Drawing with Traditional Mixed Media

Learn to draw using mix media with our drawing short courses in Sydney!

Be introduced to a variety of exciting drawing materials and discover the diverse ways they can be employed to convey form, tonality, atmosphere, and texture. In this hands-on course, you'll explore a range of mediums including black, sanguine red, and white chalk pastel pencils, pen and ink, ink wash, gouache, and a variety of coloured ground papers. Each week, you'll experiment with new techniques, unlocking your creative potential and building confidence with every stroke. This class is perfect for both beginners and those with a background in drawing, as we develop essential drawing skills through fun and engaging exercises.

Throughout the course, you will create rock studies using charcoal, chalk, pen, ink wash, and gouache, explore drapery studies, and apply the techniques of historical artists such as Benjamin Robert Haydon and George Seurat. You’ll also enjoy an excursion to Hyde Park to put your new skills to the test on location, before finishing the course with a striking study of The Kiss by Theodore Gericault. Each session is designed to help you develop both technique and creative expression in a relaxed and inspiring environment.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Employ a variety of drawing materials both individually and in combination.
• Build upon drawing skills in proportion, conveying form, and recording tone.
• Understand the drawing techniques of historical artists and begin to apply them in their own practice.

Course content

What will be covered in this drawing course?

• Week 1: Rock Studies
  Create rock studies using charcoal, black chalk, pen and ink, ink wash, and white gouache on coloured paper to explore different materials and textures.
• Week 2: Drapery Studies
  Learn to draw drapery in pencil, pen and ink, and ink wash, focusing on capturing folds and the play of light and shadow.
• Week 3: Benjamin Robert Haydon – Skull Drawing
  Draw and shade a skull using black and white chalk on coloured paper, applying classical techniques for depth and dimension.
• Week 4: Trois Crayon
  Use three chalk pencils on buff paper to convey warm and cool values, with the option to add water for bolder accents.
• Week 4: George Seurat – Tonality and Light
  Recreate a Seurat drawing using black chalk to understand his approach to light, tone, and shading.
• Week 5: Excursion to Hyde Park – Tonality and Light
  Apply Seurat’s tonal techniques to a live landscape in Hyde Park, practicing light and shade in real-world settings.
• Week 6: Giovanni Francesco Castiglione Monotype
  Copy a Castiglione monotype using white gouache on black or inked watercolour paper, exploring both transparent and opaque gouache techniques.
• Week 7: Theodore Gericault’s The Kiss
  Combine black chalk, ink wash, and gouache to recreate Gericault’s The Kiss, bringing together skills learned throughout the course.

Intended audience

Who is this drawing course for?

This course is suitable for both beginners and students with some drawing experience who want to explore and expand their skills with different mediums.

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd in the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Course materials

What to bring to class

Option 1: Purchase a full materials kit at enrolment checkout. This will be supplied at your first class.

1. Option 2: Uncheck the materials kit at enrolment checkout and bring your own - Materials List 

Additional information

Please note the following:

• Closed-in shoes required
• Please wear old clothes and/or bring an apron
• Long hair must be tied back