Drawing

Drawing is the art of making marks on a surface to represent objects, ideas, or emotions. It's the most fundamental visual art skill, underlying painting, illustration, design, and even sculpture.

What makes drawing special is its immediacy. With just a pencil and paper, you can capture anything you see or imagine. Drawing trains your eye to observe carefully and your hand to translate those observations into marks. It's both a skill you can master and an endlessly deep practice.

Humans have drawn since prehistoric times, leaving marks on cave walls that still move us today. Drawing has served as preparation for paintings and sculptures, as technical documentation, and as an art form in its own right.

The Renaissance elevated drawing to high art, with masters like Michelangelo and da Vinci creating drawings of extraordinary beauty and precision. Today, drawing remains essential for artists, architects, designers, and anyone who thinks visually.

Drawing classes often begin with simple exercises to loosen up your hand and eye. You might do quick gesture drawings, blind contour exercises, or studies of basic shapes.

Most beginner classes focus on observational drawing—learning to draw what you actually see rather than what you think you see. This is harder than it sounds! Your brain has shortcuts for processing visual information that can interfere with accurate drawing.

Bring a sketchbook and pencils if you have them, though studios usually provide materials. Wear comfortable clothes—you may be standing at an easel or sitting for extended periods.