Learn How to Draw Whatever You See or Imagine

DrawingAcademy

Keeping the balance

Artwork by M. Manolache

Whenever I dedicate time to art, it seems to me that life is more colourful. Also whenever I spend too much time doing it, things start to lose colour. I thought that one day when I have all the time in the world I may do more creative work. But that time never comes.

Read More
winner

Art Competition Winners – Autumn 2014

Thank you!

Big thanks to all Drawing Academy Art Competition – Autumn 2014 participants. All entries are listed here »

We are also grateful to all supporters, who voted for the winners.

It is the time to announce the winners.

According to the Competition Rules, there are three full Drawing Academy Memberships to be awarded.

However, we nominated not 3, but 5 winners!

And the Winners are:

Read More
How-to-find-time-for-drawing

How to find time for drawing

Question from Remy

Hello,

I am curious about these courses. The video, which mentions that drawing from photos is not the best way to learn, is fascinating. But at the same time, I do not understand how your courses offer a solid training that is not based on drawing from two-dimensional examples?

I have an extremely busy life, yet I am dedicated to learning how to draw. I only have time to draw very late at night, when everyone is sleeping. It is very difficult to access some of the things I actually want to learn how to draw (like people and faces)…

Read More
Raphael - The School of Athens

Congratulations to our guest writer!

Clayton Cogmon Jr. earns free access to the Drawing Course! We congratulate Clayton Cogmon Jr., who published five articles about fine art and received free access to first month of the Drawing Academy “How to… 

Read More
David-Michelangelo

The David

Article by Clayton Cogmon Jr.

During the High Renaissance, art was used for decoration, prestige, and most importantly, to immortalize anyone closely involved with it. There are many ways to create art, but none strike the observers interests like the great sculptures of the Renaissance era. However, one in particular does stand out from the rest: The David.

The David is the most famous, well known statue in the world. A 17 foot marble masterpiece, the David has a complicated history.

This is fitting, considering his creator was a complicated man himself. This creator being, Michelangelo.

Believe it or not, Michelangelo was not the first person to be hired for the commission of the great statue. In fact, Michelangelo was not even born during the earliest phases…

Read More
Artwork-by-Fordz

Artwork by Fordz

I’ve just started my drawing career less than a year ago and I’m willing to be trained by the mentors here aside from my school. I hope this will be the right way for me… 

Read More

A study to achieve a “Gamut of pencil strokes”

A study to achieve a "Gamut of pencil strokes"

Artwork by Yasmeen Kanan, Drawing Academy student

Hello!

After viewing one of your critiques given to another student, and after viewing the drawings that you have uploaded to improve our pencil strokes, I decided to take you advice and do a study.

First, I made a copy of a drawing (as mentioned above) and created a drawing of a real life model using the hatching technique-pencil strokes. I must admit, copying an existing drawing is easier than drawing a real life subject. I wish I could upload two photos at once, but I will upload the real life drawing later.

I would like to hear your critique for my “Gamut of pencil strokes.” Commenting on this study, an artist claimed that the difference in the strokes between the background and the subject has ruined the drawing. I oppose this view and find it dull to use the same pencil strokes in different areas (background, foreground, etc.).

In the “Gamut of pencil strokes” study, are we allowed to have different pencil strokes in different spaces in the drawing?

Read More
How to draw a square in perspective

How to draw a square in perspective

Question from Daniel Michalovics, Drawing Academy student

Hi,

My name is Daniel. I live in Germany and I am glad that I have finally arrived at the Drawing Academy. I am currently working on Assignment 3 – Drawing in Perspective.

At this point, I must mention that when enrolling in the Drawing Academy, I did not know that there was a proposed list of assignments. However, I find this extremely helpful. The assignments seem to be in an order that is very easy to follow. I really appreciate this curriculum because in the past, I tried to make my own assignment list which was nowhere near as logical and target-oriented as the one found here. This one really encourages me to work hard on my drawing skills.

Here is my actual question. I tried to draw an imaginary set of pyramids with squares at their bottoms in a one-point perspective. How do I know how long I need to draw the edge of a square that is facing towards the vanishing point?

It must have some specific length so that the bottom plane is seen as a square with equal side lengths. From the rules of perspective, I know that this line must be shorter than the horizontal line at the front. However, when drawing from imagination, I can only guess its real length. Is there some kind of trick I can apply here?

I have seen a few internet videos that teach how to draw a perfect cube in a two-point perspective. However, the methods they show are rather complex. I prefer not to use them every time I try to draw a simple square. I also do not like the fact that these methods only cover a two-point perspective. If there is no simple method, how can I learn to estimate the length correctly? …

Read More
Mona Lisa

What makes the Mona Lisa famous?

Article by Clayton Cogmon Jr.

It would be almost impossible to find a person that hasn’t heard of the famed, mysterious, and universally controversial Mona Lisa. She was created by the famed High Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci, and for decades she has captivated millions of people worldwide. But the question that has to linger in everyone’s head at least once is: “Why is the painting so darn famous to begin with?” Is it those elusive eyes? That captivating smile? Or the fact that it is rumored that the painting is actually a self portrait of da Vinci as a cross dresser? The mystery is a grand one, yet so simple you’ll smack your forehead in disbelief.

The origins of The Mona Lisa begin in Florence, Italy. Supposedly, it was asked for by Francesco du Giocondo. He wanted a painting of his wife Lisa Gherardini. Leonardo, having taken much time off from painting accepted. The theory is he was in need of income and thought the painting was an easy way to get it. However, he would never guessed that he would spend the rest if his life on the piece…

Read More
Life Drawing Academy
Old Masters Academy
Watercolor Academy
Anatomy Master Class