This course, open to everyone from total beginners to those with some experience, is all about the fun of drawing faces. It’s a social and interactive short course designed to help you build confidence and find your artistic voice in an encouraging, low-pressure atmosphere. You’ll get hands-on with the fundamental proportions of the face and head, seeing them from the front, side, and three-quarters view so you can accurately bring them to life. We’ll explore how different drawing materials can enhance a portrait, emphasizing its unique visual and emotional qualities with line and shade.

Over the span of four weeks, you’ll sharpen your observational drawing skills from life as well as pick up practical tips for drawing from photos. We’ll share cool insights into portraiture by looking at stories from famous artists and their sitters and learn from historical and contemporary artists’ drawings. Through individual practice as well as collaborative, game-like activities, the studio setting will offer a safe, structured, and respectful space for you to connect and grow creatively.

• Learn the basic proportions of the face and head from different angles (front, side, three-quarters).
• Discover how to use various drawing media to enhance the look and feel of a face.
• Improve your observational drawing skills that can be applied to anything you draw.
• Get practical tips for drawing from photos and sketching in public.
• Create portraits both individually (like self-portraits) and through fun group activities.
• Develop an appreciation for the expressive qualities of portrait drawing.

• A sketchbook (at least 7 x 10” or larger, with a minimum of 60 sheets of paper). Look for white paper with a slightly rough texture or ‘tooth’ that is not too thin – at least 60lbs.
• 2B pencil
• Pencil sharpener and something to catch the sharpenings
• White eraser
• Kneaded eraser
• A few sticks of willow charcoal

Nice to have but not essential:

• Variety of pencils, such as H or F and 4B
• A pen, whether a fine pen with permanent ink such as Sakura Pigma Micron .05 OR a pen with watersoluble ink, OR even a ballpoint
• Any other drawing materials you already own and enjoy using