Many young artists struggle to make their drawings or paintings look more realistic because they don’t understand how to create the illusion of three dimensional forms in space. They attempt realism without knowing the importance of consistent eye level, for example. 

Learning to draw basic 3D shapes will help evolve drawings from flat to more realistic looking, the way we would observe them in life. Everything we view in our world can be simplified into basic 3D shapes. Understanding and practising how to observe and draw them will free young artists to create worlds from their imagination (characters and scenes) that look more real. 

This course will explore a different shape each week. Students will also be drawing a variety of found objects from their home environment, like a coffee mug for example. Academic in content, these drawing exercises will also include story telling and conceptual scenes. 

No prior drawing experience needed. The primary focus will be accurate proportions, eye level and where/how to apply tone. 

Having actual 3D shapes on hand will be essential; these can be purchased geometric shapes or household items like a Rubik’s cube, sugar cube, small box, etc. Students can also make them from paper templates found online, or use modeling clay. 

Use of vanishing points will be introduced, both 1 point and 2 point perspective. We may expand on linear perspective to help understand creating the illusion of 3D drawings.

Each week does not build on knowledge or skills learned from a previous week. Drawing homework is encouraged (20- 30 min) to show beginning of each class for feedback.

The class routine (loosely) follows: 

Classroom Expectations and Introduction - 3-5 min
Discussion and Demonstration  - 10 min
Active drawing and social time for students - 15 min
Show work and discuss - 5 min
Q & A about this week's drawing - 5 min
Suggestions to practise, refine or expand on this week's lesson - 5 min

Repeats after 10 weeks / new exercises will be introduced for students taking it again. 

Week October 20: Cube
Week October 27: Cube extended to cuboid/rectangular prism
Week November 3: Pyramid
Week of November 10: Cone
Week of November 17: Cylinder
Week of Noveber 24: Sphere
Week of December 1: Ellipses and Ovals / expanded to apply to various objects
Week of December 8: Eye Level / expanded to a still life created by learner
Week of December 15: Draw a scene using five simple shapes
Week of December 29: Draw a simple "peg" figure (sphere and cone) in a scene.

Cancellations and refunds

Missed a class? a recording will be available for viewing after the session has been completed. Please allow time to log in early in order to give yourself time to do a technical check. While no refunds will be issued for a missed class, arrangements can be made to transfer student to another section