Developing a Drawing Practice

There are numerous ways to draw: our daily movements can be traced in lines, and our repetitive tasks leave marks. Walking, folding, pulling, and dragging are all forms of drawing. Yet, drawing as an art practice can sometimes feel out of reach. This workshop is about untangling the “I can’t draw” stigmas and replacing them with low-stakes exercises and approachable ways to begin.

Each week, students will engage in a variety of independent and collaborative prompts, techniques, and approaches to drawing, focusing on what holds our attention and keeps us curious. Week one will focus on simplifying shapes, exploring positive and negative space, and experimenting with mark making to introduce students to the fundamentals of drawing. Week two, the focus will shift to contour line drawing and the practice of capturing form with flowing, continuous lines. In week three, students will explore value, depth, and contrast, learning how to use shading techniques to create dimension and bring drawings to life. And in the final week, we’ll put everything together! With a focus on composition, Elizabeth will offer prompts to help students combine techniques to create finished drawings.

Throughout this series, you'll draw from your senses, different vantage points, and use additive and subtractive methods to create images and compositions using pens, pencils, and erasers on various types of paper. Leave with renewed excitement for drawing, a beginner’s-mind approach, and strategies to continue deepening your practice!

For more drawing with Elizabeth, check out her 1-day workshop, Drawing: How to Start