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Drawing Classes

Welcome to our drawing course, a 6-week journey designed to help you master the fundamental techniques of realistic drawing.

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Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this course offers a deep dive into the art of observational drawing and realism.

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When: Thursday evenings from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Dates: 6-week course from October 10 to November 14, 2024
Price: $450 + $67.39 (TVQ/TPS: 14.975%) = $517.39

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Over the weeks, you'll be introduced to a comprehensive range of essential techniques and knowledge, from mastering drawing materials to exploring light and shadow to create three-dimensional works.

You'll learn to observe, analyze, and accurately reproduce shapes, textures, and nuances, whether in a natural landscape, a still life, or a strikingly lifelike portrait.

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The benefits of this course are numerous:

  • Solid Skill Acquisition: You'll develop a deep understanding of classical drawing principles, enabling you to create realistic works with confidence and precision.

  • Structured Progression: Each week is designed to build on the previous knowledge, gradually leading you to more challenging exercises.

  • Personalized Feedback: You'll receive tailored advice suited to your level to help you progress optimally.

 

Join us on this artistic journey, where each pencil stroke will bring you closer to mastering classical drawing. Get ready to explore, experiment, and, most importantly, see your talent flourish.

Drawing Techniques - A 6-Week Journey

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Week 1: Drawing fundamentals and suggested materials


Materials overview: graphite pencils, vine charcoal, kneaded eraser, sandpaper block.
Pencil grip, pressure, straight lines, and simple curves.
Understanding basic geometric shapes.
Exercise: Create a clean, consistent value scale.
 

Week 2: Precision drawing method (straight-line contours)


How to accurately draw the outline of any subject. Breaking down curves into straight segments. Angles, proportions, alignments.
In-class demonstration.
Exercise: Precise interpretation of an object from a photo, using only straight lines.
 

Week 3: Fundamentals of light and shadow
 

Understanding basic shapes: cube, cone, cylinder. Form shadow vs. cast shadow. Clear separation into two values: light and shadow. Clean, uniform flat tone.
Exercise: • Copy shaded cube, cone, and cylinder • Separate a photo into two values ​​(light/dark).
 

Week 4: Simple still life (photo)


Simplifying into masses. Clean block-in and accurate proportions.
Organizing shadows.
Exercise: Draw a still life from a photo.
 

Week 5: Creating depth through hatching and modeling
 

How to turn the form using midtones.
Soft transitions and the illusion of volume.
Brief slideshow: hatching by the masters (Bargue, Ingres, Prud’hon, Repin, Fechin).
How to learn from their techniques.
Exercise: Turn the forms in your still life OR start a new, more detailed drawing.
 

Week 6: Drawing the portrait (photo) and final critique
 

Head proportions. Angles, structure, likeness.
Demonstration of a portrait drawing from a photo. How to correct a drawing: • adjust an outline • correct the tilt • clean up shading • clarify the masses. Exercise: Create your own portrait from a provided photo, then apply corrections to achieve a clean, accurate final drawing.

Robert-Pietrantonio-1.jpg

I present to you

Robert Pietrantonio

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Robert has been teaching art for over 11 years.

"When it comes to teaching students how to draw and paint, I pass on the techniques I've learned to observe and transcribe the visible world onto paper or canvas, without hindering anyone's personal style or voice."

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Born in Montreal, Robert began drawing in his childhood. In his early twenties, he pursued classical art studies at the Atelier in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

He then studied with classically trained artists in Chicago and Boston.

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He continued his education by going to Florence, where he studied the Old Masters.

During this time, he also traveled to France, studying the great academic and Impressionist painters.

After his artistic stay in Europe, Robert hired models in his studio and drew and painted his subjects from observation. It was during this period that he made significant progress and won the prestigious Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation grant for realist artists.

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To refine his art, Robert attended numerous workshops with artists such as the late master portraitist Daniel E. Greene and contemporary realists like Anthony Ryder and Colleen Barry.

As an artist, Robert strives to combine precise drawing with an impressionistic approach to observing and seeing values and colors as a whole. He specializes in portraits but also enjoys drawing and painting still lifes, landscapes, and figures.

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