Drawing Basics – The Complete Online Course
This course introduces the fundamental concepts of representational drawing that any artist must master to capture what he or she sees with fidelity. It’s what we refer to as a “skills course” because it focuses specifically on the abilities and concepts of drawing in a series of exercises – the emphasis is not on producing a finished “work of art” but rather on practice and development of a fundamental skill set.
Drawing Basics: A Complete Online Drawing Course that Starts at the Very Beginning
Learn Drawing Fundamentals Step-by-Step
The ability to make beautiful drawings is the product of a well-developed skill set – a family of related abilities of the hand, the eye, and the mind, that together give an artist the tools required to draw anything. But these fundamental skills are often overlooked in introductory drawing courses and instructional DVDs, and even in art colleges, where the true "basics" are ignored – bypassed in favor of more advanced material.
But this isn't in the best interest of students – particularly beginners. Asking someone to draw a portrait, or a figure, or a complex still life before they've learned to hold a pencil, draw a line, build a simple shape, or create a careful progression of values is bound to cause frustration for everyone. Too frequently, beginning students encounter the difficulty of learning to draw while attempting something inappropriately advanced and give up, deciding – prematurely – that they simply "can't draw", when in fact they just haven't been shown how to develop their drawing skills from the ground up.
Drawing Basics is our attempt to address this problem. It's what we call a "skills course" because it focuses on fostering drawing ability through a series of exercises. The emphasis is not on producing a finished "work of art" by the end of the course, but rather on practice and repetition to develop a fundamental skill set through this comprehensive drawing training. We assume no prior knowledge or experience in drawing, and the course proceeds sequentially, each lesson building upon what was presented previously.
Master Basic Shapes and Forms for Drawing People and Objects
Every great drawing begins with correctly understanding basic shapes, which leads to well-conceived forms. Whether you're drawing people, objects from nature, or anything else, the ability to reduce your subject to fundamental shapes is essential. Using careful observation and sighting techniques, you'll learn to build complex subjects from simple geometric foundations, upon which all other skills are built.
Online Art Courses at Vitruvian Fine Art Studio
As an established fine art online studio for the last 20 years, Vitruvian Studio offers this complete drawing course designed specifically for beginners who want to master foundational drawing techniques.
Our systematic approach emphasizes both linear drawing (focusing on lines and shapes) and tonal drawing (working with values to capture lights and shadows) to give you a complete skill set.
You'll learn essential mark-making techniques, understanding how different types of lines and marks create structure and form. From crisp contour lines to subtle hatching strokes, every type of line has its purpose and application.
What You’ll Learn in Drawing Basics – The Complete Online Course
- A sequential method for drawing that works for drawing anything – the foundations of drawing
- Helpful exercises for developing your skills in this step-by-step drawing course, including extensive practice with lines, shapes, and geometric forms
- Methods of measuring and sighting that help you understand the proportions of your subject and help you identify and solve problems
- Details about the drawing materials I use and why, including the best types of paper for the techniques presented
- How to think about light and form and their interaction
- How to use "squinting" to understand the value relationships on your subject and in your drawing, including full value drawing and pencil value drawing techniques
- How to capture subtle curvature easily and accurately
- How to use construction methods to build accurate drawings of complex subjects
What Our Students Say:
Excellent course! I love the sequential structure and attention to details and how well David explains and demonstrates what he is teaching. I have taken other art classes and have some experience, so I initially started with the Portrait Drawing. And it is such a good course, that I decided that I did not want to miss anything from the basics skills that are fundamental to really becoming a masterful artist. David is an outstanding artist and teacher. He goes step by step, explaining and showing the how to of everything and gives plenty of practice materials to develop the skills. I am really impressed. I feel I have found what I was looking for. I am enjoying what I am learning, and I am already looking forward to more online courses. Keep them coming!
– Kathleen, Carolina, PR
Your drawing basics has been a wonderful experience for me. I am a medical illustrator, classical fine artist and instructor. I am always telling my students to continue practicing, searching, learning and growing. One will never know it all but one can always attempt to learn more. Thanks for putting together such a thorough learning program.
– Michael, Worthington, OH
It just occurred to me it might be nice if I let you know how much I am enjoying the Drawing Basics course. It is confirmation that logic is our friend.
– Joy, The Hague, NL
Here’s What You’ll Get Instant Access To:
- 10 Step-by-Step Modules containing 62 lessons with over 22 hours of video content – nearly every pencil stroke is recorded in this complete beginner to advanced drawing course
- Complete demonstrations of each exercise, showing you exactly how to create different types of lines, shapes, and marks on your paper
- Diagrams and animations to illustrate key concepts, including how basic shapes combine to form complex subjects
- Downloadable PDF Guides for each module, with plenty of reference material and practice exercises covering everything from mark making to form description
- A thorough discussion of drawing materials and their uses, including recommendations for the best paper types, pencils, and other essential tools
- Lifetime Access to the Course -- Go At Your Own Pace
- Free Lifetime Updates
- Question & Answer threads on each lesson page
Why Choose Vitruvian Studio's Drawing Basics?
