Observe. Understand. Draw. The basics of representational drawing

Many people are convinced they can’t draw – and so don’t even dare to give it a go. In this workshop, I invite you to discover that the opposite is true. As a qualified art therapist, I’ll show you various, accessible approaches to representational drawing, and we’ll tackle the subject in a playful way, free from any pressure to perform. Step by step, you’ll learn to capture shapes accurately, transfer proportions correctly onto A4 paper and, by consciously shifting your perspective – from ‘knowing’ to ‘seeing’ – perceive subjects in a new light. We’ll practise contouring techniques, work with negative space and explore the basics of perspective: the horizon, vanishing points and simple shapes such as cubes and cylinders, which help us to depict everyday objects convincingly in three dimensions. Another key focus is on light and shadow: using tonal values and different hatching techniques (parallel, cross-hatching, stippling), we realistically render volume, lighting and materiality. The aim of the course is to observe representational subjects with confidence, to create spatial depth using simple perspective constructions, and to apply tonal values effectively – whilst at the same time developing a playful, anxiety-free approach to drawing and learning to select the appropriate drawing materials for each situation. Please bring an A4 sketchpad with you; I will provide various pencils and other materials. I look forward to spending a few creative hours drawing with you.

The six-part course begins on Tuesday 29 September 2026 and will always take place from 5.30 pm to 7.00 pm. The final session will be on 10 November 2026.

Registration for the course is essential and can be done via the website www.vhs-vg.de or in person at the vhs.
Courses offered by the Vorpommern-Greifswald Adult Education Centre are aimed at people aged 14 and over.