Drawing Beyond Basics

“Drawing Beyond Basics” is a six-week course designed for students who have completed a beginner level drawing course or have equivalent experience and are ready to refine their skills and explore new approaches to drawing. With Rose Montgomery-Whicher’s guidance, you will build on your foundational knowledge of drawing using graphite, charcoal, and ink. Topics will include how to assess proportions and angles, how to use a viewfinder, how to show light and shadow in different media, and how to use drawing as preparation for a painting.

Each class will focus on the use of one drawing material, using engaging drawing exercises to enhance your ability to perceive and depict what you see with greater accuracy and confidence. This term, one class will be held outdoors in the grounds of Wychwood Barns, giving you the opportunity to practice plein-air sketching. By the end of the course, you will have improved your skills of observational drawing and discovered exciting ways to develop your drawing practice in a supportive and dynamic learning environment.

Refine Drawing Techniques: Enhance proficiency in mark-making techniques, the depiction of volume and depth, the use of a viewfinder to compose pictures.

Improve Observational Skills: Develop skills for proportional measuring to translate complex scenes onto paper with greater precision.

Expand Media Proficiency: Experiment with a variety of wet and dry drawing media, understanding their properties and applications.

Enhance Problem-solving Skills: Improve the ability to troubleshoot and learn from artistic challenges, transforming “mistakes” into opportunities for growth.

Build Artistic Confidence: Strengthen confidence in drawing abilities, overcome creative blocks, and foster a positive, pro-active approach to art-making.

Sketchbook: Strathmore Visual Journal for Mixed Media (cotton paper), 9×12” or an equivalent Mixed Media sketchbook that is at least 9×12” and has heavy paper (90 lbs or more) suitable for both wet and dry media. Alternatively you could use a sketchbook suitable for drawing with dry media, and some watercolour paper (90 or 140 lbs) for ink.
Pencil sharpener and something to catch the sharpenings
White eraser
Kneaded eraser
Very fine pen with permanent black ink, such as Sakura Pigma Micron or Staedtler Pigment Liner 03 or 05 or an Extra-Fine Sharpie.
A variety of “B” (soft) pencils. Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencils are especially nice. Or Faber-Castell 9000.
Willow charcoal-round sticks, about 4 inches long
India ink, a small bottle
A metal jar lid or low tin (to pour a small amount of ink into)
Some twigs gathered outdoors of varying widths (to draw with)
Containers for water
Rags OR paper towels
A Chinese calligraphy brush OR a round (6 or 8 size) brush that you already have and don’t mind staining with black ink.