The Elements of Drawing

Oxford University

3.6 (193)
EDUCATION

Stephen Farthing R.A. presents eight practical drawing classes using John Ruskin’s teaching collections to explain the basic principles of drawing. This series accompanies 'The Elements of Drawing', a searchable and browsable online version of the teaching collection and catalogues assembled by John Ruskin for his Oxford drawing schools. For further information please visit http://ruskin.ashmolean.org/

03/24/2011 · VIDEO

9. Creativity

Lesson 8. Invention! Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/

4 min
03/24/2011 · VIDEO

8. Field Notes

Lesson 7. Strategies for collecting information and recording ideas as an aid to memory. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/

2 min
03/24/2011 · VIDEO

7. With Colour

Lesson 6. The most complex form of drawing. Starting with a pencil outline, the drawing is developed with a brush in clearly defined layers. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/

3 min
03/24/2011 · VIDEO

6. Measured Drawing

Lesson 5. Making a drawing that is dependent for its success on mathematical accuracy. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/

3 min
03/24/2011 · VIDEO

5. Making a Livelier Drawing

Lesson 4. Making a livelier drawing, where the line and tone have an energy because they have been applied at speed with a brush. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/

4 min
03/24/2011 · VIDEO

4. Toned Paper

Lesson 3. How toned paper can be used to provide the mid-tone in a drawing, which records where light and shade fall as a means of picturing an object. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/

4 min
03/24/2011 · VIDEO

3. The Edge of the Pencil

Lesson 2. We use tone, light, dark and the shades in-between to create illusions of volume and depth. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/

3 min
03/24/2011 · VIDEO

2. The Tip of the Pencil

Lesson 1. We use line to define spaces and things. It is not a question of magically getting the line right first time, but of first turning a contour into a line, and then systematically correcting that line until it looks right. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/

6 min
03/24/2011 · VIDEO

1. Introduction to the Elements of Drawing

Stephen Farthing R.A. presents eight practical drawing classes using John Ruskin's teaching collections to explain the basic principles of drawing. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/

2 min

9 Episodes

3.6

out of 5

193 Ratings

Great course teaching just the very basics

10/15/2013

mabragg68

For a 45 year old wanting to learn how to draw, something I've always wanted to do, I found this course to be sufficient in teaching some basics. The instructor clearly articulates the techniques and is easily understood. Can't imagine why somebody gave this course a poor review.
The exist of art

06/05/2023

Norman Bargo

I really enjoy these short episodes. There a quick fun bite of artwork. It doesn’t really pop out at me as anything amazing, but in a age of controversy and ugliness, how could we request less beauty?
Worth It

05/04/2021

Demeteranne

Never seen anything like this- brief on point excellent pick up a pencil and give it a go
An art instructor thinks this is quality

06/12/2020

R Z O

This is a great approach to Elements and Principles: scientific. After watching this you can move on to abstraction with ease! Or take one of my classes

Stephen Farthing R.A. presents eight practical drawing classes using John Ruskin’s teaching collections to explain the basic principles of drawing. This series accompanies 'The Elements of Drawing', a searchable and browsable online version of the teaching collection and catalogues assembled by John Ruskin for his Oxford drawing schools. For further information please visit http://ruskin.ashmolean.org/