Figurative and Portrait Drawing for Beginners

Discover how to draw from the figure, from initial sketches of life models to detailed portraits and sustained studies. Learn to see and draw anatomical structures and bring out the personality of the subject.

Tango Conway approaches figurative drawing with different materials including graphite and charcoal and explores how these materials can change the character of a drawing. Through a series of drawing exercises, Tango teaches you how to map proportional values, understand tone, draw a likeness of a person and experiment with expressive mark-making techniques. Working in the studio with real life models, mirrors and props, students will develop skills in figurative portraiture and breathe life into their drawings.

*Short courses are open to students of ages 16 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.

Artist Tango Conway uses traditional drawing techniques to investigate theatrical dynamics in the life drawing studio. Her drawings emphasize structural compositions both real and imagined. Tango teaches drawing at the National Art School and worked in Education at the Art Gallery of NSW, and she holds a Graduate Diploma in Drawing and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Sculpture. Tango was awarded the Robert Le Gay Brereton Memorial Prize in 2019, the John Olsen Figure Drawing Prize and the Jocelyn Maughan Sketchbook Prize in 2016. Her artworks have been exhibited in Olsen Annexe, Articulate Project Space, Airspace Projects, Sculpture by the Sea and the Grace Cossington Smith Gallery.

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

• A4 sketchbook
• 1 pad of A2 cartridge paper
• 2 x A2 Sheets of tracing paper
• 2 x Sheets of 160GSM drawing paper at 50x60cm each
• Set of graphite pencils from 2B to 8B
• Charcoal pencil
• Willow charcoal
• Compressed charcoal
• Kneadable (putty) eraser e.g. Faber-Castel Knetgummi art eraser
• Firm white eraser e.g. Staedtler Tradition or Mars plastic
• Stanley knife or similar (for sharpening) or pencil sharpener
• 2 bulldog clips
• Fixative spray

Covered footwear is essential in all studios on campus.