CSP-AVO8559 - Intermediate Drawing

Course Description

This Advanced Drawing course builds upon the fundamentals of Beginning Drawing. Students will continue to refine their graphite skills with an emphasis on painterly rendering techniques. The course also introduces pen and ink as a complementary medium, exploring expressive line, stippling, cross-hatching, texture studies, and the integration of graphite and ink. By the end of the 8 weeks, students will complete a final project of their choosing, demonstrating strong design, composition, and technical control.

Course Outline

Week 1 – Tracing Paper Layering

Students learn to refine drawings through multiple stages (construction → refinement → final rendering) using tracing paper. Emphasis on accuracy, editing, and planning before committing to final work.

Week 2 – Edge Control

Introduction to hard, soft, and lost edges. Students practice transitions across forms to create depth and painterly graphite effects.

Week 3 – Focal Point

Selective detail and shading. Students emphasize the focal subject with the most refinement and shading, while background elements are simplified with less detail and value.

Week 4 – Pen & Ink: Expressive Line

Introduction to pen types. Students build confidence through line exercises and expressive mark-making. Focus on variation in line weight, direction, and rhythm.

Week 5 – Pen & Ink: Stippling and Cross-Hatching

Introduction to value in ink. Students practice stippling and cross-hatching through value scales, then apply techniques to organic (leaf, fruit) and man-made (cup, tool) objects with tracing paper planning.

Week 6 – Pen & Ink: Mixed Media with Graphite

Students compare and combine graphite and ink. Exercises explore strengths and limitations of each medium, and how they may be layered together for expressive results.

Week 7 – Pen & Ink: Texture Studies

Students explore texture variety (wood, stone, fabric, metal, hair/fur, foliage) using pen techniques. Homework: Create a 1x1 inch texture grid (9–12 boxes), each box showing a different surface in pen & ink.

Week 8 – Final Project (Student Choice)

Students complete a final composition in graphite, pen & ink, or mixed. Must demonstrate planning with tracing paper, strong composition, focal point control, and consistent value management. Final critique and presentation included.

Learner Outcomes

Focus will be on building on Beginning Drawing fundamentals to develop painterly graphite skills, introduce pen and ink, and allow students to explore final compositions with independence.

By the end of the 8 weeks, students will complete a final project of their choosing, demonstrating strong design, composition, and technical control.

Notes

Supply list:

• Strathmore 400 Series Bristol Vellum (9x12)

• Graphite pencils: 4H, 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B

• Kneaded eraser

• Vinyl eraser

• Tombow Mono Zero eraser

• Pencil sharpener (hand-held or mechanical)

• Tracing paper pad (9x12)

• Graphite transfer paper

Note: Students will need a set of pens for Weeks 4–7. In Week 4, we will introduce and test several types of pens in class. After this session, students will be asked to purchase their preferred pens to continue the pen and ink portion of the course. This ensures each student can make an informed choice about which tools suit their style and comfort.

Pen options we will go over in class:

• Micron pens (disposable)

• Copic Multiliners (refillable)

• Fountain pens such as Lamy Safari or Kaweko

• Noodler’s ink (for fountain or dip pens)

• Dip pen and nibs (traditional option)