Elevate Your Artistry

Are you ready to take your creative work to the next level? Whether you are a traditional oil painter or a street artist, mastering the core elements of design is the key to unlocking your full potential. Join our live, in-person drawing series to build confidence in your design decisions and rediscover the power of the pencil.

Each class will rotate through different topics where we’ll guide you through the essential techniques that form the backbone of great art:

– Line: Discover how to manipulate every component and variation of a line to bring energy to your work.
– Shape: Learn to develop shapes that don’t just form a sketch, but tell a compelling visual story.
– Value: Master the use of light and shadow to make value work effectively for your compositions.
– Shading: Explore different methods and techniques for creating shade and shadow.
– Form: Deconstruct subjects into basic geometric forms to give them a sense of physical mass and weight rather than appearing as flat shapes.
– Volume: Master the use of light and shadow to communicate the illusion of mass and the physical space an object occupies within a composition.
– Perspective: Navigate the spatial stage by accurately representing depth and distance within your composition.
– Scale: Master the relationship between the sizes of different objects and their surroundings to create a realistic sense of proportion and visual impact.
– Composition: Arrange elements intentionally to guide the viewer’s eye and create a cohesive, impactful visual narrative.
– Materials and Supplies: Learn how to use different materials and supplies to enhance your work.

Instruction for Every Level

This series is designed for artists of all levels. We believe that there is value in learning (or relearning) the basics. Whether you are learning these foundations for the first time or you’ve used them endlessly in your art, your instructor will challenge you despite your level.

We keep class sizes small for good reason. If you feel like the material isn’t challenging enough – don’t hesitate to ask your instructor to step it up a notch just for you.

Preparation & Materials

To ensure you have everything you need to succeed, you can either purchase a pre-assembled kit or bring your own supplies. To purchase a kit or get a specific list, please let us know during the registration process. 

Extra supplies may not be available during the class.

Required Drawing Supplies:

– Graphite Pencils: at least an HB or 2B pencil.
– Erasers: Both a kneaded eraser and a white or pink rubber eraser.
– Paper Pad (9” x 12”): A dedicated drawing pad.

Registration Information

We offer several ways to join our classes, with special pricing for our Supporting Members.

Join Us

Each topic rotates every eight weeks, offering you a structured yet flexible way to grow your craft. 

Who: Adults and teenagers 14+ with adult supervision.

When: Wednesdays, starting May 6, 2026 at 6:30 – 7:30pm.

Where: The Philosopher’s House classroom.

Email to Register: laura@fadeinit.org