Languages for All
Short Courses
Help
Your basket
Your account
Drawing and Painting

Beginners Drawing (Online)

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

This course offers a basic introduction to the language and grammar of drawing from direct observation, and a starting point for students with little or no experience. Students will be encouraged to engage in activities designed to guide them through approaches and processes - ways to look and record - using line, tone, colour and a range of drawing techniques to build composition. Over the 10 weeks:  Working from objects found in and around the home, the local environment, and from students’ own collected visual ideas, participants will build confidence in the uses of materials and techniques ‘step-by-step.’  Students will begin to move toward making more imaginative and distinctive images underpinned by a formal understanding of visual enquiry.

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

Special Information

Materials you will need to bring to the first class:

  • Sketch pad and/or collected papers and card

  • Graphite pencils (HB, 2B and/or 4B)

  • Willow stick charcoal

  • Putty rubber and a pencil eraser

  • Scissors (if possible)

  • Protective clothes

In addition to the course fee, students are expected to provide the following list of indicative tools, materials and equipment:

  • Sketch pad (not too small or find small and large)

  • And/or white cartridge paper (if desired)

  • Mid tone blue-grey/green-grey sugar or pastel paper or brown wrapping type (A1 or A2 if possible with potential to be cut smaller)

  • Various found papers and card

  • Graphite Pencils (HB, 2B or wider range if possible and desired)

  • Willow stick charcoal (medium)

  • Soft pastels (Inscribe recommended – 24 or 36 or 48 half sticks of assorted colours)

  • Putty rubber (Daler Rowney recommended) and a pencil eraser

  • Masking tape

  • Spray fixative (a cheap no perfume hairspray is a good alternative)

  • Scissors (if desired)

  • Protective clothes

Content of Course

1. Welcome to course and cohort introductions. Familiarisation and exploration of drawing media focusing on the representational and expressive qualities of line and the process of mark making (part 1).

2. Familiarisation and exploration of drawing media focusing on the representational and expressive qualities of line and the process of mark making (part 2). Negative space and its relationship to positive form will be explored.

3. Achromatic drawing - tonal value and its relationship to three dimensions will be discussed and demonstrated.

4. Monochromatic drawing – limited colour in drawing with attention on building interest and focus in a composition will be looked at and investigated.

5. Colour theory will be discussed and its use to create mood and dynamic compositions explored in full colour drawing.

6. Practice week. Half way through course discussion / review. Introduction to ink drawing.

7. An introduction to the basics of perspective and its importance in creating ‘believable space’ will be demonstrated and explored.

8. Familiarisation and exploration of drawing techniques and media with discussion regarding researching creatively subjects personal to the student with the intention to develop individual drawing compositions.

9. Development of individual drawing compositions.

10. Resolving compositions and/or developing ideas for further compositions.

Teaching method(s)

Teaching will be fully online. Students will need an up-to-date web browser, microphone (ideally head set), webcam and strong Internet connection.

 

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate basic drawing skills with increased confidence.

  • Identify appropriate materials and techniques of drawing.

  • Apply a range of techniques and approaches for making original drawings.

Sources

Core Readings

Web Sources

Class Handouts

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.