Learn To Draw: A Beginner’s Guide To Sketching Anything!

Skill Level:
Complete Beginner

Class Length:
1 hr 20 mins

Materials Required:
A Pencil
A few sheets of paper
An eraser

In this drawing for beginners class, I'll walk you through all the fundamental 
drawing skills and observation techniques you need to get started with the basics of sketching. 

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

  • mindful observation botanical references

    LAYING FOUNDATIONS

    We will begin by warming up and exploring how the way we hold our pencil affects how we draw. This is often a step which is missed out when learning to draw, but the impact of this knowledge can be totally transformative!

    Next we will practise drawing straight and curved lines – the foundations of every drawing - and I’ll show you some techniques to help you achieve better results with those.

  • drawing for beginners shapes

    BUILDING BLOCKS

    Every drawing, no matter how complex, can be broken down into a collection of shapes. Shapes become like our vocabulary in drawing if we think of it as a visual language. If we can use our vocabulary with fluency, this makes constructing a drawing much easier.

    We’ll use our straight and curved line drills as we practise drawing some commonly used shapes, which act as these building blocks when we come to drawing from a reference.

  • observation seeing like an artist

    SEEING LIKE AN ARTIST

    We’ll discuss the holy grail of drawing – observation – and explore why it can be difficult for us to draw what is actually in front of us, and I’ll show you some strategies to help you observe better and more objectively.

    We will complete a mini exercise to help us sharpen our observation skills and identify the shapes making up objects before we tackle our drawing.

  • botanical doodling mandala wreath easy drawing

    CHOOSING WHAT TO DRAW

    Next, we will explore subject matter, and we’ll look at some good and bad examples, with tips to help you choose subjects that will give you the best chance of creating successful drawings

  • guided draw with me draw along videos tutorials

    PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

    Finally, we’ll put all the theory and practise together by going through the step-by-step process of creating a sketch from start to finish.

    I’ll be working from a reference which is provided in the class resource so that you can draw along with me.

  • drawing for beginners course learn to draw

    NEXT STEPS

    I’ll give you some ideas for how you could continue to develop your drawing skills beyond the class, so that you can incorporate what you have learnt into an ongoing creative practice, giving you a road map to understand where you have been and where you are heading.

    Learning to draw is such an exciting journey and I’m so excited to help you along the way!

I'M READY TO LEARN!

WHO THE COURSE IS FOR

This class is aimed at complete beginners, but if you have a little drawing experience you may find some of the exercises and tips give you some fresh perspectives.

This class is perfect if you:

  • Are completely new to drawing and would like some guidance in getting started

  • Haven’t drawn for a while and feel you need a refresher to help you take those tentative first steps to getting back into drawing

  • Have some drawing experience but enjoy learning new skills to add to your creative toolkit :)

WHAT you will TAKE AWAY

By the end of the course, you will have:

  • A finished sketch drawn from a reference photograph.

  • A toolkit of drawing skills Including how to hold your pencil to achieve different results, how to draw straight and curved lines effectively, how to draw geometric shapes with ease, how to observe like an artist, how to choose the best subject matter for drawing, and how to construct a sketch from start to finish.

supporting resources

Provided along with the class is the Class Resource PDF which contains:

  • 11 reference photographs with varying levels of complexity for you to work from as you practice the skills taught in the class

testimonials

  • "GAVE ME THE BASIC FOUNDATION TO DRAW ANYTHING"

    Mel's instructions were very clear, easy to follow and gave me the basic foundation to draw anything.

    - Eowyn M

  • "I LEARNT A LOT"

    Another great class from Mel. I enjoyed it and learnt a lot, as usual. From the warming up to grip techniques, she has great advice and very good tips to start sketching.

    - Elisa C

  • "FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I HAD FUN DRAWING"

    I was always afraid to draw, to hold a pencil and all my attempts seemed ridiculous and childish. For the first time in my life I had fun drawing. I recommend this course to all those who think they will never be able to draw. I was one of them until I discovered Mel Rye.

    - Zora J

  • "REALLY RELAXING AND FUN"

    Another fantastic class from Mel Rye! The instruction was comprehensive and clear and there were plenty of steps to get you warmed up for the main project. Really relaxing and fun.

    - Rachael B

  • "WHAT A FABULOUS CLASS"

    What a fabulous class about how to draw. Though the teacher recommended it for beginners, there is something to ponder on in the lessons for all levels to benefit from. I am thoroughly looking forward to more classes.

    - Mariajose D

  • "THE PERFECT CLASS TO RESTART MY DRAWING PRACTICE"

    It was the perfect class to restart my drawing practice, thank you.

    Rachael G

  • "THIS WAS A WONDERFUL CLASS!"

    This was a wonderful class! I learned some new tools and it was so much fun to follow along.

    - Sydney H

SOUNDS GREAT!

ENROLLMENT OPTIONS

enroll through
skillshare

£150 per year

(Subscription price varies by region)

With a Skillshare membership, you’ll get access to all my online courses, plus thousands of others!

New members will unlock a one month free trial

ONE-TIME
PURCHASE

£15

(Local sales tax may be added at checkout)

No subscription fees

Watch it whenever you like

Lifetime access

MEET YOUR TEACHER

HI THERE! I’M MEL

I’m an artist and educator, and my mission is to support and empower others to explore their creativity.

Learning to draw can be overwhelming. Where do you start? What should you draw? How should you draw it? How can you make your hand draw the shape youre trying to create?! 

These are all very good questions, and in this class, I’ll answer all of them, and more, as I’ll guide you through some simple steps to get you started with sketching anything.

I am passionate about creating beginer friendly courses which take simple but impactful concepts, and deliver them in fun, bite-sized lessons which will accelerate your progress.

I’d love to share these techniques with you!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • No, you don't need any drawing experience at all - this class is specifically designed for absolute beginners :)

  • All my courses consist of pre recorded video lessons. There are also downloadable resources such as worksheets, reference photos, guides and other materials which will help support your learning.

    All my courses are structured around a class project, which is a practical way of applying the skills taught in the course, and also means that you will have created something by the end of the course, as well as learning lots of new skills - I think this is the best way of learning!

  • The course content is exactly the same, whichever enrolment option you choose.

  • This depends on your enrollment method. If you enroll via Skillshare, you will have access for as long as you have an active subscription. If you make a one-time purchase, you will have access for as long as the course exists on the internet.

  • Yes you can - when you select the one-time purchase, there is an option at checkout to buy the course as a gift. All you need to do is enter the recipient’s email address and there is an option to add a gift message if you’d like to. The course will be sent directly to them with a link to access it, along with your message if you added one.

  • Gumroad is an e-commerce platform which allows creators to sell digital products directly to their audience. It is a popular platform for finding all sorts of products, like digital brushes, e-books and courses.

    When you make a one-time purchase of one of my online courses, you will be doing this through Gumroad. You can either create a log-in there, which will allow you to view all your Gumroad purchases in your library, or you can access the course by using the link which will be emailed to you after you have completed your purchase. There is also a Gumroad app, if you like to watch courses on your smart phone or tablet device.

  • No problem! I’m always happy to answer questions - please reach out using the contact form here