Drawing for Beginners – 8 weeks

About this course

This 8-week drawing course is designed to take you from pencil basics to beautifully composed artworks, engaging with the fundamentals and techniques of the process itself. Perfect for those with no prior experience or those who would like to refresh their process , unpicking habits and forming new ones that might help you to view and draw more objectively.

This comprehensive course will be delivered by Rachel Labovitch, a highly accomplished visual artist whose practice is deeply rooted in the art of drawing (read more about Rachel here) at our inspiring studio in Twickenham.

Rachel's experienced and hands-on approach means you will receive step by step instruction & guidance, practice of techniques and group and individual feedback.

By the end of the course, you will have a clear understanding of drawing fundamentals, empowering you to continue your drawing journey with renewed confidence.

"Taking the time to learn in the inspiring environment of Colne Road Studios was such a treat!

The group was welcoming and supportive and Rachel is an extremely talented and generous teacher, sharing her skills and knowledge to give us fresh perspectives and a wealth of useful advice and feedback. I felt my ability and interest in drawing had been revived after many years dormant, learning how to observe as well as how to draw. I would encourage anyone willing to pick up a pencil to have a go, and have already signed up to Rachel’s next course! " C.B. Feb 2025

"I hadn't picked up a pencil to draw since I was a teenager.

The course exceeded my expectations.  The group were lovely and from very different backgrounds......Rachel Labovitch is an exceptional tutor.  She is informative in her teaching approach bringing in examples of other artists as we went along meaning that new or well-known works of art were discussed and techniques explored.  She is positive, supportive and very encouraging. I would highly recommend this course to anyone and everyone - if you think you can't draw, you'll be proved wrong and you'll start to notice the world around you with fresh eyes."  Lucy.A  March 2025

What you will learn:

Lesson 1 - All About Pencils
Knowing Your Tools - getting to know pencils, rubbers, different ways of holding and sharpening pencils and the different effects pencils can achieve.

In this session we will look at the different grades of pencil and their qualities, by creating a shaded drawing using pencils and rubbers to create light and dark effects. By the end of the session you will be able to name and identify

• pencils and their different grades and capabilities

• pencil grip, how to hold the pencil for different effects

• how and when to use putty rubbers and plastic rubbers

• which way to sharpen pencils depending on how you are using them

Lesson 2 - Lines and Measuring
Line is the first way we draw an image. Learn about line drawing using different exercises to loosen up, and how to use your pencil to measure distances in order to achieve the correct proportions.

In this session we will start by making some quick drawings to connect your hand and brain. We will then make still life drawings, employing the measuring technique which is a helpful aid in observational drawing by

• creating line drawings of a still life set up

• creating the illusion of form using line

• using a pencil to measure proportions

• blind contour drawing

Lesson 3 - Mark Making
Different types of marks in a drawing can add interest and variety, as well as achieving different patterns and effects.

In this session we will run through and test all of the main drawing terms, and then put these marks to use in a single landscape drawing.

By the end of the session you will have

• made a landscape drawing employing an array of marks

• explored different marks using a variety of pencils

• describe and illustrate a wide vocabulary of drawn marks

• studied other artists use of marks

Lesson 4 - Light
The way we render light in a drawing is one of the most important ways of creating a convincing three dimensional form.

This session is all about how light acts on surfaces, and we will learn about this by

• studying the way light falls on a sphere and how the shadow falls

• creating a drawing from a still life of spherical objects

• looking at edges and transitions of light

• employing our mark making techniques to render light and dark on a curved form

Lesson 5 - Looking at Tone
Tone (or value) is how light or dark something is. It is easy to make a drawing in black and white, but how do we make our drawings more subtle than just two tones?

This session will focus on the three main tones and how to use them in a drawing.

In this session we start to break down tones in a scene by:

• identifying the light, medium and dark tones in a scene

• drawing a tonal still life using the three main tones

• looking at the edges of tone

Lesson 6 - More looking at Tone (values)
Looking for and creating more than three tones in a drawing takes practice, this session will help you explore the concept of different tones.

This week we will explore more variety of tone and apply it to our drawings by

• drawing a value scale

• making a tonal drawing from a still life

• using a putty rubber to create different tones

Lesson 7 - Edges
Now we are seeing more tones, we need to look at the transitions from one tone to another. We look at the edges of tone, going from one tone to another, and the construction process of a shaded drawing.

This week we will explore transitions in tone by

• looking at shapes of light and dark in objects

• identifying hard and soft edges in a scene

• employing a ‘general to specific’ mindset in constructing a drawing

• making a drawing of well lit and curved objects, observing tonal transitions

Lessons 8 - Composition
This final week we will be studying composition - the layout of your drawing on the page and tips to make sure it works well. We will be drawing from the inspiring studio interior.

This final session you will combine elements learnt from previous sessions and employ basic rules of composition in your drawing by

• using viewfinders to select a view point

• create small thumbnail drawings

• recount and apply the rule of thirds

• using horizontals, verticals and diagonals

About the instructor:

Rachel Labovitch is a highly accomplished visual artist whose practice is
deeply rooted in the art of drawing. With an MA in Drawing, Rachel’s work
has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, reflecting her mastery
of the medium. For over 20 years, she has balanced her studio practice with
a passion for teaching, developing innovative drawing-based programs for
schools, outreach organizations, and gallery spaces. Her academic
contributions include lecturing at prestigious institutions such as the
University of the Arts London and Kingston University.
Rachel’s career highlights include receiving an Arts Council England Grant
for a residency at Forty Hall in 2010, being shortlisted for the Ruskin
Drawing Prize in 2012, and winning second prize in the Diana Armfield
Drawing competition in 2019. Her solo exhibitions, such as "Skyward" at
The Garden Museum in London, have captivated audiences, showcasing her
ability to capture the natural world with a unique perspective.
Currently based in London, Rachel continues to teach painting classes in
Richmond and lead drawing workshops at Orleans House Gallery pursuing
her commitment to art education as well as continuing her own artistic
journey with an ever-evolving body of work.

Materials supplied: none

What to bring

2H, H, HB, B, 2B, 4B and 6B pencils, putty rubbers, plastic rubbers, 180gsm cartridge paper and sharpeners 

Class format and activities

Group and individual demonstration, step by step instruction & guidance, practice of techniques, group and individual feedback.