Drawing Series: Inspiring Disney

Working in pencil and colored pencil, participants will learn how to see with the eyes of an artist, improve confidence in various techniques, and enrich their museum-going experience. Each class begins in the classroom and concludes in the galleries. All levels welcome. Enrollment is limited. Registration includes all six sessions and admission to The Huntington.

Class Schedule

Session 1: How to Draw Anything

Wed., Jan. 11, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Students explore how to “see with the eyes of an artist,” so that they can accurately draw anything desired. Students apply the lesson to draw various works in the current exhibit.

Session 2: Sculpting Form with a Pencil

Wed., Jan. 18, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Students learn how to capture the effect of light in a subject, adding form, radiance, and nuance to their drawings. Students apply the lesson to draw various works in the current exhibit.

Session 3: A Most Interesting Illusion

Wed., Jan. 25, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Many artists think of linear perspective as the “Holy Grail” of drawing. In this session, students learn how to use different parts of the mind to see, understand, and produce convincing perspective drawings. Students apply the lesson to draw various works in the current exhibit.

Session 4: Animating the Inanimate

Wed., Feb. 1, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Students learn how artists and animators breath life into inanimate objects and learn a lively and fun method of drawing that focuses on action. Students apply the lesson to draw various works in the current exhibit.

Session 5: Understanding Color

Wed., Feb. 8, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Students learn the fundamentals of color theory, and how to use a limited set of colored pencils to skillfully produce a vast number of colors in a drawing. Students apply the lesson to draw various works in the current exhibit.

Session 6: Expressing with Color

Wed., Feb. 15, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Students learn how Disney artists used color to express form, light and emotional content, and how to utilize these ideas and methods to raise the quality of their own drawings. Students apply the lesson to draw various works in the current exhibit.

Drawing Materials

The following items can be purchased at your local art supply store or online at dickblick.com, cheapjoes.com, jerrysartarama.com, or amazon.com.

Sketchbook or Drawing Pad

Bring any sketchbook or pad you like. The instructor uses the following:

• Strathmore Series 400 Drawing Pad, 24 sheets in 9” x 12” size, OR
• Strathmore Series 400 Recycled Drawing Pad), 24 sheets in 9” x 12” size

Pencils and Colored Pencils

Bring what you like to use. The instructor uses the following mechanical pencil:

• 0.9mm mechanical pencil for drawing fine lines (any brand)
• 2.0mm graphite holder for adding tones (any brand)
• Graphite refills in 2B or 4B hardness (one set of refills for each size of mechanical pencil and/or graphite holder size you have)
• Pencil sharpener (this is needed only if you are using a traditional pencil instead of a mechanical pencil or graphite holder – please bring one with a casing to prevent litter)
• Instructor will discuss options on which colored pencils to purchase during the first class

Erasers

Bring what you like to use. The instructor uses the following:

• Kneaded rubber eraser
• Elastomer eraser – Tombow Mono Zero Elastomer Eraser (this is an eraser that looks like a mechanical pencil – very handy for erasing fine areas)