The Fundamentals of Drawing
with Sophie Newnham
This course introduces and develops essential drawing skills through a series of focused projects. Students will explore the fundamentals of observation, proportion, tone, and composition while working from still life, portrait, and landscape subjects. Using a range of materials including pencil, inks, charcoal, chalk, and pastels, participants will learn how to create depth, texture, and expressive form in their drawings. The course encourages both technical development and personal interpretation, building confidence through guided exercises and completed studies.
Beginners to Intermediate
Course Dates Spring Term
Wednesdays 9:45-12:15pm
7, 14, 21, 28 January
4, 11 February
(Half term 18 February)
25 February
4, 11, 18, 25 March
1 April
Course Programme
Module 1: Still Life (Weeks 1–4)
Focus: Observation, composition, and understanding form through still life arrangements.
Materials: Sketchbooks, graphite, inks, coloured pencils and oil pastels.
Week 1: Introduction to observation - capturing shape and proportion.
Week 2: Building volume through tone - shading techniques in pencil to give form and depth to natural forms.
Week 3: Exploring composition - arranging objects within a still life; understanding balance, focal points, adding colour- tints, chroma and shades.
Week 4: Negative space and relationships between forms- developing a finished still life composition using mixed media.
Students will develop skills in observation, proportion, volume, and composition, learning to see and represent objects in space with accuracy and expression. We will learn how to build tone and start to introduce colour.
Module 2: Portraits (Weeks 5–8)
Focus: Studying the human face and expression through tonal work and structure.
Materials: Sketchbooks, charcoal, chalk, graphite pencils, mid toned paper, fixative.
Week 5: Basic head structure - proportions and planes of the face.
Week 6: Features in detail, eyes, nose, mouth, and ears; studying light and shadow on the face.
Week 7: Tone and emotion - exploring character and expression through light and contrast.
Week 8: Developing a full portrait, combining all techniques in a finished study using charcoal and chalk.
Students will gain an understanding of facial proportions, tonal value,
and expressive mark-making in portrait drawing.
Module 3: Landscapes (Weeks 9–12)
Focus: Interpreting natural and urban environments through perspective, texture, and atmosphere.
Materials: Sketchbooks, graphite pencil, pastels, ink washes, and ink pens.
Week 9: Introduction to landscape composition. Finding the horizon line, perspective, and spatial depth.
Week 10: Texture and surface - rendering trees, rocks, water, and clouds using varied media.
Week 11: Light and atmosphere -capturing different times of day and weather effects.
Week 12: Final landscape composition- combining materials and techniques to create a completed drawing.
Students will learn to translate outdoor scenes into effective drawings, exploring perspective, texture, and tonal harmony.
Fundamentals of Drawing: Recommended Materials
A few links for recommended materials are given below but anything similar would be fine.
Good quality drawing paper- according to preference, smooth/ grain.
A set of graded pencils, H’s to B’s
Ink pens
Tortillons/ stumps
A soft eraser
Masking tape
Ruler
N.B. Drawing boards and clips will be provided.
Spiral sketchpad, drawing paper:
https://www.cassart.co.uk/Fabriano-1264-Spiral-Bound-Drawing-Pad-50-Sheets-180gsm-A4/
Set of pencils- Hs to Bs
https://www.cassart.co.uk/faber-castell-9000-pencil-art-set-of-12--c/
Tortillons/ paper stumps
https://www.cassart.co.uk/loxley-paper-stump-tortillion-assorted-set-of-5--c/
Eraser (soft)
https://www.cassart.co.uk/cretacolor-monolith-eraser/
Sandpaper-
Charcoal
https://www.jacksonsart.com/nitram-academie-fusains-square-stick-charcoal-pack-of-5-hb
Fine-liners 0.3, 0.5
https://www.cassart.co.uk/staedtler-pigment-liners/
Fixative