Developing Classic Skills of Observational Drawing

Fundamentals: Learn to See and Practice Drawing Basic Shapes. Introduction of various drawing materials. Plus, introduction of 20-25 art terms.  Observational drawing is drawing from sight, looking at subject matter and drawing a likeness. We will practice looking at and drawing three-dimensional forms on the two-dimensional surface. Learn about the physical relationship of eyes, hands, space, distance, depth perception, posture, and practice, along with the process of personal interpretation and style development.

This is not copying from a two-dimensional surface to another two-dimensional surface. This is not a course in copying the instructor. The long-term goal is artistic independence, spontaneity, and fluency. Develop confidence in drawing from sight.

This class is open to adults and high school students serious about drawing.

Methods: Learn basic shapes. Demonstrations. Examples. Overview, materials, in-class work and practice ideas between classes. Slow draw, quick draw. Tiny, giant. Looking at your drawings.

Out of class practice will include finding, seeing, and drawing basic shapes. Handouts, video resources.

9:30-noon Saturdays, March 9-29: This four-session course will focus on seeing and drawing the basic shapes of spheres, ovals, cylinders, cones, rectangular shapes, and cubes and developing perspective. 

Two of my favorite drawing books for classic skills are old books: 

Freehand Drawing Self-Taught, 1933, Arthur L. Guptill

The Joy of Drawing, 1959, Gerhard Gollwitzer, translated from German

Lesson 1 (March 8): Course Overview and Spheres

Examples of basic shapes in artwork. Basic info, drawing a simple sphere, spheres in nature and the built environment. Hemisphere. Ellipses. Handout. Finding spheres. Oval forms. Line quality. Posture.

Lesson 2 (March 15): Cylinders and cones

How to draw cylinders and cones. Cylinders and cones in nature and the built environment. Using pencil as a plumb line. Concept of format. Viewfinder. Perspective. Eye level. Handout. Finding cylinders and cones, indoors and out of doors.

Lesson 3 (March 22): Cubes and rectangular shapes

How to draw cubes and rectangular shapes. Point of view. Eye level. Concept of vanishing point. Pyramid. Handout. Finding cubes and rectangular shapes and vanishing points.

Lesson 4 (March 29): Combining Basic Shapes

Ways of achieving perspective. Formatting, tabletop still life, depth, overlapping. Tiny, giant. Grouping objects. Overview of terminology and ways of achieving perspective.

Review, closure. New insights about drawing and what you would like to do with these skills.

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Sandra’s career was teaching art to teens and adults. She is an Idaho Vandal and has a master’s degree and a PhD in Art Education from the University of Oregon.

Sandra grew up in Headquarters and Orofino and enjoys walking out of doors, observing nature, drawing and watercolor, working in mixed media, reading, gardening, homemaking, and spending time with family and friends. 

A challenge for 2025: learn how to play bridge!

These five examples start with drawing from sight using basic shapes. The materials used are pencils, pens, black and grey washes, and/or watercolors: Before the Pie 12” x 9” (above), In the Kitchen 6” x 8 ½”, Waiting at Hanson’s Garage 4” x 6”, The Pantry 16” x 20”, Hallway at the Mystic Café 5 ½” x 8 ½”

Please RSVP for this class with the form below. The class is free and you will also have an option to make a donation to support continued free arts programming for Kamiah and beyond. You can bypass this option by hitting “Continue”. The system treats the RSVP and contact info as separate things so you will need to enter that twice. You will be able to put in the names of everyone in your group and you will also receive email confirmation of your registration and event reminders. We look forward to seeing you in the studio!
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