Discover the Best Life Drawing Classes in NYC
Life Drawing, also known as Figure Drawing, is the practice of drawing to study the human figure in detail. Drawing from life is a classical part of training for artists, and helps you learn to draw directly from your subject rather than draw a generic version of it. Practicing life drawing will make you a better artist.
When you understand the human muscles and skeleton, you can draw figures more realistically.
Life drawing classes in NYC give you a chance to practice by drawing a live model’s poses and gestures, or capturing a still life of objects. Life drawing can be a detailed study, an expressive sketch, or a captured gesture.
Why You Should Learn Life Drawing in NYC
Learning life drawing in NYC will improve your artistic skills and creativity. The city is home to world-class art schools and studios and a rich culture of galleries and museums. Your art appreciation will expand when you learn to practice life drawings of your own.
A life drawing habit refreshes your creativity and takes you away from your usual routine. Plus, you can learn from and collaborate with other aspiring artists, expand your artistic horizons, and develop your own unique style.
Life drawing classes can help you pursue a career in art. You’ll expand your portfolio and network with people in your classes, professionals in the field, social media, and industry shows and events. Many artists pursue their work as a side hustle, selling artwork online or at festivals and galleries. The median annual wage for fine artists is $50,000.
In-Person Life Drawing Classes & Schools in NYC
You can choose from many life drawing classes offered in NYC. Check out Coursehorse for some great options.
Personal Studio Time: Life Drawing with a LIVE Model at Creatively Wild Art Studio Dumbo in Brooklyn, New York offers studio time to practice your life drawing skills with a live (clothed) model. You’ll gain experience observing the human body’s essence, musculature, and posture and sharpen your own distinctive style. This is a self-taught class and students provide their own art supplies. Bring your pencils, charcoals, inks, pastels and paper or sketchbooks to work with.
Fundamentals of Drawing & Painting at Chelsea Drawing & Painting Workshops in New York City is a private class with artist Raphael-Raúl. In this private, in-person class you’ll learn to compose a still-life, mark-map your drawing, measure proportion, and see tonal values and apply them. You will practice with pastels to learn color harmony. In your session, you’ll learn how to use the Elements of Art to read a painting and you’ll gain an understanding of art history and art appreciation. You can book your personal session with the artist at your preferred time.
Chelsea Drawing & Painting Workshops is modeled after fifteenth century Renaissance workshops, where art apprentices worked under a professional master artist in his workshop-home. The free sharing of ideas and techniques will grow and inspire your art practice. Classes are taught in the artist’s home art studio in the heart of the Chelsea Art district of New York City.
Classical Sketching/Drawing Workshop at ArtClassBklyn.com—Lefferts Garden in New York City takes you through the building blocks of figure drawing in a supportive, individualized setting. You’ll start by observing the building blocks of contour and gesture, and finish with a life-like rendition of what you observe. This class provides an opportunity to draw from a live model.
There are materials available in the classroom for you to use at your first class, but please bring your own materials to later classes. The class includes demonstrations and streamed video lectures for you to follow at home, and you’ll go home with printed handouts.
Learn to create fine art at ArtClassBklyn.com from National Endowment Fellow and professional MFA Painter and Graphic Artist Dan Freeman. You’ll learn how to not only see but observe and perceive, and translate your perceptions into conceptions and creations.
Virtual Life Drawing Classes & Schools
In-person life drawing classes are a great way to quickly hone your skills. You get advice on your technique and materials suggestions from a professional artist while you work, plus you have the opportunity to draw from live models. The students in your class share your interest in art and may become new friends who support your journey.
If there are no in-person classes available in your area, a broad scope of online offerings are a great alternative. You can hone your skills with the help of a professional artist no matter where you live. You can skip the commute and packing up your materials, and work in a comfortable and familiar home environment.
You’ll need to procure your own materials before the online class begins. Your instructor will provide a materials list that you can shop for at a local art supply or online, so you’ll be well equipped to continue practicing your drawing when the class is over. Explore these online life drawing classes you can take through CourseHorse.
Beginner’s Drawing in 90 Minutes at The Art Studio NY provides a culture of creativity, connection and community. This foundational drawing class is suitable for beginners or more experienced artists, and will sharpen your skills and take your artwork to the next level. The class covers shading, line, tone, mark marking, and cross hatching, and you can draw from still life, landscape, or whatever inspires you most.
Online Drawing with Graphite 101 led by Pastimes for a Lifetime is for you if you are a beginner or a lapsed artist. This class focuses on measuring and drawing skills in a fun and informative format. You’ll hone your hand sensitivity with unique projects that improve your hand-to-eye coordination, and you’ll learn to sketch and shade with graphite pencil to produce dimension, perspective and texture on paper.
Unleash your inner artist in Fear-Free Beginner's Drawing 101from The Art Studio NY. This beginning class provides one-on-one expert instruction on using charcoal and pencil, and explores still life, realism, abstraction, landscape, and portraiture drawing. You’ll learn techniques like shading, expressive line, mark-making, composition, contour drawing, quick sketches, 3-D effect, and dimension. The instructor hosts a private art-loving Facebook group for class students only.
Online Drawing with Graphite 102 is an intermediate class that takes your drawing skills to the next level. It covers measuring, sketching and shading skills using tinted paper and larger formats, and more challenging subject matter like still life.
Private Group Life Drawing Classes in NYC
When you need a group event for your business or organization or a fun party activity, Coursehorse has you covered. Coursehorse provides life drawing classes for private groups in NYC.
In Virtual Group Drawing & Sketching Class you’ll learn how to make a graphite still life drawing. The class covers all the basic drawing techniques, like hatching and cross hatching to build value and create depth in your drawing. You’ll make beautiful drawings using basic shapes and dynamic compositions. Choose from still life, landscapes, botanical, faces, or another drawing style you enjoy. Just show up with a graphite pencil and your preferred drawing paper. Customize your course by adding a game or a second event with all materials included, for just $150 more. This class accommodates up to 255 people.
If you don’t see the class you’re looking for, let Coursehorse create it for you. Reach out using the Contact Us button on their website to plan your unique group experience. Booking a class with CourseHorse is a piece of cake. Just choose your class, pick a date, and take a guess at how many people will attend. You can finalize your group size up to one week before your class. There’s no booking fee or extra charges, and you’ll receive a confirmation within 24 hours of your reservation.
CourseHorse recommends joining your class on Zoom, but they can accommodate Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, and WebEx. If you’d like an in-person activity, some courses can even come right to your office or home.
