CSP-AVO8558 - Basic Drawing Techniques

Course Description

Learn to see and draw accurately through structured, professional instruction. This course builds real observational and rendering skills using graphite as your primary medium. You'll move from basic line control to fully rendered still life compositions, mastering continuous tone techniques that produce smooth, professional results.

No prior drawing experience required. Adults are taken seriously as serious learners—this is foundational training, not a hobby class.

Course Outline

What You'll Learn
•Observational Drawing — Train your eye to see accurately, not symbolically
• Form Construction — Build three-dimensional forms with confidence
• Continuous Tone Rendering — Create smooth value transitions through layering (no smudging shortcuts)
• Light Logic — Understand and apply highlight, shadow, and reflected light
• Mark-Making Techniques — Scumbling, stippling, hatching, cross-hatching for surface description
• Texture Translation — Observe and render real surfaces accurately
• Compositional Planning — Use thumbnails, viewfinders, and visual principles to plan strong drawings By the end of this course, you'll complete a fully resolved still life drawing that demonstrates professional technique and observational accuracy.

Learner Outcomes

What You'll Learn

• Observational Drawing — Train your eye to see accurately, not symbolically
• Form Construction — Build three-dimensional forms with confidence
• Continuous Tone Rendering — Create smooth value transitions through layering (no smudging shortcuts)
• Light Logic — Understand and apply highlight, shadow, and reflected light
• Mark-Making Techniques — Scumbling, stippling, hatching, cross-hatching for surface description
• Texture Translation — Observe and render real surfaces accurately
• Compositional Planning — Use thumbnails, viewfinders, and visual principles to plan strong drawings

By the end of this course, you'll complete a fully resolved still life drawing that demonstrates professional technique and observational accuracy.

Final Project

Students create a fully rendered graphite still life demonstrating all learned skills. You'll choose your own subject based on personal interest or visual challenge—no generic fruit bowls required. Options include personal narrative objects, cultural items, botanical studies, tool renderings, or dramatic close-up compositions.

Final work submitted via email after the course ends, along with written self-reflection on your process and growth.

Notes

Who This Course Is For:

• Adults ready to learn foundational drawing skills properly
• Students interested in botanical illustration, observational art, or technical rendering
• Anyone frustrated with past attempts at "learning to draw" from shortcuts or guesswork
• Students preparing for Intermediate Drawing or advanced art study

• This course requires patience, practice, and consistent effort. If you're looking for quick tricks or casual doodling, this isn't the right fit. If you want real skill development, you're in the right place.

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  Required Materials

  Students must bring the following materials to class:

  Graphite Pencils:

• 2H
• HB
• 2B
• 4B
• 6B

• Paper:

• Strathmore 400 Series Drawing Pad (any size you prefer, 9x12 or larger recommended)
• Sketchbook for warm-ups and practice

• Erasers:

• Kneaded eraser
• Vinyl eraser
• Tombow Mono Zero eraser (precision eraser)

• Other:

• Pencil sharpener (handheld or electric)
• Tortillon/blending stump (introduced Week 5)

• Materials available at local art supply stores or online retailers (Blick, Jerry's Artarama, Amazon).

  of registration in case there is a need for pre-class contact by instructor.