Figurative and Performative Drawing

Join a comprehensive, foundation course in figure drawing to develop your technical skills and gain confidence in capturing the human form, in the studio and in real-world environments. You will develop technical proficiency in figurative drawing through an understanding of anatomical principles and proportions; cultivate observational skills with attention to detail before moving into a series of experimental drawing sessions.

Learn to draw moving subjects; and experience drawing in diverse environments. Todd Fuller presents structured exercises to build your drawing tool kit; he introduces the study of light and shadow to give form, gesture drawing to capture movement and flow, capturing facial features and expressions, and techniques for achieving likeness and character in portraiture.

Drawing from the world of Music, Dance and animation students will learn to draw moving subjects; and experience drawing in diverse environments. Todd Fuller presents structured exercises to build your drawing tool kit; he introduces gesture drawing to capture movement and flow, offers techniques for stronger drawing outcomes as well as capturing facial features and expressions, and techniques for achieving likeness and character in portraiture.

The course culminates in a unique experience where students will have the opportunity to draw live musicians in an orchestral setting.

Suitable for entry level beginners at drawing, emerging artists and those looking to extend their existing drawing practice by capturing the figure in real and energetic environments.

* 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. 

Todd Fuller is known for hand-drawn animations and his practice integrates sculpture, moving image, curatorship, performance, and painting. Above all else, Fuller is a drawer with a love of storytelling, utilising research and empirical experiences to elevate queer and regional experiences. Since graduating from the National Art School (2010), Fuller has exhibited extensively in Australia and internationally, including the US, Italy, and France. He exhibited in the Sulman Award Exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW (2019), been a 2 time Dobell Drawing Prize finalist and been a finalist in the United Kingdom's Trinity Bouy Wharf Drawing Prize. In 2024 Todd won the Sunshine Coast National Art Prize, in 2023 he won the Fisher's Ghost Contemporary Art Prize, in 2022 he won the M16 digital prize and in 2018 won the Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Prize. His pieces are held in notable public and private collections including the State Library of New South Wales, Parliament House Collection, Artbank, Museum of Brisbane and numerous Regional Galleries. Fuller also teaches Masterclasses across the Regional Gallery sector to artists and teachers.

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

• A4 sketchbook for notes and fieldwork, 200gsm, with good quality smooth paper
• A2 drawing pad
• A2 sheets of higher quality drawing paper to be discussed in class (purchase later for Weeks 5, 6 and 7 as required)
• 6 sticks of thick or extra thick willow charcoal
• 1 box of small medium charcoal
• Graphite pencils and/or Progresso, 2b and 4b
• Charcoal or white pencils optional
• Basic set of 12 coloured pencils
• 2 white chalk pastels
• 6 bulldog clips
• White plastic eraser
• Sharpie marker
• Pencil sharpener
• 1 can of fixative spray

Enclosed footwear is essential in all studios on campus.