Beginners Sketching

A 4-Lesson Course in Essential Drawing Skills

This short course is designed for watercolour artists who want to improve their sketching confidence and accuracy. Strong sketches lay the foundation for expressive and well-balanced paintings, and this course will focus on proportion, perspective, and capturing essential details with ease.

No prior drawing experience is required—just a sketchbook, a pencil, and a willingness to explore!

Course Outline:

Lesson 1: Seeing Like an Artist – Proportions & Simplified Shapes

  • Understanding basic shapes as a foundation for sketching

  • Techniques for measuring and achieving correct proportions

  • Quick gesture drawing exercises to loosen up the hand

  • Sketching simple still-life objects (fruits, cups, small items)

Lesson 2: Perspective Made Simple – Sketching Buildings & Landscapes

  • Introduction to one-point and two-point perspective

  • Sketching basic buildings and streets with correct angles

  • Capturing depth in landscape elements (trees, roads, mountains)

  • Translating perspective into loose watercolor-friendly sketches

Lesson 3: Line Confidence & Expressive Marks

  • Understanding different line weights and their effects

  • Using hatching, cross-hatching, and contour lines to create depth

  • Learning when to sketch lightly and when to add bold strokes

  • Exploring ink and watercolour combinations for expressive sketches

Lesson 4: Sketching for Painting – Composition & Balance

  • Planning a sketch for a successful watercolour painting

  • Breaking down complex scenes into manageable elements

  • Creating dynamic compositions with focal points and leading lines

  • Final sketching project: students create a sketch ready for painting

By the end of this course, students will have a stronger foundation in sketching, making their watercolour paintings more confident and well-structured.

Materials Supplied:

  • Sketchbook

  • Pencils (HB, 2B, and 4B)

  • Eraser & sharpener

  • Fine liner pen

Dates:
Thursdays in April (3, 10, 17 & 24)
1-3pm
Please arrive in time to set up, 10 mins early, as the class begins at 1pm.

Price:
4 week course $150pp (with a minimum group of 8 people)

Payment:
*Please complete the form below to confirm your spot before making payment

Ventana Account
01-0671-0393810-87

Your spot in the course is confirmed upon payment.