What You Will Do & Learn
Discover the figure through drawing that is quick, free and responsive. Led by Peter Mackie, senior tutor and assessor at Sydney Art School, this life drawing course takes a refreshingly non-academic approach — no slow, rigid steps, no rules to memorise before you begin. Learn about the representational and abstract depiction of the human form through a variety of new excercises assigned week by week.
About the course
Each session is built around a range of exercises designed to get you drawing immediately and instinctively. Working directly from a live model, you’ll learn to respond to gesture, weight and movement rather than labouring over precise rendering. Peter has found that this approach allows skills to grow naturally and intuitively — and, just as importantly, helps each student develop their own style and personal way of seeing the figure.
Whether you’re picking up charcoal for the first time or returning to the figure after years away, the exercises meet you where you are. There’s no single “correct” outcome — just steady, honest growth in confidence and skill from one session to the next.
Many of our students tell us that life drawing soon becomes their favourite activity.
Who it’s for
- Complete beginners curious about drawing the figure
- Experienced artists wanting to loosen up and work more expressively
- Printmaking and painting students looking to strengthen their drawing foundation
Your tutor
Peter Mackie is a senior tutor and assessor at Sydney Art School, where he teaches life drawing and printmaking. His teaching draws on years of experience helping students of all levels find their own way of working.
Ready to draw? Get in touch with Sydney Art School — Peter would love to see you in class soon.
Materials
Basic Materials
CHARCOAL -willow charcoal 5mm+ diameter
COMPRESSED CHARCOAL (or conte)
– kneadable eraser, a regular hard pencil eraser
Fixative You will need inexpensive drawing paper that is preferably LARGER than A3.
BULLDOG CLIPS -necessary to hold your paper in place on drawing boards
Your tutor will advise other specialised materials needed
Topics Covered
– composition
– values
– gestural drawing
– drawing from memory
– mark making
General Information
Terms of Service https://sydneyartschool.com.au/about-us/terms-and-conditions