Course Overview

​You will receive*:
​# Week by week access to an Introductory Class and 6 Project Classes via membership on this website for six months...

Project classes include :
  • an aim and a list of learning objectives
  • a list of what you will need
  • an instructional 15-35min video (except the final project which has a series of 3 videos)
  • additional written instructions with pictures
# PLUS for Projects 3-6 - a recorded 'livestream' review which includes a summary of feedback from the 2018 LIVE Class.

Each project class builds on the previous one(s).

# PLUS the ability to ask course related questions via the course Q&A page for the 6 months of your membership.

# PLUS A guided meditation to help you to honour and accept your own unique way of expressing yourself through drawing so that you begin to develop your unique drawing style 

# PLUS 2 x bonus drawing tip videos :'Pencil Types' and 'Sighting Angles'

- *all for NZ$99 (when you purchase the FULL Course after signing up for the immediate access of the 1st 2 classes)
​"I really really enjoyed the online course. One of the best things I've done for ages" Jo F.
​"Thank you so much for offering these wonderful courses, they are of great value to me" Shona McLaren
​"My drawing develops and improves every time I share in Joanne's classes. I draw for me and it gives me a buzz. It's happened since I met Joanne. One amazing tutor." Margaret Hore
​“Just to say thank you so much for this course, it is so relaxing to deal with, especially when one can go back to the subject over a longer length of time in order to correct (hopefully) where needed. Fantastic session on-line and much easier to understand as you progress through the subject. Joanne, you have done a fabulous job with these classes and the feedback and assessments have been honest and encouraging. Only a good tutor can bring out the best in a student. I look forward to future classes with you. Well done.” Lesley P
"I love Joanne's teaching style. I really enjoyed this course and building up skills each week. I felt I improved a lot and the feedback given was always helpful and encouraging. I really liked how well each step was explained..." Jo F
"Really enjoyed the course, and Joanne is a very capable and understanding tutor, who is very happy to help when needed."
​Tracey N
"Thank you for being such a guiding hand to me... I love all forms of art and have been happy with my progress in other media, but drawing has eluded me and I really thought it was a talent you either had or you didn’t. However you have proved me wrong. I now have confidence that I could draw almost anything. When I attempted my first clumsy drawing of a leaf within an oval, I really thought I would never get it. Yet I amazed myself when I completed Scruffy, the cuddly teddy bear a few weeks later. Your gentle but direct manner has encouraged and taught me how I can draw..." 
​Camille Alabaster
Project Class Aims and Objectives
PROJECT 1: YOU CAN DRAW A SPOON
Aim: To introduce 'pencil' skills (grips, adjusting pressure, freeform drawing) and the 'seeing' skills of seeing and drawing basic shapes and seeing relationships (sighting angles and proportions).

Learning Objectives:
Learn a warm up/practice exercise – lines/ovals
Learn different ways of gripping a pencil (overhand vs writing grip)
Learn to see basic shapes – lines and ovals
Learn how to sight angles
Learn how to sight proportion
Learn how to loosely draw a light outline (freeform draw) as a basis for a drawing
Learn how to refine the light outline
Learn how to draw a simple object – in this case a spoon
PROJECT 2: YOU CAN DRAW A LEAF
Aim: To learn to see edges, practice pencil skills, seeing shapes and seeing relationships (sighting angles).

Learning Objectives:
​Learn another warm up/practice exercise – blind contour drawing
Learn to see edges (to slow down and closely observe them) – by blind contour drawing – this observational skill will then be used when you do the actual drawing
PROJECT 3: YOU CAN DRAW AND SHADE AN APPLE
Aim: To introduce seeing shades (lights and darks), along with practicing pencil skills and the seeing skills of edges, relationships (sighting proportion) and shapes.

