to draw by looking at negative space
• Techniques for drawing
• Drawing upside down trick
• Using horizontal and vertical lines to check proportions
• How to draw forms (spheres, cubes, and cylinders)
• Breaking your subject down into forms
• Values and creating a value scale
• How to shade realistically
• How to draw with rhythms/ How to draw lyrically
• Experimenting with your drawing materials and brushes
• Ideas on how you can practice drawing
• Drawing from life example
• Drawing from a photo example
• Drawing from the masters like John Singer Sargent and Andrew Loomis
• How to make quick gesture drawings
• Ideas for drawing from your imagination
• Tips for beginner artists

Go back to the basics and learn how to draw anything with drawing techniques

About this class:

In this course, I’ll walk you through the basic fundamentals of drawing to help you build your drawing skills!

You will learn how to see your subjects as basic shapes, how to confidently place your subject on your paper with simple angles, and how to draw by observing the negative space.

I will share measuring techniques that will help you draw more accurately, exercises that will help you activate your creative right brain, and I’ll share how you can find rhythms in your subjects to create beautiful, lyrical compositions.

We’ll also go over five project ideas to help you practice the concepts taught in class. I’ll share examples of how I approach drawing from life, photos, the masters, and more. You’ll see how I apply drawing fundamentals throughout each demonstration.

This class shows examples in both traditional media (pencil and paper) and digital media (the Procreate app and iPad Pro with Apple Pencil.)

Why learn with me:

I’ve been drawing for over 20 years and I still love it as much as I did on day one! I have a passion for art, but I also have a passion for teaching art.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with many companies, including Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, XP-Pen, Huion, Ohuhu Markers, and more.

I’ve taught thousands of students how to improve their drawings and illustrations and I’d love to help you on your art journey too. Let me share with you the essential drawing techniques that have taken me years of study to figure out.

If you’ve always wanted to learn how to draw, but didn’t know where to begin, join in today to learn new ways of seeing (and drawing) the world around you.

What if I am an absolute beginner?

We’ll start with the very basics- simple shapes! Think back to kindergarten. You’ll get warmed up by drawing circles, squares, and triangles, over and over again. So don’t feel intimidated if you’re a beginner because we will start small and work from there.

I do share iPad/Procreate examples in class, but you can still apply many of the techniques with pencil and paper. In all cases, there is a traditional pencil and paper work around! I share many pencil examples too if those are the materials you have on hand though. All of these lessons are meant to be built upon. And over time, with practice and learning, you’ll get better and better. So don’t feel discouraged if you’re a beginner. This is a good class to start with to help you begin to see the world around you differently, through an artist’s lens.

What materials will I need for class?

Here are my recommended materials. Although, you can use whatever drawing medium you wish.

Drawing Materials:

• 0.3 3H Lead & 0.3 Draft-Line Pencil
• 0.5 4B Lead & 0.5 Staedtler Pencil
• Other Pencil Options: Pro-Matic MC5 or 2B Pentel Lead & 0.9 Draft-Line Pencil
• Smooth white paper is great, I like HP Premium Choice LaserJet Paper
• Kneaded Eraser
• Sakura Electric Eraser
• White Gel Pen
• Blending Stumps (I like the brand Art Alternatives)

Digital Tools:

• iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, Procreate (You can download Procreate in the App Store on your iPad)

How will this course help me in my life, personally and professionally?

Learning how to draw is a lifelong wish of many, like learning how to play the guitar, or learning how to bake a cake from scratch. As humans, we have a longing to create. So if you have ever found you have that longing to learn how to draw, it just may mean you have a passion for it. This passion will be your fuel to continue when learning has its inevitable bumps in the road. Learning to draw can bring creative fulfillment into your life that you’ve been seeking and it is a wonderful and rewarding skill that has numerous benefits.

Drawing is a great way to express yourself. Knowing how to draw allows you to create images and illustrations that convey your thoughts and emotions in a unique way. This can be especially beneficial in fields such as graphic design, advertising, and animation, where visual communication is a necessary skill to have.

Drawing can also be a relaxing and meditative activity that can help reduce stress and anxiety and bring creative fulfillment to your life. It allows you to focus your mind on a single task and immerse yourself into the process of creating something beautiful. Art can be therapeutic, helping you forget the stresses of the day.

If you want to be a professional artist one day, you have to start with the basics. This course will walk you through the very basic fundamental techniques every artist should have in their tool belt.

Learning how to draw can positively effect your life in many ways. Whether you are interested in pursuing art professionally, or if you simply want to flex your creative muscles, there is no better time to start learning than today.

How is this course taught?

This course is taught in the English language through top down view tutorials. I’ve also included screen recordings for when I am drawing on the iPad Pro using the Procreate App.

I typically teach by first sharing the overall idea/concept. After that, I’ll demonstrate the ideas through an example or tutorial. And then finally, I’ll share how you can put the ideas into action through practice. Often I will share resources and worksheets to help you solidify the information taught.

I’d love to help you on your journey of learning to draw.