Drawing for Beginners

Do you want to learn to draw in a way that’s responsive to the unique qualities of your subject? To the expressive effect of your drawing’s abstract elements? Discover how to draw with graphite pencils, chalk and ink from subjects such as the still life, the life model and on-location at the historic NAS campus.

David Briggs guides you to develop the skills of proportion and perspective, to help you to see and record your subject in a unified way, while learning about your drawing’s abstract elements. You’ll increase your awareness of the expressive effects of visual elements using line, rhythm, shape, tone, and mass, with group exercises and individual tuition. David also introduces you to many other artists’ drawings from different eras and their outstanding responsive drawings from real life.

* Please note that there is no class on Saturday 7 June due to the long weekend.

* NAS Short Courses are open to students of ages 16 years and over. The NAS Art Club is open to students from ages 15 years and over. 

* Drawing and painting short courses may be held in upstairs studios. If access to stairs is not suitable, please contact us at short.courses@nas.edu.au 

* What to bring? Please refer to the list of required materials in the Art Materials field below. 

David Briggs PhD trained at the Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney. He specialises in life drawing and painting and in relating modern scientific knowledge to artistic colour theory. He has taught art classes since 1996 at many institutions, including six years as the life drawing instructor for Disney’s Sydney studio and classes in drawing, and art history and theory at the National Art School. He is the author of an extensive website on the theory and practice of colour for painters, The Dimensions of Colour.

Students must supply their own art materials, please refer to the list below.

Materials required for the first class:

• A4 sketchbook
• Progresso (solid woodless graphite) pencils – 2B, 4B
• Pencil sharpener or Stanley knife
• Pencil eraser

Additional materials (to be discussed in first class):

• Cartridge paper A2/A3 size – loose sheets or pad
• 2 bulldog clips
• Black and white conte crayons
• Grey/brown toned paper
• Selection of fine point pigment ink pens
• Small (A5 or similar) sketchbook with smooth paper

Enclosed footwear is essential in all studios on campus.