Foundations in Art - Drawing I

Learn how to professionally draw at 3 Square Art in Fort Collins, Colorado

Foundations in Art - Drawing I

This is an Academy-style art course that teaches the foundations of art with essential drawing skills and techniques. Learn the basics of drawing and “how to see” objects through structured classes with targeted drawing lessons. The class explores contour drawing, positive and negative shapes, and shading techniques. These lessons help develop a toolset for drawing and visually communicating with line and shape.

Classes

The Drawing I Course is divided into 4 classes that allow for careful development and training of each drawing technique. We recommend taking the entire course to build your drawing skills, but you can also take individual classes to focus on a particular subject or to join in at any time.

Class 1 - Drawing What You See
To learn how to draw you first need to train your eyes to see what is actually there, NOT what you “think” is there. To do this we start with contour drawing exercises while imagining that we are touching the surface of our subject with our fingertips. Learn how to concentrate your attention on the line and shape of your subject to accurately draw what you see while developing strong eye-to-hand coordination using various drawing techniques.

Class 2 - Negative Spaces
Learn to draw the negative spaces around objects rather than the objects themself. This important techniques helps the artist focus on the shapes and relationships between and around the shapes to produce visually accurate drawings and to further break down preconceived notions about the subject. By focusing on the negative spaces the true shape of the subject comes into focus while increasing your drawing skills.

Class 3 - Proportions
To draw accurately, we need to be able to create a basic unit of measurement that we can use to measure and compare the shapes in our subject so we can correctly transfer them to the 2-dimensional working surface. Artists throughout history have used different techniques to keep their portions and measurement accurate. In this class, we will explore comparative measurement and perspective drawing techniques.

Class 4 - The Final Drawing
The Final Drawing conceives of an idea and carefully expresses it through the drawing techniques learned from the previous three classes. We look at drawing and composition to express an idea and communicate story to create our final masterpiece and get it ready for a public critique.

Details

Cost (Course): $140 for the Full Course (4 class set)
Cost (Single): $38 for a Single Class (join any single class!)
Ages: 15+ All skill and creative levels welcome (younger artists are welcome with accompanying adult)
Materials: All materials are provided

Schedule

Spring Semester Dates:
Class 1 | Drawing What You See - February 8 - CLOSED
Class 2 | Negative Spaces - March 7 - CLOSED
Class 3 | Proportions - April 4 - OPEN
Class 4 | The Final Drawing - May 2 - OPEN

Time: Thursday 5:30-8pm

Location

3 Square Art - New Classroom (2F)
2415 Donella Ct, Ste 110
Fort Collins, Colorado

*Please note that we do not have elevator access to the 2nd floor at this time. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience.

Instructor

Craig A. McKee
BA Studio Arts, magna cum laude, Kenyon College, OH
Artist, Graphic Designer, Entrepreneur

Register for Foundations in Art - Drawing I

Register for Drawing I by selecting an individual class or a full course below. Registering will sign you up for the next available single session or next scheduled full course. If you have any specific requirements, please don’t hesitate to email us at classes@3squareart.com. Thanks and hope to see you at Drawing I!