This fundamental drawing course from Vitruvian Studio provides essential background theory and practical techniques that give you a strong drawing foundation. Whether you're taking your first drawing class or looking to strengthen your art fundamentals, our online drawing course offers comprehensive drawing instruction that you can access anywhere, anytime.
Unlike other online courses for drawing (such as Drawabox or similar programs), our program focuses on building true competency in foundational drawing skills. This learn to draw program emphasizes practice and repetition, ensuring you develop abilities that will serve you throughout your artistic journey. You'll practice a lot—creating hundreds of lines, shapes, and marks as you progress through the course. This extensive practice is what builds real drawing skill.
The course covers all the essential drawing fundamentals: from simple linear drawing exercises to complex tonal drawing studies. You'll work with basic forms like spheres, cubes, and cylinders, learning how lines and texture interact to create believable three-dimensional forms on flat paper.
Meet Your Instructor – Award-Winning Portrait Artist David Jamieson
I'm David Jamieson, a professional portrait artist and drawing instructor who has dedicated over 25 years to mastering and teaching the art of portraiture. Throughout my career, I've worked with thousands of students—from complete beginners to advanced artists—and I've seen firsthand what makes people struggle with portrait drawing and, more importantly, how to guide them through those challenges.
My teaching approach is built on decades of experience, both at my own easel and in the classroom. I understand the frustration of trying to capture a likeness, the difficulty of getting proportions right, and the challenge of making drawings feel alive. That's why I've developed a systematic method that breaks down the complex process of portrait drawing into clear, manageable steps that actually work.
While I don't usually talk about awards, I believe it's important for you to know that the techniques I teach have been recognized at the highest levels of the art world. Recently, my work has been honored with:
- 1st Place in Drawing, 2024 & 2025 International Competition of the Portrait Society of America (two years in a row)
- 1st Place in Drawing, 2024 Almenara Art Prize Competition
- Silver Medal of Honor, 111th Annual Exhibition of the Allied Artists of America
- The Almenara Residency Prize, Royal Society of Portrait Painters' 2025 Drawing Exhibition
But here's what matters most: these aren't just accolades—they're proof that the methods I teach in this course produce professional-level results. The same systematic approach, drawing techniques, and problem-solving strategies I use in my award-winning work are exactly what I share with my students in this course.
When you learn from me, you're not just getting theory—you're getting battle-tested techniques from someone who has spent decades perfecting the craft and helping others do the same. I'm passionate about teaching because I know the transformation that happens when a student finally "gets it." That's what this course is designed to do for you.
Perfect for Beginners and Self-Learners
This drawing course is ideal for beginners, or for anyone starting their artistic journey. The online drawing course format allows you to learn at your own pace, and review lessons as needed. Many students use this as their first art instruction experience, while others complement it with other fine art classes or use it to prepare for more advanced studies like portrait drawing or figure drawing.
Comprehensive Drawing Training Online
Drawing Basics is a full drawing course. It covers everything from holding your pencil correctly to creating sophisticated value progressions.
You'll spend a lot of time practicing fundamental techniques—sketching basic shapes, drawing lines with control and confidence, and developing your mark making abilities. This repetition builds the muscle memory and visual understanding that separates confident artists from frustrated beginners.
Whether you want to draw people, landscapes, objects from nature, or anything else, the techniques you'll learn here apply universally. Every subject can be broken down into lines, shapes, and basic forms, constructed using the principles taught in this course.
Start Your Artistic Journey Today!
Join students worldwide who have discovered that yes, they CAN draw. This online drawing course for beginners provides the foundation you need to draw any subject. Whether you're interested in fine art drawing, illustration, or simply want to develop a rewarding hobby, Drawing Basics gives you the essential skills to succeed.
Ready to learn drawing? Enroll in this complete drawing course today and start building your artistic skills from the ground up with Vitruvian Studio's proven drawing basics course. With paper and pencil in hand, you'll begin your journey toward making beautiful drawings.
Ready to Build You Drawing Skills?
Suggested Items:
This course guides you through a series of exercises for building basic drawing skills. As such, drawing materials are required for you to complete the course work.
Additional items are also useful. A neutral value scale can serve as a reference for tuning value carefully. And for the observational drawing exercises, a collection of spheres, cylinders and cubes in differnt shades of gray will allow you to work "from life" for those parts of the course.
Specific materials recommendations are available in the course if you prefer to secure these items on your own, but for your convenience we also offer these items for sale.
Get Started for Free!
Subscribe to get our latest content by email, and get a FREE Drawing Materials Guide – a catalog of the materials we use in the studio and as seen in our time-lapse videos on YouTube!
Suggested Items:
This course guides you through a series of exercises for building basic drawing skills. As such, drawing materials are required for you to complete the course work.
Additional items are also useful. A neutral value scale can serve as a reference for tuning value carefully. And for the observational drawing exercises, a collection of spheres, cylinders and cubes in differnt shades of gray will allow you to work "from life" for those parts of the course.
Specific materials recommendations are available in the course if you prefer to secure these items on your own, but for your convenience we also offer these items for sale.
Course Content
Module 1 – Introduction
About Instructor
Course Includes
- 62 Lessons