The Language of Drawing: From Line to Chiaroscuro

Review and strengthen the fundamentals of drawing through four main subject matters: landscape, still life, portrait, and the figure. This 4-week course explores essential techniques, including shading, line quality, gestural drawing versus structural drawing, and the concept of chiaroscuro.

Through demonstrations, dedicated drawing time, and individual critique, the instructor will guide students in developing a deeper understanding of observation and technique. A key focus will be on values—the lightness and darkness of tones—which are crucial in creating the illusion of three-dimensional form, depth, and light on a two-dimensional surface. Without a strong sense of value, drawings can appear flat; with it, subjects gain volume, texture, and mood.

This class encourages drawing what you see, not what you think you see, building both accuracy and confidence across a range of subjects.

Class Breakdown:

Class 1: Still Life Observation 
Classic and modern compositions focused on capturing form and light. Emphasis on seeing and simplifying through shapes—shapes, shapes, and more shapes.

Class 2: Sketching Outside (Landscape)
Developing compositions for landscape drawing through thumbnail sketches and value studies. Practice observing directly and translating what you see onto paper.

Class 3: Faces and Features
Understanding proportions and placement of facial features while working toward portraits with personality and life.

Class 4: Figures and Fashion
Exploring the draped figure—folds, function, and techniques for rendering texture and movement in clothing.

About the instructor:

Will McGaul is a working artist in Miami and has been a professional art instructor since 2011. He prefers a semi-academic approach to teaching in order to provide proven art fundamentals for the student. Will is passionate about sharing his knowledge of drawing and painting in his classes to help simplify the process, encourage improvement and make it fun.

McGaul has exhibited in California and Florida and is a member of the Gold Coast Watercolor Society.