Thursdays, September 11 - October 2, 2025,  - 9:00 am - 12:30 pm - 4 Sessions

Learn to draw using contour lines, value, and shading!

In this Beginners Drawing Class students will learn various techniques of drawing, from linear work to shading!

We will start with CONTOUR DRAWING. Contour drawing is seeing the contour of objects, subjects, faces, hands, etc. and drawing lines to identify these contours. Modified contour with variation of line and weighted line.

Then we will proceed with VALUE. Values in drawing means the shading of shadows, drop shadows, while preserving the highlights, etc. These range from the darkest values to the white of page with grays in between giving a drawn subject the illusion of being 3-dimensional. Students will learn to SHADE and create value gradients using three finely sharpened wooden carbon pencils while learning about the varying hardness and softness of these carbons. Then we will use a few erasers for highlighting. Blending values using a stump as well as using differing pressures.

DRAWING Then you will also learn how to draw and shade a cone, cube and sphere for practice that leads into doing your final drawing of choice using contour drawing and shading with the skills you have learned. You will finish this class with the confidence to draw any subject and to shade it to create a 3-dimensional, beautiful finished drawing you can be proud of.

LEVEL

Beginning

SUPPLIES INSTRUCTOR WILL BRING

Teacher will bring a few extra sheets or paper and pencils.

SUPPLIES TO BRING

1- Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad, 11x14 inch, 24 Sheets -

1- Pencil bag or ziplock baggy

1- HB Pencil

1- 4B pencil

1- Ebony pencil

1- Kneaded eraser

1- Pink eraser

1- handheld pencil sharpener

1- 12" clear plastic ruler

1 - blending stump

Suggested places to purchase: Michael's, Meiningers, Guiry's

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Lara Hooper is a Colorado watercolor painter, oil painter, printmaker and educator.

Lara has a BFA and a Master’s in Education.

For the past 27 years, Lara has had a wonderful career teaching High School Drawing, Painting, Printmaking and Metal-smithing for the Jeffco Public Schools. She also taught metal-smithing and photography at Red Rocks Community College. In addition, she taught private watercolor painting lessons.

She has been exhibited in various Art exhibits including The Annual Juried Jeffco Art Teacher’s Exhibit at the Lakewood Cultural Center receiving awards for her jewelry and printmaking.

She is a member of the Colorado Watercolor Society and an avid Plein Air painter.

Learn more about Lara by visiting her website.

QUESTIONS

Please direct questions to Lara at larahoops@icloud.com.