(Fall24) ​Drawing Essentials

Drawing Essentials with M Colleen Harrigan
Day: Saturdays
Dates: Session 1: March 11, (no 18), 25, April 1, 8  // Session 2: November 2, 9, 16, 23
Time: 10:00AM-1:00PM
Location: Art Barn Drawing Studio
Fee: $240 for the 4 week course

This is a beginning course in drawing designed to develop and expand one's observational abilities and rendering skills. Students learn methods for sensitively describing objects in terms of line, shape, volume, cross-contour, proportion, light logic, perspective, and compositional space. Each class focuses on a particular formal concept and its function in drawing. Students begin with line drawings and conclude with fully modeled, tonal, volumetric, and still-life drawings. Also covered are fundamentals of pictorial space structure, aesthetics, content, and draftsmanship using still-life and natural forms. The course progresses from basic line drawings to fully modeled, tonal, volumetric, and still-life drawings using pencils, pens, and charcoal. Beginner friendly!

Class 1: Foundations of Drawing (3 hours)

• Introduction to the course, materials, and expectations.
• Significance of line in drawing.
• Hands-on exercises with pencils and sketchbooks.
• Homework assignment: Sketch an object using only lines.

Class 2: Exploring Shapes and Forms (3 hours)

• Importance of shapes and forms in drawing.
• Shape analysis and identification in still-life arrangements.
• Practical exercises emphasizing shapes and proportions.
• Homework assignment: Create a still-life composition focusing on shapes.

Class 3: Building Volume and Cross-Contour (3 hours)

• Concept of volume in drawing.
• Exploring cross-contour lines for dynamic representation.
• Applying shading techniques with pencils and charcoal.
• Homework assignment: Produce a drawing showcasing volume and cross-contour.

Class 4: Perspective and Composition (3 hours)

• Overview of perspective in drawing.
• One-point and two-point perspective exercises.
• Applying perspective to still-life compositions.
• Final project: Create a drawing emphasizing both perspective and compositional space.

Materials Required:

• Sketchbook -spiral bound with a hard cover if possible
• Pencils (various grades if desired)
• Eraser
• Charcoal
• Pen

Learn more about Colleen here.