Drawing Fundamentals for Beginners

Do you want to learn practical drawing techniques and encourage your creativity to emerge in a supportive studio environment? Discover how to see and draw with proportion and perspective, and how to work from small studies to larger, sustained drawings. Learn about the importance of line, tone, composition and mark-making and explore the mediums of graphite, charcoal and ink.

Rachel Fairfax sets projects and gives you the opportunity to draw still life scenes and to work from the life model. Through demonstrations, group exercises and one-to-one tuition, she guides you in developing your own way of seeing and drawing.

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

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

Rachel Fairfax is an artist working in the mediums of drawing, painting and ceramics. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and an Honours Degree in Drawing from the National Art School. She is represented by Stella Downer Fine Art, Sydney, and Harvison Gallery, Perth. Her exhibitions, residencies and community-based projects have taken her across Australia and overseas. Rachel has been awarded two Reg Richardson Scholarships and been a finalist in many Australian art awards. Named as one of Australia’s leading artists by theSydney Morning Herald, Rachel exhibits widely and is represented in many public and private collections. Since 2003 she has taught drawing at the National Art School and other colleges of art.

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

• A4 sketchbook
• Set of graphite pencils from 2B to 8B
• Charcoal pencil
• Pencil sharpener or Stanley knife
• Pencil eraser
• 2 bulldog clips
• Willow charcoal
• Compressed charcoal
• Fixative spray
• 1 pad of A2 cartridge paper

Other materials (not required for first class)

• 1 sheet of grey Canson paper
• 2 sheets of brown Craft paper (around 280gsm)
• 1 white pastel pencil or white charcoal pencil

Enclosed footwear is essential in all studios on campus.