Beginning Drawing

Drawing can be a fun way to creatively explore the world. It is also fundamental to painting, printmaking, and other art and craft practices. This class focuses on beginning to draw using line, introducing helpful concepts and basic practices to help students learn how to draw accurately from observation. Patient repetition of a few clearly described steps will build eye-hand coordination and the mind-body connection central to drawing, art making, and other creative processes.

In this class we ‘start from the ground up,’ learning about the graphite drawing materials we will be using and building awareness of their expressive potential, while learning to draw accurately from observation. Concepts such as differentiation of drawing languages will help clarify the drawing process. Our discussion will include ways to prevent ‘getting stuck’ (and ‘getting un-stuck’ if you do get stuck), addressing past or future concerns that can play a role in learning. We will also discuss optional skill building exercises to do outside of class and after the class is over to further your drawing practice.

The process-oriented approach offered in this class considers a calm, patient approach to learning and the creative process. Building this connection takes time and steady application but can lead to experience of flow state in which time and distractions disappear, while also building toward making images that you want to make.

If you are eager to try out an art process for the first time drawing can be a good starting point, and for those who already have some art-making experience refreshing or adding to your drawing skill set can help you take your artwork further. As such, this class may be useful for students with either modest or ambitious aspirations for making artwork, and who possess any degree of past art making experience.

SUPPLIES: The following supplies or their equivalent are recommended for this class. If you have questions or concerns about purchasing supplies, please let us know prior to the class start.

Note: Bloomington Fine Art Supply, a local, independent art store located at 207 S. Rogers Street near the corner of 4th and Rogers Streets, has a copy of this supply list and is a recommended resource for supplies for this class. Bloomington Fine Art Supply’s website is bfasupply.com, their phone number is 812-369-4013, and their email is bfa.supply@gmail.com.

Required
- Graphite art pencils: 6B, 4B, 2B – brands other than Faber Castell preferred (Faber Castell pencils are of good quality but are relatively harder than other brands)
- 18”x24” Strathmore 400 Series drawing pad, or other 18”x24” drawing or sketch pad (not newsprint)
- Snap blade cutter (if you already have a sharp box cutter or utility knife that will work)
- Kneaded eraser
- Pink eraser

Optional
- Drawing board with clips and large rubber band approx. 20”x26” (This is useful for drawing on the 18”x24” pad at home. Drawing boards and clips will be available for use in class.)
- Sketchbook - 9”x12” suggested. We will discuss selecting and using a sketchbook on the first day.
- Mechanical pencil style eraser – Tombow Mono round or rectangular
- Vinyl Eraser