Drawing Beyond Basics - Toronto Art Classes

About this course

“Drawing Beyond Basics” is an intensive short 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 observation 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, and how to show light and shadow in charcoal and ink.

Each class will focus on the use of one or two drawing materials, using engaging drawing exercises to enhance your ability to perceive and depict what you see with greater accuracy and confidence. You will also learn about composition and how to use drawing as preparation for painting. 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.

What you'll learn

Refine Drawing Techniques: Learn to make expressive marks to show light, shadow and volume.
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, proactive approach to art-making.

Winsor & Newton mixed media pad for wet and dry media, 9×12” or 11×14” (available at Above Ground, Amazon, Gwartzman’s) works beautifully with charcoal and ink as well as graphite. Another all-purpose drawing pad is the Strathmore ‘Visual Journal’ for Mixed Media, with cotton paper, in a 9×12” size. Alternatively, any white paper with a rough texture, or “tooth” that is at least 60 lbs, will do for graphite and charcoal. For ink, Strathmore 400 Mixed Media paper works very well. Or, you could use cold pressed watercolour paper that is at least 140 lbs, for both charcoal and 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. Faber-Castell is another good brand.
Willow charcoal
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.

Optional:

Inexpensive large paper for quick drawing exercises
A pad of Strathmore Paper for Charcoal

Your instructor

Rose Montgomery-Whicher

Ph.D. Art Education (Alberta) · Routledge Author, 2022 · Taught at University of London, Kettle's Yard & Royal Winnipeg Ballet School · Observation Drawing

Rose Montgomery-Whicher is a distinguished artist, educator, and author whose practice is centered on the meditative art of observation drawing. With a PhD in Art Education from the University of Alberta and an MA from Concordia, her teaching is deeply informed by a philosophical and historical research background. She has shared her expertise across prestigious international institutions, including the University of London, Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Through her work, she helps students of all ages find confidence and innovation while discovering the joys of the creative process. Rose is also the author of a 2022 Routledge publication exploring the phenomenology of drawing as a way of preserving fleeting, specific experiences. Based in Toronto, she balances her academic pursuits with her family and a dog with the excellent name of Tapioca.

Meet our instructors

FAQs

If you're still in doubt, don't hesitate to contact us: contactus@avenueroadartsschool.com

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