Tonal Figure Drawing

7 week course

sundays 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Aug 31 - Oct 12 2025

WITH CHAITANYA THOMPSON

ALL LEVELS WELCOME

price: $265 (includes model fee)

class summary

This course will cover the fundamental skills necessary for drawing the human figure, with a strong emphasis on using tonal relationships to communicate form. This class will emphasize working towards more completed drawings, with students spending two weeks on each pose, and a total of three poses.

Students will be working from the live model using charcoal as the media. The first week will be an in depth demonstration, going over how to use materials, block in the figure, and develop tonal relationships. Students will be working on their own drawings from the second class onwards, as the instructor goes around and provides individual feedback and critique

No prior experience is required! As we keep class sizes small, our instructors can cater to each student’s individual skill level. Instructor demonstrations are standard

MATERIALS

We’ll discuss materials and cover any questions you may have on the first day of class

Drawing paper pad size 18x24 — Strathmore 400 medium tooth recommended (Don’t buy the “smooth” version!)
Drawing Board to serve as a backing for the drawing pad
Willow Charcoal, the softer the better (Not Vine Charcoal!)
General’s Charcoal Pencils (2B hardness)
Kneaded Eraser
Plastic Eraser
Mechanical eraser — (General’s Factis is great)
Bristle Brush (We will have these available for purchase and/or class use)

SYLLABUS

Here’s a rough outline of what we’ll be covering!

Week 1 Light and shadow, “chaos to order”

Week 2 Lay-ins: Measuring and Triangulation

Week 3 Halftone and edges

Week 4 Hand toning paper and texture

Week 5 Refinement: Resolving a drawing

Week 6 Week 1 of long pose

Week 7 Week 2 of long pose

REFUNDS

Please contact us at least 1 week before class for a full refund. Unfortunately due to our limited class sizes we cannot process refunds after this time. Transfers to other classes are usually possible

It is possible that a class is cancelled if an inadequate number of students register. In this case, tuition will be promptly refunded

absences

Anyone who must miss classes may attend up to two make-up sessions in other classes as long as space permits

Click here to sign up!