Life Drawing: Light and Proportion

This hands-on course will help sharpen your understanding of human anatomy and proportion. Working directly from live models, you’ll explore the relationship between light and form using charcoal, conté, and ink. You’ll build confidence in capturing the human figure, refine your line work, and create a series of personal, proportion-focused drawings. Ideal for those looking to strengthen foundational skills or push their practice further.

You will be taught in specialist art and design studios and supported by the course teacher through practical demonstrations, one-to-one tuition, group discussions and critiques. You will require access to a device with an internet connection.  

Learners are responsible for purchasing their own materials. You may be required to bring some materials to your first, and subsequent classes. Learn more about the materials required for this course here. Please do not purchase any materials until your course is confirmed to run. 

Learning in this course is hands-on, and your skills will develop through practice, discovery, and engagement with materials and techniques.  

If you have fully engaged with all the learning activities and have attended regularly, by the end of the course, you should be able to:  

• Demonstrate an understanding of human anatomy and structure through observation and basic research, using relevant visual references;
• Demonstrate the ability to draw the human figure with a focus on proportion, light, and a variety of drawing techniques;
• Demonstrate strengthened observational accuracy and attention to detail through direct study of the human form, developing hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and visual analysis, skills valuable in animation, design, architecture, and medical illustration. 

This course is ideal for those looking to strengthen foundational skills or push their practice further.

Learners with an enthusiasm for creative exploration, who enjoy making things, or have a natural appreciation for colour, texture and form may find this course particularly rewarding.

We welcome all and are committed to fostering a positive culture and sense of community among learners and staff. We expect learners to treat others with dignity and respect. Learners must be 16+.

If you have a disability, learning difficulty, health condition, or personal circumstances which may affect your learning, please let us know so that we can make appropriate adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.  

Wherever possible, we mainstream adjustments in line with the University’s accessible and inclusive learning policy. 

Learners will have limited access to the University’s student support services who will signpost appropriate local sources of support. 

The course is suitable for those with no prior experience, although it is ideal for those looking to strengthen foundational skills or push their practice further.

This course welcomes those with a vivid imagination and an enthusiasm for creative exploration. While no formal background in art or design is required, learning is hands-on and a willingness to experiment and express ideas visually is encouraged.

Learners are responsible for purchasing their own materials. You may be required to bring some materials to your first, and subsequent classes. Learn more about the materials required for this course here. Please do not purchase any materials until your course is confirmed to run. There is no recommended reading with this course; however, your course teacher will guide you to relevant sources.

Reading, listening and communication skills are essential. You must be comfortable learning in English. You will need basic digital skills, such as using a computer and navigating a website, to access the learning materials.

Please note that the course booking deadline is 8 days before the course start date.