Drawing Classes in Chicago, IL

Our introductory course is designed for absolute beginners. In this course students will acquire an understanding of basic concepts and begin to develop their drawing skills. We shall start at the rudimentary level by understanding the potential of the materials we’ll use, namely pencil and charcoal. We shall further study elements and principles...

One-on-one instruction, tips and guidance to improve your drawing ability. Whether you are a novice or trying to get back into drawing, this workshop will give you the studio time to draw and get better at what you love to draw! You will practice still life, landscape and portraiture. You will get tips on proportion, composition and shading,...

Turn your stick figures & doodles into artwork. It's not hard & in this class you'll get plenty of attention & encouragement. We'll introduce you to basic drawing by studying a variety of objects, styles & techniques. The skill you develop in this class will increase your ability to draw quickly, accurately & to your satisfaction....

The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Greenhouses contain many exotic plants, displayed in facsimiles of their native habitats, which students will use as subjects. Draw from life in the Greenhouses, making studies of the intricate plant structures and colors, then return to the studio to translate studies into compositions. Work in graphite leading to finished...

In this beginning figure drawing class, work with a live (clothed) model, developing foundational drawing skills with long figure poses as well as quick dynamic ones. Develop foundational skills in techniques such as line quality, texture, composition, and foreshortening, with a focus on really understanding tonal shading. Experimenting with various...

Strengthen your ability to render realistically on paper! We will work on drawing skills with pencil (graphite and colored), charcoal, and ink, with an emphasis on expressive value relationships.  Some time will also be spent drawing on toned (non-white) paper, as it has a beautiful unifying effect and speeds up the depiction of form as the middle...

Soft pastel is a unique medium that combines the qualities of drawing and painting, such that dry pigments look like velvet catching the light. Create pastels from nature, photographs or memories as you explore composition, color, light, shadow and perspective. A studio class with significant independent work. Supply List a box of soft pastel sticks...

Work with graphite and charcoal to build and hone your drawing comfort and ability. The graphite drawings will include a still life and a surrealist-inspired artwork. Later, focus on portraiture and create drawings from a photographic reference, as well as a live model. Required Materials: *All materials should be brought to class unless noted ...

Awaken your creative instincts and collaborate with a group of kindred spirits. Elevate drawing and painting skills by practicing gesture, contour drawing, color theory, and paint application on a variety of surfaces. The instructor compassionately guides you, unblocking self-imposed barriers to creativity and provides the tools to discover a renewed...

Have you always loved to draw and paint, but need the time, space and guidance in order to motivate yourself? Begin by drawing on paper and gradually move into paint on canvas. Drawing mediums will include charcoal and pencil, paints including acrylics and oils. Beginners work from still-life set ups and in-class exercises.  Basic drawing and...

See how shadow and light reveal the forms of the head and how these individual forms fit into a coordinated whole. For painting, learn to organize the major color relationships . Composition, light effects, and atmosphere will be studied to produce lively paintings and drawings. There will be one pose lasting three weeks for a thorough model study....

Children participating in this class learn how to notice objects and people in their environment and translate their impressions expressively to paper. They will experiment with pencil, charcoal, crayon and markers. All materials included in the price. Some snacks available for purchase. parents may bring their own snacks for their children.

Ideal for learning fundamental drawing skills, regardless of previous experience. Using historical and contemporary art references, weekly exercises will range from familiar subjects like still-life and landscape to exploring the realm of abstract and conceptual art working in black and white, and color. Recommended supply list: 18" x 24" newsprint...

Learn how to maximize your time as you sketch and draw the landscapes during your travels. Emphasis includes how to extract your vision from the landscape using elements of composition; how to render basic forms of the landscape and incorporate line, gesture, and value; and how to add color. Using water-based pens and colored pencils, you will begin...

Choose a classic children’s picture book or bring in your own picture book story and learn about making sequential scenes and creating a picture book dummy. The class will cover thumbnail layouts, storyboarding and using a scanner/computers to create the book dummies.  Bring to 1st class:  9 x 12 inch or larger sketchbook tracing paper...