Winter Drawing Class: Structural and Observational Drawing

In this 10-week session class designed for both beginners and intermediate students, you will develop strong drawing skills by combining observational methods with structural drawing techniques. Each week will focus on understanding how to see and construct forms accurately, with an emphasis on two-point perspective drawing to help you create realistic depth and dimension.

You will learn how to measure proportions, establish perspective grids, and draw objects from different angles with precision. Through guided demonstrations and exercises, you’ll explore how light, shadow, and texture can enhance the realism of your work. By the end of the course, you will complete a final project: an accurately drawn object that combines both observational and perspective-based methods, refined with careful shading, highlights, and surface texture to bring your drawing to life.

This class builds confidence in seeing, understanding, and constructing the world around you through drawing.

Class Length: 10 Weeks (2 Months), 2 Hours Per Week

Weeks 1–2 – Foundations: Geometric Shapes & Form Construction

• Learn to see objects using both observational and structural methods.
• Practice gesture drawing and breaking down complex forms into simple geometric shapes.
• Explore drawing 2D objects as 3D forms, developing spatial awareness.

Week 3 – Two-Point Perspective Basics

• Introduction to two-point perspective grids.
• Apply perspective to simple objects and basic forms.
• Combine observational skills with perspective techniques.

Week 4 – Still Life Drawing: Free-Hand & Structural Methods

• Practice drawing still life objects from observation.
• Explore both free-hand drawing and perspective-based construction to achieve accuracy.

Week 5 – Animals in Perspective

• Learn to construct and breakdown animal forms in two-point perspective.
• Focus on proportion, gesture, and translating 3D forms to paper.

Week 6 – Bugs & Small Creatures in Perspective

• Draw insects and other small creatures using structural methods.
• Practice combining observation with accurate perspective grids.

Week 7 – Apparel & Clothing in Perspective

• Explore drapery, folds, and fabric textures on 3D forms.
• Learn to place clothing in perspective accurately on mannequins or objects.

Week 8 – Vehicles in Perspective

• Practice drawing cars, bikes, and other vehicles using two-point perspective.
• Focus on proportion, vanishing points, and depth.

Weeks 9–10 – Final Project: Still Life in Perspective

• Set up and plan a comprehensive still life combining observational and structural methods.
• Focus on drawing, shading, texture, and finishing details.
• Week 10 includes critique and discussion of final drawings.

Patricia Claro is a passionate Filipino Canadian artist with over nine years of experience in illustration and eight years of experience as an art educator. Currently based in Ottawa, she specializes in traditional and digital mediums, specifically character design, environmental art, and both 2D/3D digital painting. Patricia holds an honours diploma in Illustration from Seneca Polytechnic, has a background in Interior Design, as well as Layout for Animation. Currently a freelance book illustrator with FriesenPress, she’s excited to share her expertise in a hands-on, engaging workshop experience for aspiring artists of all levels.

• 2H Pencil (For Light Sketching)
• 6B, 7B, 8B OR 9B Pencil (For Darker Line Art)
• Ruler
• Sharpener
• Eraser
• Straight Edge Tool (Example: A Long Thin Paintbrush, A Pencil, OR A Stick)
• Sketchbook (11 x 14 minimum, 14 x 17 maximum)
• For Final Project (Weeks 9-10): Three to Five Objects (Small Household Objects, Items, etc.)

Also check out other Arts events in Ottawa, Fine Arts events in Ottawa, Workshops in Ottawa.