Learning Objectives:
Learn about drawing through shapes where they overlap.
Learn how to draw another simple object – in this case an apple.
Learn how to make a simple object you’ve outlined pop out from the paper with shading.
Learn how to observe light and darks in an object by squinting.
Learn basic ‘light logic’ on a spherical object (lights – highlights and lights and darks – object shadow/reflected light on the object and the cast shadow)
Learn what a 3 value/tone scale is and a way of applying it.
Learn how to establish a midtone by ‘toning’ the paper.
Learn how to establish lights with an eraser.
Learn how to establish darks with shading.
PROJECT 4: YOU CAN DRAW AND SHADE A COFFEE CUP
Aim: To go into more depth about seeing relationships – ‘perspective’ and also the use of guidelines. To go into more depth on seeing shades (in this case on a cylinder), as well as to practice pencil skills and the other previously covered seeing skills.

Learning Objectives:
Learn how to assess the curviness of a line.
Learn how ovals change in shape depending on your eye level (perspective)
Learn to turn your paper to help draw curves.
Learn about turning your paper completely upside down to improve the shape of an oval (and remove any right-left or left-right bias.
Learn how to use guidelines to aid your drawing (especially in obtaining symmetry)
Learn how to draw another simple object – in this case a coffee cup.
Learn basic ‘light logic’ on a cylindrical object (lights – highlights and lights and darks – object shadow/reflected light on the object and the cast shadow)
PROJECT 5: YOU CAN DRAW AND SHADE A BIRD
Aim: To introduce another use of guidelines for seeing relationships. Introduce ‘seeing space’ in terms of negative space. Go into depth about ‘seeing shapes’ in terms of breaking a more complex ‘object’ into simple shapes. Go into more depth about ‘seeing shades’ in terms of increasing the range of tones in a drawing. Show how texture can be put into a drawing.

Learning Objectives: 
Learn another use of guidelines.
Learn about when to, and how to, add detail.
Learn about turning your paper completely upside down to improve the shape of an oval (and remove any right-left or left-right bias.
Learn how to draw a more complex object – in this case a bird.
Learn how to add texture to a drawing.
PROJECT 6: YOU CAN DRAW AND SHADE A TEDDY BEAR
Aim: To go into depth about seeing space in terms of negative space - how to see it and use it. Learn how to made the drawing aid – ‘transparent viewfinder’ and use it, to see and draw negative space…and to help see and draw the rest of your picture. Learn some tips to help you with symmetry (seeing relationships). Practise all of the drawing skills of mindset, pencil and seeing.

Learning Objectives:
Learn more about negative space – what it is, how to see it and why it is useful as a drawing aid.
Learn how to make and use a transparent viewfinder.
Learn some tricks to help you with symmetry ie vertical guidelines and turning your drawing upside down
Bring everything together.
More Feedback...
"The course was much better than I expected. I believe you have a real passion to help people...” Camille A
“I’m loving the course the way you explain and show us is so helpful and clear.  And the skills and tips are so rewarding.” Kelly

“ I am enjoying the sessions and find your video very helpful.” Chris

"This course stands up to other tutorials. I found this one leisurely with the written instructions a big help, so I was able to take it all in" Esme S

"It was wonderful to be able to do the class on my own schedule and to be given the chance to believe that I can learn to draw" Lucie L

"I liked to be able to draw something that looked hard at first but seemed to come together step by step" Mathilde L

​“I’m finding your course really good as individual projects. Can stop and start, and just have a go at random. Being able to repeat the exercise, read your notes and watch the video. Now see and understand more and more relaxed about it. Thank you.” Margaret
Case Study
​"I still draw everyday...it has been my life-line, thanks to you" Shirley Chaney 
To read Shirley's full case study please see this article.
Ready to refine your drawing skills? Take a look at Joanne's Drawing Challenges. These will give you regular, consistent drawing practice. They are popular for practicing artists to beginners (although we recommend that beginners do this Foundation Course first).
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Thanks to CODC Creative Communities Scheme and Cromwell Community Arts for helping launch the very first DFEO Foundation Course in Central Otago, NZ.