Foundations of Drawing: A Beginner’s Journey

Through engaging observational drawing exercises, you’ll learn to see the world with an artist’s eye, building confidence and establishing a strong foundation for your practice. Over eight weeks, the course will cover key principles such as gesture and mark-making, proportions and measurement, form and structure, and light and tone. Sadhbha Cockburn guides you with combination of demonstrations, group exercises, and individual tuition, and teaches the skills needed to capture movement, depth, and detail in your artwork.

Students will work from still life, historic references, the NAS site, and a life (nude) model, experimenting with materials like charcoal, graphite, and ink. With plenty of time to practice, you’ll leave with a greater understanding of drawing techniques and the confidence to continue making your own artworks.
The course also includes a visit to the NAS library, where students will have access to resources for the duration of the term, and the on-campus NAS gallery. These visits provide valuable opportunities to learn from both historic and contemporary masters, offering inspiration and helping you develop your own artistic voice. Whether you’re picking up a pencil for the first time or looking to strengthen your skills, this course will provide the tools and guidance to help you grow as an artist.

* NAS Short Courses are open to students of ages 16 years and over. The NAS Art Club is open to students aged 15-17 years of age. 

* 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. 

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

• 1 pad of A2 cartridge paper (approx. 20 sheets)
• Set of graphite pencils from 2B to 8B
• 1 box (approx. 10 sticks) willow charcoal
• 1 charcoal pencil (medium softness)
• Pencil sharpener or Stanley knife
• 1 hard eraser
• 1 putty rubber
• 4 bulldog clips
• Fixative spray
• 1 roll of masking tape

Other materials (not required for first class)

• 2 sheets of brown kraft paper (around 280gsm)
• 1 white pastel pencil or white charcoal pencil
• 1 conte crayon: Sanguine or Bistre
• 1 small bottle black ink (approx. 60ml)
• an old ice cube tray
• 3 x plastic containers with lids for ink
• 1 soft synthetic paintbrush (approx. size 14 to 20) or any paintbrush that you have already
• Enclosed footwear is essential in all studios on campus.

Sadhbha Cockburn is an artist and educator, living and working upon Gadigal country in Sydney, NSW. She holds a BFA in Painting and an MFA in Drawing from the National Art School and has a background in biomedical sciences. A recipient of an Australian Government Research Training Scholarship, she is currently completing a PhD in Visual Art at the University of New South Wales.

Cockburn has participated in multiple group shows and prizes. She was a recent finalist in the Macquarie Emerging Art Prize (2025), the Northern Beaches Environmental Art and Design Prize (2025) and was long-listed for the Hunter Writer’s Centre ‘Grieve’ Anthology (2025). Recent group exhibitions include shows at DrawSpace, Tamworth Regional Gallery, Schmick Contemporary. She has completed residencies at La Cité Internationale in Paris, The Foundations, Portland, and most recently at Bundanon, NSW. Sadhbha is a sessional lecturer in drawing at the National Art School and has also worked as an art facilitator and teacher at multiple high schools and for the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Offering a gentle approach, she aims to foster the unique artistic voices of each of her students.